But after seven weeks, Skins are exactly who we thought they were
ASHBURN – The Redskins could be 6-1. They just needed another stop vs. Houston. They just needed to hold onto interceptions vs. Indianapolis. They could be … should be … in first place.
Then again …
They could be 1-6. A holding call wiped out a last-second touchdown, and a last-second Hail Mary pass was dropped in the end zone, and a foolish non-challenge gave them new life vs. Chicago. The Packers dominated them until their pass-rushing ace exited with an injury.
All of which means this: the Redskins are right where they belong — at 4-3 and in second place in the NFC East.
“We have a chance to be at six wins, but we’re not,” Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. “Obviously we have a chance for losses as well. You are what you are and you have to earn them. Our team is smart. We have to find a way to win tight games.”
That’s all they’ve been doing. Six of their seven games have been decided by six points or less. And all of their wins have come by fewer than seven points. Is this the sign of a team that gets it done or is living right — for now?
They’ve done this with big plays in key moments: the forced hold vs. Dallas; the 10 fourth-quarter points vs. Green Bay; DeAngelo Hall’s interceptions vs. Chicago. Yes, in each case a play or two would have resulted in a loss. But those plays weren’t made.
It’s not as if the Redskins are beating bad teams. In the NFC, nobody has more wins over teams currently with a winning record than Washington. The Redskins are 3-2 vs. teams with winning records and the record of the teams they’ve defeated is a combined 13-14. St. Louis, with three wins coming vs. teams with a combined 10-10 mark, is the only team better than Washington in this department. In the AFC, both Indianapolis (15-13) and Houston (15-12) have wins vs. teams with a combined record over .500.
Yes, the Rams, Texans and Colts represent Washington’s three losses.
And nobody else in the NFC owns more than two wins against a team with a winning record. In the AFC, Houston and Indianapolis both are 3-1 vs. teams currently over .500. The 5-2 New York Giants — currently in first place in the NFC East — are 2-2 against those teams and the combined record of all their victims is 11-20. St. Louis also owns two wins vs. winning teams.
Meanwhile, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Green Bay, Tampa Bay and Chicago are a combined 5-14 vs. teams currently with a winning record. Seattle is 1-0. All these teams have won at least four games.
The Redskins have plenty of issues that could doom them over the next nine weeks, from an inconsistent passing game to spotty offensive line play and a defense that allows too many yards. Despite forcing six turnovers vs. Chicago, the Redskins still only won by three points.
So they know the 4-3 mark and several quality wins really means nothing.
“We could have easily won a couple more games, so it’s not a situation where we feel fortunate,” Redskins linebacker London Fletcher said. “We knew we’d be a good team. We played some good teams; we’ve been able to beat some good teams. We’re not happy. We have a lot of work ahead of us.”
