With the NFL season fast approaching, Last Word on Pro Football is analyzing the schedules of all 32 NFL teams. Each team’s 16-game slate will be split into its most difficult (1-8) and easiest games (9-16). For this article, the focus is on the Washington Redskins easiest games of the 2020 season.
Washington Redskins Easiest Games in 2020
9. Week 2: at Arizona Cardinals
The Redskins take on the upstart Cardinals, a team with an exciting offense that added wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to pair with dynamic quarterback Kyler Murray. The Skins are lucky to face the Cardinals earlier in the season when Hopkins and Murray are still in the process of establishing chemistry. This will be a challenging game that only lands on the “easiest games” list because the Redskins have a tough schedule overall. Washington will need to score points in a likely shootout here against the fast-paced Cardinals. This game represents a terrific opportunity for Dwayne Haskins to showcase his growth on the road against an exploitable Cardinals’ defense.
10. Week 15: vs. Seattle Seahawks
It’s always tough to take on one of the best quarterbacks in Russell Wilson, but this is a home game against a Seahawks team that is not too imposing. While the Seahawks remain in the playoff picture, they look more like a fringe team than a Super Bowl contender. The Redskins’ secondary will have a tough time with wide receivers D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, but the Seahawks’ coaching staff is stubbornly insistent on maintaining a run-heavy offense, so the Skins catch a bit of a break there. Haskins has another strong matchup here against a Seahawks’ defense that allowed 263 passing yards per game in 2019.
11. Week 1: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are a playoff contender, but this game is a bit more winnable because the Redskins will be at home in this one. It will be the second year in a row that the two division rivals will meet in the first week of the season. While the Eagles added star cornerback Darius Slay, this is still a beatable secondary, so Haskins will have a chance to start his sophomore season off with a bang. Sophomore wide receiver Terry McLaurin can also get loose against the Eagles’ defensive backs. New head coach Ron Rivera will have the team fired up to get him his first win against a division rival to kickstart a new era.
12. Week 6: at New York Giants
The Redskins head to the Meadowlands to take on Daniel Jones and the division-rival Giants. The Giants have an exploitable defense, so there’s a decent chance that Dwayne Haskins and Terry McLaurin will have big games in this one. Haskins will look to erase his forgettable debut in this very stadium, where he came in relief of Case Keenum and proceeded to throw three interceptions on only 17 pass attempts. Haskins, a native of New Jersey, will be fired up to showcase his talents to friends and family after last season’s debacle. While it’s always tough on the road, this is the most winnable road game on Washington’s 2020 schedule.
13. Week 5: vs. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have declined significantly since their Super Bowl loss, making this another winnable game for the Redskins. While Dwayne Haskins could have his hands full against the likes of Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey, this is a top-heavy Rams’ roster with limited depth across the board. This is a great matchup for the Redskins’ defense, as the Rams’ have a porous offensive line that could be exploited by the Redskins’ nasty front-seven that includes five first-round picks. This is a great chance for the Redskins to get another victory against former offensive coordinator Sean McVay.
14. Week 11: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals will be a much-improved team with rookie quarterback Joe Burrow in a high-octane offense that includes A.J. Green, Joe Mixon, and Tyler Boyd. However, this is still a weak defense that gave up a league-worst 7.8 yards per attempt in the passing game. Despite the return of offensive tackle Jonah Williams, the Bengals offensive line still has question marks, making them a good matchup for this Skins’ front seven. Dwayne Haskins will have a great chance to succeed against his former teammate in Burrow (Burrow transferred from Ohio State to LSU). Look for this game to be a shootout with two young quarterbacks – a very winnable home game for the Redskins.
15. Week 9: vs. New York Giants
The Redskins come off the bye to take on the Giants in a very winnable home game. Last time these two teams met in DC, the Giants won 41-35 in an overtime thriller. Dwayne Haskins was off to a terrific start in that game before departing due to injury. It’s reasonable to expect Haskins to have a strong game against this exploitable Giants’ secondary, especially at home. This is definitely the second-easiest game on the Redskins’ schedule in 2020, particularly since it comes right after the team’s bye week. Expect this to be one of the team’s best offensive showings of the season.
16. Week 16: vs. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have some great pieces on offense, such as Christian McCaffrey and D.J. Moore, but this is a rebuilding team that has lost a ton of talent on defense, including stars like Luke Kuechly and James Bradberry. Ron Rivera will be highly motivated to show his former team that they made a mistake in firing him, so expect the Redskins to be pumped up to win this one for their coach. Panthers’ quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will be in tough against this swarming Skins’ defense. This is undoubtedly the easiest game on Washington’s schedule this year – expect Haskins to have his best game of the season.
Be sure to check out the eight toughest games on the Washington Redskins 2020 schedule.
