Each week our season looks brighter.

[Skinzaholic]

I'm not one to wish injury on any player... but you must admit that McNabb tearing his adominal lining sure makes things look a bit better on our side of the fence. Watching the Eagles struggle agains Dallas really opened up the possibility of us actually competing for the East THIS year! I dont put much of that win on Dallas playing great as much as Philly (McNabb) playing poorly. A few more of those and they will find the road to Detroit quite bumpy. Many here around Philly radio are hinting that McNabb will elect to undergo the surgery needed to repair his wounds... thus severly hampering the Eagles chances of repeating.

The Giants are surprising... but I am waiting for them to implode. Can Eli keep up the pace? When will their defense collapse?

Dallas is all hype in my book.

All in all... each week the chances grow stronger that we could finally find ourselves back up top of the division sooner rather than later. Already heads are turning for a second look around the media... and I would just be tickled pink to have Joe make them all eat crow by years end.

Funny how our offense seems to be picking up steam... and our defense (once dominating) is now causing us some concern. I think we beat KC simply by that defense... and then win at home against San Fran before heading into the division lineup... sure does look brighter...

[smoak]

To me, I don't care what the other NFC East teams until we play them. I said along that season would come down to beating them and I still feel that way with 1 game down.

Overall, here are my thoughts:

Eagles - Still top dog (until we play them), but they have to be concerned with poor play and injuries. Teams are exposing Trotter for the fraud he is and I said all along that Lito had no business being in the Pro Bowl, even over his own teammmate (Sheldon Brown).

Giants - Worst of the four teams. Unless they keep getting +4-5 turnovers per gaem, the 31st ranked passing D (yards per game) will be exposed. Period. Eli looks great and should have a bright future, but I refuse to acknowledge their '05 success until they beat a team I think should be ranke in the top 10-15.

Coboys - Still dangerous. I want them to lose every week and we must beat them when we play in December.

[CornerBlitz]

I must admit that I am a little scared of the Giants if they keep getting these early win games against decent teams.

[fent]

I must admit that I am a little scared of the Giants if they keep getting these early win games against decent teams.

the giants remind me a lot of the cowboys from two years ago. winning games they shouldn't be which is actually hurting them in the long run. that team has too many holes to have a solid foundation. they need high picks in the draft to be able to fill some of those long term.

[CornerBlitz]

Giants - Worst of the four teams. Unless they keep getting +4-5 turnovers per gaem, the 31st ranked passing D (yards per game) will be exposed. Period. Eli looks great and should have a bright future, but I refuse to acknowledge their '05 success until they beat a team I think should be ranke in the top 10-15.
.
I am glad that Gibbs is showing that we can pass and will pass if that is what we are executing the best. Hopefully when we play the Giants we can expose this and our defense can step it up too.

[smoak]

I must admit that I am a little scared of the Giants if they keep getting these early win games against decent teams.

For whatever reason, the Giants scare me the absolute LEAST of any team. Period. the Niners worry me more b/c I'm afraid it will be a trap game a bit.

That said, I'll probably be worried about the Giants the week we play them... Just not for now. Say it with me, "The Giants are frauds". The did the same thing las season and ended up 6-10.

[Discalced]

NFC East will be a battleground down to the very end. Our team looks tough, but so does our schedule. I do think that we are very capable of beating any of the teams in our division, and - at worst - I expect a split across the board.

[The Skinsinator]

The season is looking brighter I must admit, however we would all be blind had we beat Denver Sunday. Nonetheless, we need to come back and get KC. I really feel we are the better team and we can't let their crowd get into this too much. I'm curious about the NY-Dallas game. I think that game could possibly reveal a "fraud."

[Patrick]

To me, I don't care what the other NFC East teams until we play them. I said along that season would come down to beating them and I still feel that way with 1 game down.

Overall, here are my thoughts:

Eagles - Still top dog (until we play them), but they have to be concerned with poor play and injuries. Teams are exposing Trotter for the fraud he is and I said all along that Lito had no business being in the Pro Bowl, even over his own teammmate (Sheldon Brown).

Giants - Worst of the four teams. Unless they keep getting +4-5 turnovers per gaem, the 31st ranked passing D (yards per game) will be exposed. Period. Eli looks great and should have a bright future, but I refuse to acknowledge their '05 success until they beat a team I think should be ranke in the top 10-15.

Coboys - Still dangerous. I want them to lose every week and we must beat them when we play in December.

