Dec 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) before warmups against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Redskins are out of action on Sunday as they gear up for a Monday Night matchup with the Carolina Panthers. Here at the games to keep an eye on as they look to improve their chances in the playoff race.
Week 15 is going to be a big one for the Washington Redskins. They are going to have a chance to be the last team to play during the week, meaning that they know what a win can do for them. Granted, the week is essentially a must-win game anyway, but they will know if they can move into the six seed with a victory.
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More information will be revealed about the true Wild Card Competitors in the NFC as well. There are just about five teams in the Wild Card race, and Sunday’s action could knock one or two of them virtually out of contention. With all of that in mind, here is a look at the top games to watch with the Redskins out of action.
Dec 11, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) celebrates with teammates after scoring the game winning touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field. Lions win 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Lions at New York Giants (1:00)
This is one of the marquee matchups of Week 15. The Lions and the Giants both check into the game at 9-4, but they are in entirely different situations. Either way, a win is necessary for both of them to hold onto their current seedings.
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises of the season, the Lions are in the driver’s seat for the NFC North. They are currently the No. 2 overall seed in the NFC, and have the edge over the Seattle Seahawks for a bye by a half a game. At the same time, the Lions have to stave off some fierce competition from the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings. A win on Sunday would put those concerns to bed, as they would officially clinch the division.
For the Giants, this game is equally as important. Despite their record, they are realistically only in contention for a Wild Card Spot. The Dallas Cowboys lead the division with an 11-2 record, and the Giants would have to gain two games on them in the final three contests of the season. That seems very unlikely, as the Cowboys have a strong enough offense to deal with their opponents.
For the Redskins, a Lions win would be much more beneficial. The Lions need to win the division so the Redskins can avoid having them factor into the Wild Card race. At the same time, the Giants are very much a threat to the Redskins, but the Skins could catch the Giants with a solid stretch run. That said, a Lions win would bring that closer to reality and make it less of a possibility.
Nov 20, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) looks to pass against the New York Giants during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears (1:00)
This has not been the season that the Green Bay Packers envisioned. At the beginning of the season, they looked like the shoo-ins for the NFC North title. They started the season 4-2 and Aaron Rodgers was playing some great football. Then, disaster struck as the team dropped four straight games because of their inept defense. They dealt with issues in the secondary, but they have gotten healthier since then.
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Coming into Week 15, the Packers are sitting at 7-6 and they are tied for second in the NFC North. They have an uphill battle to make the playoffs, but they have arguably the best quarterback in the NFL with Rodgers. That said, Rodgers has been dealing with a calf injury so he may be hampered in the upcoming games. Still, they should be favored against the Bears.
The Bears have had a rough season and they have not seen a lot of success. They have had to start three different quarterbacks and have had some defensive issues in their secondary. At the point, the 3-10 team is planning for the 2017 season, and they will be looking to land a high pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. The Packers should be able to take them down, though nothing is guaranteed in a tough, divisional road game.
If the Packers do come out on top, they will have a chance to challenge for the sixth seed. They could momentarily leapfrog the Redskins in the pecking order, so the Redskins should be hoping for the Bears win on Sunday afternoon.
Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) is injured during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings (1:00)
Five weeks into the NFL season, it looked like the Minnesota Vikings were going to be a Super Bowl contender. They had a very strong defense, and Sam Bradford was playing some of the best football of his career. Then, slowly but surely the wheels fell off.
The team’s offense began to sputter and their defense was unable to carry the team. Norv Turner resigned as offensive coordinator, but nothing got better for the team. In recent weeks, injuries have been a major problem for the team. They have been without some of their star players, and that has partially led to their demise.
Still, the team has a chance to qualify for the postseason, and they got some great news for this week. Running back Adrian Peterson is ready to play for the first time since Week 2. Peterson was pretty bad early in the season, but that was due to his offensive line. It also did not help that his knee was not at full strength, so maybe the recovery time will give him a better chance to play well.
Obviously, the Redskins should be rooting against the Vikings in this game. The Colts are an AFC team, so their success has no bearing on the how the NFC playoff picture plays out. That said, the Colts could really help out the Redskins by notching a victory on Sunday.
Dec 11, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys (8:30)
This is going to be the game to watch for the Redskins. It will be a difficult one for many of their fans, as the Dallas Cowboys have long been the team’s top rival, but they really need to win to help out the Redskins. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are currently sitting in the sixth seed, but they are only a half game ahead of the Redskins. This week could be the best opportunity for the Redskins to overtake them once again.
The fact is that the Cowboys are one of the best teams in the league. They have a very strong, well balanced offense that matches up well against most teams. They control the clock by running the ball and they should have a solid matchup versus the Buccaneers.
Still, the Buccaneers have a good chance to emerge victorious. They are on a five game winning streak and that is tied for the longest winning streak in the NFL with the Lions. Their offense has done well all season, but the defense has really stepped it up in the past few weeks. They have been one of the best units in the league during the stretch, and if they continue to put in the effort, they will keep winning.
This game is a real toss-up, but the Redskins fans have to do the unthinkable. They have to root for the Cowboys. If the Cowboys win, the Redskins can move into the playoff picture with a victory on Monday night.
