Why not dream a little --- you never know --- playoffs

I was looking at the playoff picture .. and while we are still a long shot, if the cowboys
beat the seahawks tonight (which would be bitter sweet), Seattle and St. Louis will be tied in their division and one of them will hold the last wild card spot at 6-6. The three other teams we beat this year (Bears, Lions, and Tampa Bay) are all 5-7 and one game out of that spot. If we just had one of those heartbreaking losses turned around (Packers game?), we would be considered in the mix at 5-7. so at 4-8, if we win out and seattle loses tonight, which is no easy task at the least, i would say we have a legit chance at playoffs (not sure about tie breaking procedure), but Seattle or St. louis goes 2-2 and they are 8-8, we would have to beat them in the tie breaker. and hope all the 5-7 teams, if any of them go 8-8 (Carolina the most likely), we beat them in the tie break as well, 3 of the teams we do beat in the tie breaker (Chicago, Tampa Bay, and Detroit) and if dallas and ny were both 5-7. i do not see either of them going 8-8. ...... just a thought,

i dont expect this, but look at how a win brings optimism everywhere!!


Man, nothing would be sweeter than to squeeze in the playoffs...but I think next year is OURS! We have the best defense in the NFL bar none...yes even better than the Steelers...remember Barrow and Arington are out...ad them and you are talikng 86 Bears type D.

If Clinton Portis adjusts to the hog style of blocking...which needs patience on his part...no one will stop us running the ball. All Patrick Ramsey has to do is not make mistakes...he doesn't need big numbers...Theisman didn't either...just a threat os a deep ball to keep safeties honest.

I have been a Skins fan since 1978. I have seen the glory and felt the agony of many fruitless seasons. Thank God for Gibbs, Bugel, Williams (MVP) and Snyder for his reverence of Gibbs. We are definetly on our way to dominance again!

44Dive

Nice Post, FRPLG

We have the best defense? i hope so, but you cant forget about Baltimore... a lot of talent htere...
but yeah, the Skins D is
great, i love our defense.

Here's my "I have way to much time on my hands", the Skins could make the playoffs post:

A few explanations/assumptions first:
Green Bay and Minnesota are both 7-5; One of them will win the Central, the other will get the first Wild Card

For the Skins to make the playoffs, they must win out. One loss (Philly comes to mind) and they are out. IF they do win out, they will have an 8-8 record with an 8-4 conference record which is the first tie breaker when more than two teams have the same record.

Of the current contenders - The bears, bucs and lions have at least 5 conference losses and cannot finish with a conference better than ours so a tied record with them wins for us.

I am counting N. Orleans, NY Giants and Dallas out as I expect them to have at least 9 losses by the end of the season (Dallas (5-7) plays us and Philly, and the Giants and N. Orleans just suck).

As for the rest:

Seattle (6-5) (5-3): Final Record 8-8 (8-4) Wins West
12.06 Dallas W 7-5 (6-3)
12.12 At Minnesota L 7-6 (6-4)
12.19 At NY Jets L 7-7
12.26 Arizon W 8-7 (7-4)
01.02 Atlanta L 8-8 (8-4)

St. Louis (6-6) (6-3): Final Record 7-9 (7-5)
12.12 At Carolina L 6-7 (6-4)
12.19 At Arizon W 7-7 (7-4)
12.27 Phil L 8-7 (7-5)
01.02 NY Jets L 8-8

Carolina (5-7) (4-4): Final Record 8-8 (6-6)
12.12 St. Louis W 6-7 (5-4)
12.18 At Atlanta L 6-8 (5-5)
12.26 At T. Bay L 6-9 (5-6)
01.02 N. Orleans W 8-8 (6-6)

Chicago (5-7) Final Record 6-10
12.12 At Jaguars L 5-8
12.19 Houston W 6-8
12.26 At Detroit L 6-9
01.02 Green Bay L 6-10

Detroit (5-7) Final Record 7-9
12.12 At G. Bay L 5-8
12.19 Minn. W 6-8
12.26 Chicago W 7-8
01.02 Tennessee L 7-9

T. Bay (5-7) Final Record 8-8
12.12 At San Diego L 5-8
12.19 N. Orleans W 6-8
12.26 Carolina W 7-8
01.02 At Arizona W 8-8


Fire away.

BTW the records in the Parentheses are the conference records.

Under this Scenario,

Final Records

Washington 8-8 (8-4)
Carolina 8-8
T. Bay 8-8
St. Louis 7-9
Detroit 7-9
Chicago 6-10

Philly, Seattle, Green Bay/Minn, and Atl. win divisions
Green Bay/Minn, Washington in as WC's.

I'm not worried about making the playoffs this year, I will be ecstatic if we end at 8-8, but not disappointed if we end up 7-9 which is very possible. After the season we've had this year and the scrutiny that Joe Gibbs has been under, I think 7-9 is a great accomplishment.

Boswell actually says that we can slip in at 7-9, if things fall right. But I don't know what scenario he's thinking of:

From today's Post:

"I'm hoping we play great down the stretch. I'm proud to be with our guys," said Gibbs, whose team actually has a not-insignificant chance to make the playoffs if it could somehow finish with a 7-9 record in the weak NFC this season. "Now, who knows? Fight hard down the stretch and who knows?"

Is this really possible?

PS All I really wanted from this year were improvments and meaningful games in December. We may get both.

i wonder what % chance we have of playoffs if we win out

IF we win out, I think we have a pretty good shot.

But first, let's play Philly and see what happens.

Many people think I'm a pessimist (see my early-season discussion of Brunell or Gibbs' playcalling). Many others think I'm an optimist (see my discussion of our WRs as great). I like to consider myself a realist.

I realistically think that the Redskins CAN, repeat CAN make the playoffs. They'd be one and done, but it is possible for the 'Skins to make the postseason.

If the Redskins can beat the Eagles, they will spank the 49ers (who anyone can beat), Cowboys (who we almost beat with Brunell at the helm), and Vikings (who haven't won a single outdoor game this year and usually stink by Week 14). If the Redskins beat the Eagles, their confidence will be high, their play will be excited and determined, and they will have an honest shot at the playoffs.

HOWEVER, I think the Eagles are too much for just about any team in the NFC (the 'Skins included). I expect to lose this game by two scores and miss the playoffs.