Why not dream a little --- you never know --- playoffs
 

I was looking at the playoff picture .. and while we are still a long shot, if the cowboys
beat the seahawks tonight (which would be bitter sweet), Seattle and St. Louis will be tied in their division and one of them will hold the last wild card spot at 6-6. The three other teams we beat this year (Bears, Lions, and Tampa Bay) are all 5-7 and one game out of that spot. If we just had one of those heartbreaking losses turned around (Packers game?), we would be considered in the mix at 5-7. so at 4-8, if we win out and seattle loses tonight, which is no easy task at the least, i would say we have a legit chance at playoffs (not sure about tie breaking procedure), but Seattle or St. louis goes 2-2 and they are 8-8, we would have to beat them in the tie breaker. and hope all the 5-7 teams, if any of them go 8-8 (Carolina the most likely), we beat them in the tie break as well, 3 of the teams we do beat in the tie breaker (Chicago, Tampa Bay, and Detroit) and if dallas and ny were both 5-7. i do not see either of them going 8-8. ...... just a thought,

i dont expect this, but look at how a win brings optimism everywhere!!

er, do we gotta root for the cowgirls tonight?? not sure i can do that..

I can wait until next season, I'm certainly not about to cheer on the Cow-Whores.

If we beat the Eagles, then I'll start to dream. Until we beat them, I still think were on the outside looking and just trying to finish it up strong!

[QUOTE=Gmanc711]If we beat the Eagles, then I'll start to dream. Until we beat them, I still think were on the outside looking and just trying to finish it up strong![/QUOTE]

My thoughts exactly. And, after what they did to GBay, Phil is going to be high as a kite for a sunday night game. Not saying we can't win it, but it will be a tough tough game.

IF we win it, THEN the "P" word can be discussed ad nauseum.

It's an intriguing thought, and I certainly considered the possibilities as I watched the Skins mop up the Gimps, but I'm of the "one game at a time" mindset, and the Skins have a very long shot at beating the Eagles, even if they're playing at home, the defense is smothering McNabb and Owens, and the offense plays the way it did Sunday.

Frankly, I'll be somewhat comforted after all that's transpired this season if the Skins continue to improve and finish up at 6-10. Given how poorly the remaining teams on the schedule, other than the Eagles, are playing now, I don't think 7-9 is out of the question, but I think that's the absolute best they can do at this point, and that still leaves them at home during the playoffs-- albeit with a lot more optimism about next season than they could have imagined earlier this season.

Still, 7-9 is a heck of a lot better than the 3-13 record that was quickly creeping into the realm of possibility.

I agree joe. After the Pittsburgh/Eagles games, I was sorta happy at how well we plaeyd and thought that 7-9 would be a very resectable, possible finish that would carry us over into next season. I'm still on that thinking level unless we beat the Eagles. I think we can beat (well we BETTER) beat SF, Dallas is alwasy tough I dont care how bad they are, but I think we should win that too. Minnestoa in Janurary at FedEx..... Defintley doable.

Let's not fool ourselves, the playoffs are a long shot.

I'll be happy with the team looking strong down the stretch, wins aren't the only thing that matter right now.

It does show how weak the NFC is this year, though given our schedule (read: PHILLY), we are a very long shot. And I'm not sure if the math actually works out.

Let's just keep playing better, and close out strong.

So okay...I did some schedulizing and making the playoffs is not impossible. It is probably pretty close though. We have to have everything fall the right way.
Below is what a rather optimistic prediction would be for the NFC final standings
Philadelphia 14-2
Washington 8-8
N.Y. Giants 6-10
Dallas 6-10

Green Bay 11-5
Minnesota 8-8
Chicago 7-9
Detroit 5-11

Atlanta 11-5
Carolina 9-7
Tampa Bay 7-9
New Orleans 4-12

Seattle 9-7
St. Louis 7-9
Arizona 5-11
San Francisco 1-15

I essentially went through week by week for the final 4 weeks and predicted who would win. I attempted to be unbiased when predicting and we actually make the playoffs without any crazy things happening(accept that we win out which is obviously not likely but must happen for any chance at the playoffs.)