You know Smoak ...... I haven't put as much thought into it - well other than the cowboys who we've already beaten on the road. In fact, I know the NYG and Eagles games are right around the corner but to be honest - I'm TOO wrapped up in this game Sunday with the Chiefs to really even think about them.......
Looking over you evaluation of the other teams in our division I just say one thing ......... Don't under estimate any of them. Remember, we are always just one injury away from being taken down a notch ourselves. On the flip side - it's fun to think of the best case senerio though huh! ;)

[Dolla Bill]

Has there ever been a time in the playoffs that an entire division has made it? It could very well happen this year.

[PA Skins Girl]

Has there ever been a time in the playoffs that an entire division has made it? It could very well happen this year.
In the old days when there were three division winners and three wild card teams, I guess it could have been possible (in a division with only 4 teams).

Now with 4 division winners and 2 wildcards it is impossible. Both wild cards could come out of the East though. But it's still way too early to tell. I'm not sure we are seeing true identities just yet.

[redskin_rich]

In the old days when there were three division winners and three wild card teams, I guess it could have been possible (in a division with only 4 teams).

Now with 4 division winners and 2 wildcards it is impossible. Both wild cards could come out of the East though. But it's still way too early to tell. I'm not sure we are seeing true identities just yet.
The last time I remember the NFC East sending 3 teams was in '90, the Giants won the division and the Skins and Eagles were the Wild Cards.

[ScarletFire]

[QUOTE=PA Skins Girl]In the old days when there were three division winners and three wild card teams, I guess it could have been possible (in a division with only 4 teams).

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when there were three divisions in each conference, only two wildcards made the playoffs from each conference. So, a whole division still could not have made the playoffs. I believe a wildcard was added when the divisions were realligned.

[JoeJacksonTaylor28]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when there were three divisions in each conference, only two wildcards made the playoffs from each conference. So, a whole division still could not have made the playoffs. I believe a wildcard was added when the divisions were realligned.


3 division winners + 3 wildcards

A division like the NFC west with SF, Rams, Saints and the Falcons could end up getting to the playoffs.

[CowboyKilla]

We have our best chance in years to make the playoffs and or win the division. Dallas looks better, Giants look better and Philly has taken a step back, a little. We just need to handle our business this week at KC then SF so we could be 5-1 entering two division games.

4-2 in the division wins it this year, i think. Only 3 of 5 we have to win.HTTR

[ScarletFire]

I should've done the research before I posted. There were three wildcards so a division with only four teams could've sent four teams to the playoffs.

At any rate and getting back on topic, I feel really good about the Redskins chances the rest of the way. Of course, there are no givens on what is going to happen from week to week but if the Redskins put forth the type of effort they did against the Broncos consistently (and clean up the few mistakes) they will compete for the NFC East. The offense has proven they can move the ball and once CP finds the endzone, points will come a bit more frequently. The Eagles, Cowboys, and Giants can all be dangerous, as any division game can be, but the Redskins just might have the best balance of the four.

[LadyNRedskinsfan]

without even lookig at what teams in the NFCE are doing, each week our season looks brighter because of what the redskins are doing. the D is not completely healthy and has given up a few big plays in the last couple of weeks, but the offense is starting to come into its own and has gotten better each game. what we need to do now is score more TDs. i want the redskins to control their own destiny this time around.....

[IMALILTEAPOT]

i dont know why everyone is dismissing the other teams. i think the cowboys and the giants are as good as us. i think it might be one of those seasons where all 4 teams are 8-8 and above and a really good team gets left out

[hockeygoalie29]

i think it might be one of those seasons where all 4 teams are 8-8 and above and a really good team gets left out

I could see this happening. All 4 of us could be 10-6 or better but the loser would be left out for whomever wins the NFC North at 6-10 (I'm going with the Packers).

[CornerBlitz]

I could see this happening. All 4 of us could be 10-6 or better but the loser would be left out for whomever wins the NFC North at 6-10 (I'm going with the Packers).
I dont see all the teams being over 10-6 but I can see an NFC north team going 6-10 and making the playoffs, what a joke.

[Wild Bore]

I could see this happening. All 4 of us could be 10-6 or better but the loser would be left out for whomever wins the NFC North at 6-10 (I'm going with the Packers).I'm not positive about this but I heard once that the only team that ever had 10 wins and didn't make the playoffs was the Redskins, and we did it twice. 79 and 89 I believe. That sucks.

[redskin_rich]

I'm not positive about this but I heard once that the only team that ever had 10 wins and didn't make the playoffs was the Redskins, and we did it twice. 79 and 89 I believe. That sucks.
Not true, I know Philly and San Fran both missed the playoffs in '91, with 10-6 records, I'm sure there are others.
The worst record to win a division that I remember was 8-8, Cleveland.

