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John Clayton's Article from ESPN.com (Mega Merge)


csgunderson

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NFC East: Based on the schedule, the Redskins might have the best chance to pull out the division. This four-way race, though, should go down to the last two weeks. The Redskins' remaining foes have a combined 34-31 record, and the biggest challenges should come within the division. The two games against winning teams outside of the NFC East are vs. the Bucs and Chargers. They have winnable games against the Raiders and Cardinals. That's a far cry from what the Cowboys face.

The Cowboys have the toughest closing schedule in the division, against teams with a combined 39-25 record. Six of their next seven games are against winning teams, and they close with a tough one against the Rams. The other problem is location. They have three division games remaining, all on the road. They were 2-1 in the division home games. To make up that loss to the Redskins earlier this season, they have to win one or two divisional road games.

The Eagles' season could be determined in the next two weeks. They face the Cowboys Monday night and the Giants the following Sunday. If they lose both games, the season is pretty much over. They're already in last place, and they would lose their chance to catch up to the other winning teams in the division. They are already 0-2 in the NFC East and will start losing the tiebreakers if they can't make up ground over the next two weeks.

The Giants have a great chance to win the division or get a wild-card berth. They get the benefit of playing the Chiefs at home in December, but their other three December games are all on the road, and that could be tricky. All the teams in this division will have a tough time getting to 11 or 12 wins because they have to play too many good teams. Each team could end up playing a dozen games this year against teams with records of 8-8 or better. Plus, they will be beating up each other so much, the losses from those games will affect their seedings.

Prediction: Redskins win division, Giants grab wild card.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=2217806&CMP=OTC-DT9705204233

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NFC East: Based on the schedule, the Redskins might have the best chance to pull out the division. This four-way race, though, should go down to the last two weeks. The Redskins' remaining foes have a combined 34-31 record, and the biggest challenges should come within the division. The two games against winning teams outside of the NFC East are vs. the Bucs and Chargers. They have winnable games against the Raiders and Cardinals. That's a far cry from what the Cowboys face.

The Cowboys have the toughest closing schedule in the division, against teams with a combined 39-25 record. Six of their next seven games are against winning teams, and they close with a tough one against the Rams. The other problem is location. They have three division games remaining, all on the road. They were 2-1 in the division home games. To make up that loss to the Redskins earlier this season, they have to win one or two divisional road games.

The Eagles' season could be determined in the next two weeks. They face the Cowboys Monday night and the Giants the following Sunday. If they lose both games, the season is pretty much over. They're already in last place, and they would lose their chance to catch up to the other winning teams in the division. They are already 0-2 in the NFC East and will start losing the tiebreakers if they can't make up ground over the next two weeks.

The Giants have a great chance to win the division or get a wild-card berth. They get the benefit of playing the Chiefs at home in December, but their other three December games are all on the road, and that could be tricky. All the teams in this division will have a tough time getting to 11 or 12 wins because they have to play too many good teams. Each team could end up playing a dozen games this year against teams with records of 8-8 or better. Plus, they will be beating up each other so much, the losses from those games will affect their seedings.

Prediction: Redskins win division, Giants grab wild card.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=2217806&CMP=OTC-DT9705204233

Emm, Emm, Emm, love me some John Clayton! If only to be dead on!!!!

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Short of playing a bunch of pansies, the Redskins schedule is setting up nicely. While the memory of the Giants game won't let remotely think that any game on the schedule is a "gimme", the Redskins have the benefit of playing their toughest remaining opponents (as it stands now) at FedEx.

I'd much rather have the Raiders, Chargers, Cowboys, Giants at home and the Bucs, Rams, Cardinals, and Eagles on the road than vice versa. Clayton's analysis here is more than the typical superficial glance-over spewed by media-types. Imagine that, taking into account not only teams on the schedule, but game location, too. Who woulda thunk it?

I hope he's right, but that is by no means a given. Like I said, that Giant loss is too fresh. Any of the teams on the schedule will whip them if they pull another clunker like that.

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NFC East: Based on the schedule, the Redskins might have the best chance to pull out the division. This four-way race, though, should go down to the last two weeks. The Redskins' remaining foes have a combined 34-31 record, and the biggest challenges should come within the division. The two games against winning teams outside of the NFC East are vs. the Bucs and Chargers. They have winnable games against the Raiders and Cardinals. That's a far cry from what the Cowboys face.

The Cowboys have the toughest closing schedule in the division, against teams with a combined 39-25 record. Six of their next seven games are against winning teams, and they close with a tough one against the Rams. The other problem is location. They have three division games remaining, all on the road. They were 2-1 in the division home games. To make up that loss to the Redskins earlier this season, they have to win one or two divisional road games.

The Eagles' season could be determined in the next two weeks. They face the Cowboys Monday night and the Giants the following Sunday. If they lose both games, the season is pretty much over. They're already in last place, and they would lose their chance to catch up to the other winning teams in the division. They are already 0-2 in the NFC East and will start losing the tiebreakers if they can't make up ground over the next two weeks.

The Giants have a great chance to win the division or get a wild-card berth. They get the benefit of playing the Chiefs at home in December, but their other three December games are all on the road, and that could be tricky. All the teams in this division will have a tough time getting to 11 or 12 wins because they have to play too many good teams. Each team could end up playing a dozen games this year against teams with records of 8-8 or better. Plus, they will be beating up each other so much, the losses from those games will affect their seedings.

Prediction: Redskins win division, Giants grab wild card.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=2217806&CMP=OTC-DT9705204233

I have always thought that John Clayton was the best, non-biased reporter under the ESPN umbrella. He is looking at the division objectively rather than basing his predictions on the past. I totally agree with his angle. :applause:

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Guest BleedinBurgundyandGold

its all predicated on winning this week against TB. I know some people are overlooking the Bucs on the boards, but they have the #1 defense in the NFL....that being said if we loose the turnover battle, we'll loose the game. Simple as that.

However, all hail Clayton for finally saying what WE all know.

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