A couple things struke me about the above scenario and what has to happen.

a) there are a lot of divisional games throughout the NFC that we need to go as they should. Upsets are bad for us. Upsets are deadly for us.
b) we need green bay to win out and NO, Det and SF to lose out. For NO and SF that could definitly happen but Det is better than that. The losing out I predicted was on a week by week basis and they play some decent teams. Possible but not probable
c) gosh doesn't the west just suck?
d)SL,TB and Chi need to only win one game the rest of the year again I went ona week by week basis. This is possible but again not probable.
e) in the above scenario they actually make the playoffs straight up by virtue of being 8-8 and having beat Minn. Carolina also makes the Playoffs after a horrific start.
d) we absolutly have to win out. no other way is possible.

So basically it is possible but not probable.

Optimism is good, but...
 

[QUOTE=heybigstar]I was looking at the playoff picture .. and while we are still a long shot, if the cowboys
beat the seahawks tonight (which would be bitter sweet), Seattle and St. Louis will be tied in their division and one of them will hold the last wild card spot at 6-6. The three other teams we beat this year (Bears, Lions, and Tampa Bay) are all 5-7 and one game out of that spot. If we just had one of those heartbreaking losses turned around (Packers game?), we would be considered in the mix at 5-7. so at 4-8, if we win out and seattle loses tonight, which is no easy task at the least, i would say we have a legit chance at playoffs (not sure about tie breaking procedure), but Seattle or St. louis goes 2-2 and they are 8-8, we would have to beat them in the tie breaker. and hope all the 5-7 teams, if any of them go 8-8 (Carolina the most likely), we beat them in the tie break as well, 3 of the teams we do beat in the tie breaker (Chicago, Tampa Bay, and Detroit) and if dallas and ny were both 5-7. i do not see either of them going 8-8. ...... just a thought,

i dont expect this, but look at how a win brings optimism everywhere!![/QUOTE]


Man, nothing would be sweeter than to squeeze in the playoffs...but I think next year is OURS! We have the best defense in the NFL bar none...yes even better than the Steelers...remember Barrow and Arington are out...ad them and you are talikng 86 Bears type D.

If Clinton Portis adjusts to the hog style of blocking...which needs patience on his part...no one will stop us running the ball. All Patrick Ramsey has to do is not make mistakes...he doesn't need big numbers...Theisman didn't either...just a threat os a deep ball to keep safeties honest.

I have been a Skins fan since 1978. I have seen the glory and felt the agony of many fruitless seasons. Thank God for Gibbs, Bugel, Williams (MVP) and Snyder for his reverence of Gibbs. We are definetly on our way to dominance again!

44Dive

Nice Post, FRPLG

We have the best defense? i hope so, but you cant forget about Baltimore... a lot of talent htere...
but yeah, the Skins D is
great, i love our defense.

Here's my "I have way to much time on my hands", the Skins could make the playoffs post:

A few explanations/assumptions first:
Green Bay and Minnesota are both 7-5; One of them will win the Central, the other will get the first Wild Card

For the Skins to make the playoffs, they must win out. One loss (Philly comes to mind) and they are out. IF they do win out, they will have an 8-8 record with an 8-4 conference record which is the first tie breaker when more than two teams have the same record.

Of the current contenders - The bears, bucs and lions have at least 5 conference losses and cannot finish with a conference better than ours so a tied record with them wins for us.

I am counting N. Orleans, NY Giants and Dallas out as I expect them to have at least 9 losses by the end of the season (Dallas (5-7) plays us and Philly, and the Giants and N. Orleans just suck).

