The National Football League announced its 2014 regular season schedule tonight, and the Washington Redskins’ schedule features three prime-time games, including back-to-back nationally televised evening contests at FedExField in Weeks 4-5. Washington also has a Week 16 Saturday game against the Philadelphia Eagles that’s scheduled to air on NFL Network at 4:30 pm. That game is subject to be flexed and air on CBS.
2014 Washington Redskins Schedule Breakdown/Analysis:
(September)
Week 1: at Houston Texans (Sept. 7) 1 pm FOX
Week 2: Jacksonville Jaguars (Sept. 14) 1 pm CBS
Week 3: at Philadelphia Eagles (Sept. 21) 1 pm FOX
Week 4: New York Giants (Sept. 25) 8:25 pm CBS (NFL Network)*
Thoughts: The Redskins could quite possibly kickoff their season with two straight games against rookie quarterbacks. Not to mention, if Houston selects the beast Jadeveon Clowney number one overall in May’s NFL Draft — Washington’s offensive tackles could lineup across Clowney and JJ Watt. That could keep QB Robert Griffin III up every night this summer. I always call week one games against new head coaches a “guessing match.” Both Redskins HC Jay Gruden and Texans HC Bill O’Brian are offensive minded coaches who will both call plays. You won’t really know what to expect from each. Week one could be a shootout. The week three game will mark DeSean Jackson’s first trip to Lincoln Financial as a visitor. After what’s sure to be a highly emotional week three game, Washington will have four days to prepare for a Thursday Night showdown against the Giants. Ideally, you’d want to come out this month with at least three wins.
(October)
Week 5: Seattle Seahawks (Oct. 6) 8:30 pm ESPN
Week 6: at Arizona Cardinals (Oct. 12) 4:25 pm FOX
Week 7: Tennessee Titans (Oct. 19) 1:00 pm CBS
Week 8: at Dallas Cowboys (Oct. 27) 8:30 pm ESPN
Thoughts: The Washington Redskins will have three primetime games in the first two months of football. That Monday Night game against Seattle sticks out. Seattle and Washington haven’t liked each other tracing back to Joe Gibbs chapter two days. Ending October’s slate of games with a MNF showdown in Dallas is a match-up that rarely disappoints. Of course, everyone will be keeping an eye (or ear) on the Jay Gruden – Jon Gruden connection for those MNF games. You’d want to win at least two of those October games. If we’re talking playoffs, a win against Seattle and Dallas would be huge.
(November)
Week 9: at Minnesota Vikings (Nov. 2) 1:00 pm FOX
Week 10: BYE (Winnable game)
Week 11: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Nov. 16) 1:00 pm FOX
Week 12: at San Francisco 49ers (Nov. 23) 4:25 pm CBS
Week 13: at Indianapolis Colts (Nov. 30) 1:00 pm FOX
Thoughts: One thing that instantly sticks out is the amount of away games the Redskins will have between October and November. From October 12 to November 30 the Redskins will play five of those seven games on the road. However, the Week 10 bye falls at a perfect time, giving the team a needed breather. The game that sticks out in November is the one against Indy. RGIII vs Andrew Luck in a regular season game — that’s what we’ve all been waiting to see. Ideally, winning at least two games in November would set the team up for meaningful December games.
(December)
Week 14: St. Lous Rams (Dec. 7) 1:00 pm FOX
Week 15: at New York Giants (Dec. 14) 1:00 pm FOX
Week 16: Philadelphia Eagles (Dec. 20) 4:30 pm NFL Network (CBS)*
Week 17: Dallas Cowboys (Dec. 28) 1:00 pm FOX
Thoughts: The Redskins will end the season with three straight division games. That just smells like a lineup in which they’ll likely have to win all three for a playoff berth.
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