The Redskins could be facing a trap game Sunday at New England while looking ahead to the Saints.
Huh?
Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post suggested Friday that the Redskins shouldn’t even bother trying to beat the Patriots and instead start preparing to play the Saints next Sunday.
Washington opened as a 13-point underdog, according to Sports Book Review, and as of Friday afternoon ranged from a 14- to 15-point underdog.
According to Steinberg, road underdogs of at least 14 points are 0-23 since 2011. The Patriots are 17-0 when favored by at least 14 since 2007.
The Redskins (3-4) are banged up. Cornerbacks Brashaud Breeland (hamstring), DeAngelo Hall (toe) and Chris Culliver (knee) all are listed as questionable according to the Washington Times. Also questionable are linebacker Ryan Kerrigan (broken hand), wide receiver DeSean Jackson (hamstring), center Kory Lichtensteiger (neck, shoulder) and linebacker Keenan Robinson (rotator cuff).
Edelman on the challenge in the Redskins secondary – “the challenge is to see who we’ll play”
— Michele Steele (@ESPNMichele) November 6, 2015
LB @RyanKerrigan91 felt “pretty good” practicing with cast on, hopes to play Sunday: https://t.co/4NZUl1U8Nh pic.twitter.com/iaY38V30LU — Washington Redskins (@Redskins) November 4, 2015
Steinberg says the Redskins, who already are coming off a bye week, might as well rest all those players at New England and have them ready to go for the 4-4 Saints at home in Week 10. Even if they all play and Jay Gruden has a game plan that would make Joe Gibbs proud, it could be futile against the 7-0 Patriots.
Naturally, Steinberg didn’t get a lot of support in the Redskins locker room when he floated this proposal. Kirk Cousins wasn’t quoted in the article, but it’s safe to assume he didn’t “like that.”
Steinberg’s idea is certainly outside the box, but the Redskins have something to build on after the biggest comeback in team history two weeks ago. They overcame a 24-0 deficit to defeat the Buccaneers 31-30 at home. This isn’t the time to lay down for an opponent, even if it is one that will probably beat them anyway.
The timing of the bye week is somewhat unfortunate as it could have slowed the momentum from that comeback. If the Redskins tank at Gillette Stadium, the starters would have to shake off some serious mothballs next week.
Furthermore, these aren’t the 2009 Saints the Redskins are hosting next week. They’re basically just another team. The Patriots, on the other hand, are anything but. And if the Redskins could swing an upset, they would turn some heads.
They probably have a lot of Patriot haters in their corner. They might as well give it a shot.
If the Redskins did field a preseason lineup against the Patriots and then lost to the Saints, they’d have egg on their faces.
But it might solve the whole nickname issue. Maybe they could be called the Washington Tankers.