As for the rest:

Seattle (6-5) (5-3): Final Record 8-8 (8-4) Wins West
12.06 Dallas W 7-5 (6-3)
12.12 At Minnesota L 7-6 (6-4)
12.19 At NY Jets L 7-7
12.26 Arizon W 8-7 (7-4)
01.02 Atlanta L 8-8 (8-4)

St. Louis (6-6) (6-3): Final Record 7-9 (7-5)
12.12 At Carolina L 6-7 (6-4)
12.19 At Arizon W 7-7 (7-4)
12.27 Phil L 8-7 (7-5)
01.02 NY Jets L 8-8

Carolina (5-7) (4-4): Final Record 8-8 (6-6)
12.12 St. Louis W 6-7 (5-4)
12.18 At Atlanta L 6-8 (5-5)
12.26 At T. Bay L 6-9 (5-6)
01.02 N. Orleans W 8-8 (6-6)

Chicago (5-7) Final Record 6-10
12.12 At Jaguars L 5-8
12.19 Houston W 6-8
12.26 At Detroit L 6-9
01.02 Green Bay L 6-10

Detroit (5-7) Final Record 7-9
12.12 At G. Bay L 5-8
12.19 Minn. W 6-8
12.26 Chicago W 7-8
01.02 Tennessee L 7-9

T. Bay (5-7) Final Record 8-8
12.12 At San Diego L 5-8
12.19 N. Orleans W 6-8
12.26 Carolina W 7-8
01.02 At Arizona W 8-8


Fire away.

BTW the records in the Parentheses are the conference records.

Under this Scenario,

Final Records

Washington 8-8 (8-4)
Carolina 8-8
T. Bay 8-8
St. Louis 7-9
Detroit 7-9
Chicago 6-10

Philly, Seattle, Green Bay/Minn, and Atl. win divisions
Green Bay/Minn, Washington in as WC's.

I'm not worried about making the playoffs this year, I will be ecstatic if we end at 8-8, but not disappointed if we end up 7-9 which is very possible. After the season we've had this year and the scrutiny that Joe Gibbs has been under, I think 7-9 is a great accomplishment.

Boswell actually says that we can slip in at 7-9, if things fall right. But I don't know what scenario he's thinking of:

From today's Post:

"I'm hoping we play great down the stretch. I'm proud to be with our guys," said Gibbs, whose team actually has a not-insignificant chance to make the playoffs if it could somehow finish with a 7-9 record in the weak NFC this season. "Now, who knows? Fight hard down the stretch and who knows?"

Is this really possible?

PS All I really wanted from this year were improvments and meaningful games in December. We may get both.

i wonder what % chance we have of playoffs if we win out

IF we win out, I think we have a pretty good shot.

But first, let's play Philly and see what happens.

Many people think I'm a pessimist (see my early-season discussion of Brunell or Gibbs' playcalling). Many others think I'm an optimist (see my discussion of our WRs as great). I like to consider myself a realist.

I realistically think that the Redskins CAN, repeat CAN make the playoffs. They'd be one and done, but it is possible for the 'Skins to make the postseason.

If the Redskins can beat the Eagles, they will spank the 49ers (who anyone can beat), Cowboys (who we almost beat with Brunell at the helm), and Vikings (who haven't won a single outdoor game this year and usually stink by Week 14). If the Redskins beat the Eagles, their confidence will be high, their play will be excited and determined, and they will have an honest shot at the playoffs.

HOWEVER, I think the Eagles are too much for just about any team in the NFC (the 'Skins included). I expect to lose this game by two scores and miss the playoffs.

i could be mistaken but i believe the first tie breaker is head to head not conference record so the bears lions and bucs would lose to us in that situation but i believe were all grasping at straws because we finally won a damn game

So do we need the Cowboys to win tonight or the Seahawks?

i believe the cowboys winning would help our cause more than the seahawks because assuming we win out we would take the tie breaker over the cowboys due to a tie in the head to head and in all probability a better division record but a seahawks loss puts them and the rams at six and six and gives us a better chance at one of them losing three of there last four and finishing at 7-9 behind us but its all speculation we still have to beat the 11-1 eagles then run the table not likely but we can hope

last week werent we talking about getting another top 5 pick

[QUOTE=aehs77]last week werent we talking about getting another top 5 pick[/QUOTE]
isn't talking about football fun :D

[QUOTE=aehs77]last week werent we talking about getting another top 5 pick[/QUOTE]

The tide has changed my friend. Didn't you hear? We're the the best team in the league after last Sunday.

