Playoff Rooting Card: Week 15

It is nice to finally write one of these things after a Redskins win. The last 4 or so have been written after losses, and to make it worse I had to watch just about every other team lose as well. After this last week’s win the redskins are really in position to make a serious run at the playoffs over the next 3 weeks. Unfortunately that run will be on the strength of Todd Collins Arm. Jason Campbell went down with a dislocated knee cap and may be available in the playoffs.

That is if we make it. The redskins have three remaining games left, @ NY Giants, @ Minnesota Vikings, and then we host Dallas for the final game of the year. Despite winning and having a lot of match ups go our way, the Redskins do not quite control their own destiny. Even if we win out, we need help to get in. However the situation is not quite as bleak as it was last week.

So here is how it stands right now:

NFC East: Dallas Cowboys 12-1
NFC North: Green Bay Packers 11-2
NFC West: Seattle Seahawks 9-4
NFC South: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-5
Wildcard #1: NY Giants 9-4 (7-4)
Wildcard #2: Minnesota Vikings 7-6 (5-5)

The Pack

New Orleans Saints 6-7 (5-4)
Washington Redskins 6-7 (4-5)
Arizona Cardinals 6-7 (3-6)
Detroit Lions 6-7 (4-7)
Carolina Panthers 5-8 (5-4)
Philadelphia Eagles 5-8 (3-7)
Chicago Bears 5-8 (2-7)

Here are the likely scenarios for the redskins making the playoffs:

If the Redskins win out and have a final record of 9-7, the following must happen: Either the New Orleans Saints must lose 1 of their last 3 games (AZ, PHI, @ CHI) or the NY Giants must lose all of their last 3 games (WAS, @ BUF, NE). The Redskins own h2h tie breakers over Arizona & Detroit, and if they win out they will own one against Minnesota (who till also drop to at most 9-7). New Orleans has a better NFC Record and we need them to lose one more game. However if the Giants lose all of their last games (not out of the question since besides us they play a surging Buffalo team and unstoppable Patriots) then we own a tiebreaker over them in common games (GB, NYJ, MIA, DET, MN, CHI, BUF, NE) because we will have beaten Minnesota and they didn’t..

If the Redskins finish 8-8 then all of the following must happen: In addition to losing to the Redskins, Minnesota must lose one of its other two games (CHI, @ DEN). New Orleans (AZ, PHI, @ CHI) would need to lose 2 of their last 3 games. Arizona (@NO, ATL, STL), Detroit (@SD, KC, @GB), & Carolina (SEA, DAL, @TB) would each need to lose 1 more game. The Redskins will have h2h tiebreakers over Chicago and either Division Record or Common Game tiebreakers over Philadelphia.

The Redskins have the luxury of playing on Sunday Night the next two weeks and we will know some of our situation going into the games. So it is quite possible the Redskins will control their own destiny at the time they take the field on Sunday night. Here are the match ups to watch this week:

Arizona Cardinals (6-7) @ New Orleans Saints (6-7). This is the most important game on the schedule this week besides our game. In my opinion this is the hardest game on New Orleans remaining schedule and our best hope to control our own destiny. Go Cardinals!!

Seattle Seahawks (9-4) @ Carolina Panthers (5-8). I doubt Carolina can run the table but if we stumble I don’t want to have them to worry about. Go Seahawks!!

Detroit Lions (6-7) @ San Diego Chargers (8-5). If we go 8-8 I rather have Detroit out of the picture. Come on Norv; do us some good for a change. Go Chargers!!

Chicago Bears (6-7) @ Minnesota Vikings (7-6). This happens on Monday night and we will know the outcome of our game by then. Either way I want Minnesota to lose to give us some breathing room. Go Bears!!

Washington Redskins @ NY Giants A win by the giants assures them a playoff spot, a win by us gives us a great chance to get in. Go Redskins!!

I have figured out that each week I do this thread I am doing myself mental harm. The permutations are so taxing I end up losing stuff I learned long ago. Last week I lost the ability to conjugate Spanish verbs in the past tense. This week I strangely can’t remember the name of my first pet. This much is for certain, I will be doing another one of these next week.

As always HTTR!!

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