Although it?s insane to even think that?the Redskins have a shot at matching their win total from just a year ago, it's in fact true. And technically, the Redskins can exceed last year's total if they can pull out both wins against Minnesota and Philadelphia.
The playoffs, however, have been out of the question since about Week 8.
But being eliminated from playoff contention with two games remaining on the schedule doesn?t necessarily call for this season to be thrown to the wayside. In fact, the remaining two games will be very telling for the Redskins, the coaches and the future of this team.
In Mike Shanahan?s first year as head coach of the Redskins last season, the team went 6-10 under intense culture and scheme changes. The coaches were weeding through the inherited crap, dealing with their own bad acquisition and attempting to emulate the Redskins? glory days of yesteryear (like, two decades ago actually).
At this point, the Redskins? odds are stacked against them in terms of exceeding last year?s win total. And digression, whether measured in wins or not, never makes for a comfortable coaching seat.
The Redskins remaining schedule of Minnesota and Philadelphia will be Shanahan?s greatest test of the season to show that his coaching remains a valuable asset in the NFL and to the Washington Redskins.
Although they may be favored at home against Minnesota on Christmas Eve, the Redskins should be underdogs in Philadelphia for the season finale. Injuries have plagued the team all year, the quarterback situation has been arguably the league?s worst and the latest season-ending suspensions handed down to leading receiver Fred Davis and starting left tackle Trent Williams make for serious bumps in the road.
How Confident Are You In Mike Shanahan?
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8-10 Confident
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5-7 I'm in the middle
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2-4 I think we need to change
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0-2 Never have, never will
How Confident Are You In Mike Shanahan?
But let?s forget about wins and losses for a moment and come to the realization that our preseason hopes as Redskins fans were once again unsurprisingly shot down. Instead, let?s focus on what Shanahan does with this team to close out a season that most would refer to as a total loss and/or complete waste.
If Shanahan somehow finds a way to match last year?s win total and doesn?t technically digress, are people still calling for his head?
Probably so. But judge fairly. I understand that injuries are a part of the game and that suspensions can happen to the best of players, but it still has to be taken into account.
An offensive line that has seen seven different alignments this season shouldn?t go un-noted. Even though Shanahan may have done it to himself, Rex Grossman being your team?s best option at quarterback has to be marked with an asterisk. And most of all, it?s important to recognize that this is only the second year of a supposed five-year plan.
I know it sounds like I?m making excuses, like I have a personal love interest in Mike Shanahan. But I?ll promise you that?s not the case.?Matthew McConaughey? Sure. But not Mike Shanahan.?
All I?m preaching is that consistency is important. That the final product of this season over the team?s last two games, whether they be wins or losses, are imperative to the job that Shanahan is doing in Washington.
We must all keep in mind that serious draft potential hangs in the balance for the Redskins, in which case, losing the remaining two games could be more beneficial. But, the draft can only be dissected following season's end.?
This season may be lost in the sense that we?ll be watching the playoffs from the same place as teams like the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and St. Louis Rams. But this season is an important piece of the puzzle for Shanahan and the Redskins? future. And this season isn?t over yet.
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