Optimism is much more fun than talking about the draft in early December!

[QUOTE=redskinsskickazz]i could be mistaken but i believe the first tie breaker is head to head not conference record so the bears lions and bucs would lose to us in that situation but i believe were all grasping at straws because we finally won a damn game[/QUOTE]

Head to head only counts if there are only two teams tied with similar records. If more than one team has the same record, it goes to conference records. Since the only way the skins get in is by being 8-8, expect a multi team tie.

As for the buc, bears and lions, we win b/c of our better conference record. (IF we go 8-8).

I am with Ramseyfan, I think IF we beat the eagles we have a good shot at making the playoffs. the two teams that may edge us are the 2nd place team in the west or Carolina. We have the tiebreakers against everybody else AND all the other contenders play someone who they shoulld lose to.

BUT as I have been saying elsewhere FIRST beat Philly, then we'll talk playoffs.

Philly is sky high right now. It will take a better game than we played against the Giants to beat them.

FOR THE TIE-BREAKERS GO HERE: [url]http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?page=tiebreakers[/url]

[QUOTE=Daseal]Optimism is much more fun than talking about the draft in early December![/QUOTE]

Damn Straight. :headbange

All i can think about now is the Philly game.....
I really want us to pull out a win.... I think we are
a better team than last time, Ramsey is more comfortable,
and hopefuilly if we get our running game established early,
Play strong defense, playoff discussions will escalate even more
next week!!

[QUOTE=heybigstar]All i can think about now is the Philly game.....
I really want us to pull out a win.... I think we are
a better team than last time, Ramsey is more comfortable,
and hopefuilly if we get our running game established early,
Play strong defense, playoff discussions will escalate even more
next week!![/QUOTE]

You're exactly right, we are a better team than a few weeks ago. Were not as good on offense as we showed against New York, but we are better. Our first game vs Philly was alot closer than 28-6 too. We defintley have a chance. Is it a long shot, yes, most defintley. But its defintley there! I'm not gonna start dreaming unless we take that shot.

Okay, I admit it. I cannot wait for Sunday to see if the Giants game was the real deal or not.

God help me - I am starting to get hopeful. Please someone drug me before I go to far.

If we win out we most likely make the playoffs, we would win the tiebreaker against all the current 5-7 teams. Gives us somethign to hope for, but the big question is obvioulsy just worrying about winning against philly this week.

It all starts on Sunday. If... and that's a big if, we can beat the Eagles it would certainly set up a very interesting last 3 games.

there is no tomorrow but the Eagles. c'mon guys, really, stay focused. us Skin's fans must be THE most susceptible to hype than any other.

All I wanted out of this season was meaningful games in December. Thanks to the super weak NFC, we've got it. And it just HAD to be against the friggin iggles. Oh, well. Nothing is given to you in the NFL (unless you're the cowroids...). Too bad the schedule didn't slant in the other direction this year, so it got easier instead of harder.

Still, Sunday's game actually matters. Oh, man, I am very nervous. Very tough to do any work this week! Let's hope the iggles are looking past this to the playoffs, and the skins aren't (unlike us super hopeful fans!). HTTR!

we just gotta bloody someone's nose a bit early and i think the Eagles will back off cuz it's a more or less a 'meaningless' game to them.

LaVar needs to come back this game and somebody has to piss off Taylor.

This is a good explanation of the situation and a list of who to root for on sunday. Now all we gotta do is win.

[URL=http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=citadel-2_327808_71&prov=citadel&type=lgns]playoff picture[/URL]