[redskinz#1fan]

i dont know why everyone is dismissing the other teams. i think the cowboys and the giants are as good as us. i think it might be one of those seasons where all 4 teams are 8-8 and above and a really good team gets left out

There is no way in hell we will be 8-8. I predicted 11-5 and I'm sticking to it. This team will win the division, or be very damn close. We can beat anyone in this league and we are showing it week in and week out. Notice every game we are getting better and better, gaining more steam as the season goes on. Hold people, because this is going to be a long ride.

[PennSkinsFan]

I am trying my hardest to look at the season brightly and looking at it with hope, but there are overall three things that are really scaring me abotu this team, and surprisingly, unlike last season, they are not on the offense.

1. I am worried about special teams in every facet. Were not getting great returns, we have trouble kicking field goals and our Punter is averaging a dismal 38.0 yards. I am worried.

2. Lack of pass rush is scaring me. Where are the Williams blitz packages? Kenny and I talked at length about this last night. Where are they? Why are we not sending a CB or S once in awhile? Why did we have so much pressure last year. Teams had no idea where the blitz was coming from, but this year we barely even blitz? I am terribly worried about the ineffectiveness of Renaldo Wynn aand Phillip Daniels to get to the QB, not even sack the QB, but just put pressure. They have not thus far.

3. Turnovers. The lack of turnovers is troubling. If we keep this up it eventually is going to be liek a dagger in the chest.


So, I wanna be optmisitic, but these three things continue to haunt my postive thoughts.

[Wild Bore]

Not true, I know Philly and San Fran both missed the playoffs in '91, with 10-6 records, I'm sure there are others.
The worst record to win a division that I remember was 8-8, Cleveland.Thanks for the update. I guess I must of heard that in 1990.

[MoeRedskins]

As weeks go by things do look better. The O looks like a Joe Gibbs offense every week, the D, although with it's faults, is as productive as ever. The special teams is a concern, but ST is like roulette, sometimes your number hits and sometimes it doesn't, the whole point is to minimize your loses.

Philly is primed for a falling. McNabb won't make it the whole season, there is no way that happens. TO is worse then ever (wore an Irvin jersey after a loss to the Cowboys, how F'ed up is that) and he won't get better if McMahon is throwing passes to him. Dallas is a spotty team, sometimes there one, sometimes they're off. It depends on who you get. And as for the Giants, its a long season, I'd like to see them do this over 16 weeks. We look good, but that could all change very quickly in this game. That is why you don't make reservations for Detriot until January.

[openallnight]

I am trying my hardest to look at the season brightly and looking at it with hope, but there are overall three things that are really scaring me abotu this team, and surprisingly, unlike last season, they are not on the offense.

1. I am worried about special teams in every facet. Were not getting great returns, we have trouble kicking field goals and our Punter is averaging a dismal 38.0 yards. I am worried.

2. Lack of pass rush is scaring me. Where are the Williams blitz packages? Kenny and I talked at length about this last night. Where are they? Why are we not sending a CB or S once in awhile? Why did we have so much pressure last year. Teams had no idea where the blitz was coming from, but this year we barely even blitz? I am terribly worried about the ineffectiveness of Renaldo Wynn aand Phillip Daniels to get to the QB, not even sack the QB, but just put pressure. They have not thus far.

3. Turnovers. The lack of turnovers is troubling. If we keep this up it eventually is going to be liek a dagger in the chest.


So, I wanna be optmisitic, but these three things continue to haunt my postive thoughts.

You've nailed it PSF! The STs and D are a HUGE concern.
I feel the offense is progressing and should be firing on ALL cylinders by
time we meet the eagles.
Although, there is no sign of improvement for a defense that is incapable of
creating pressure in the passing game.
Plus, the one thing we did extremely well, tackling, is now becoming a major
concern. It almost cost us the seattle game and did lose us the denver game.

[TheGreek1973]

I want to believe that the reason we don't blitz is because our CBs have been hurt. I think Gregg Williams is not very comfortable with corner blitzes or SS blitzes when the other CBs have to go one on one.

This is why is so hard to believe that Lavar can't help us in this situation. I mean they aren't that many LBs that have prove to be as good as pass rushers as he so still don't know what gives there.

To defend the D a little however we haven't had the type of game in offense where we go up 14-3 so they can be a little more aggressive. Since every game as been very tight with us either leading by a very small margin or losing the D can’t take the chances.

You look at a team like the Giants and you say WTF? They have had more turnovers and lucky breaks that some teams get all year so this is why I think we are a lot more legit than they are. We know we can win with mistake free football even if we don’t get the breaks. Can they? They didn’t get many breaks at SD and they were killed. We will see.

[RedSkinBrit]

The Redskins are in the hunt this year and have a great shot at winning the division.Out of our rivals its the Cowboys i can see pushing us all the way .