2007 Record: 9-7
This was a team that at the beginning of last year had a lot of potential to develop it’s young players (like quarterback Jason Campbell). They snuck in to the playoffs with a clutch win over Minnesota in week 16, then beat the Cowboys JV team the last week of the season to wrap up the #6 seed. The tragic death of Sean Taylor brought this team together last year and they hopped on the back of backup QB Todd Collins. After a botched kickoff return by the Seahawks, they looked to be in position to move on to the second round of the playoffs. But a missed field goal and a few interceptions later, the Seahawks were travelling to Green Bay.
The Redskins have the 13th hardest schedule in 2008, but they have the defense in place to weather the storm. They only gave up 300 passing yards in one game last year, and that was to a guy named Brady. However, TO burned them for 174 receiving yards and four TDs in week 11. The Redskins spent two second-round draft picks on wide receivers with huge up-sides (Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly) who look to be the replacements for the aging Santana Moss and the injury-prone Antwaan Randle El. El Yeah (as we knew him so affectionately) hasn’t produced as much in Washington as they had hoped when they signed him to a big contract after he carried the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory.
The biggest question for this team is the quarterback. After franchise QB Jason Campbell went down with an injury in Week 14, Todd Collins lead the team to 4 straight wins to catapult their record to 9-7 and into the final playoff spot. With the drafting of two of the top four receivers in the draft, the team now has depth at the skill positions, which are anchored by running back Clinton Portis and tight end Chris Cooley. If the young wide receivers develop, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this team challenging for a playoff spot once again. Once they decide on a quarterback, as long as they don’t second-guess themselves, they should be set to move forward into the season. I’m not sure if this team is quite ready to make a run at the division title this year, but they should be in the running for a wild card. The Redskins very well may surprise people and win the division in 2009, but for 2008 I don’t see them quite at that level.
Ian’s 2008 Prediction: 10-6
John’s 2008 Prediction: 10-6
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