4: 3 Rough Roads

It's finally July! Training Camp and the Preseason are right around the corner, but the real thrill is kickoff of the season is in just over a month. The Redskins' Week 1 opponent carries a little more significance than in recent years. For the past two years the Redskins have met the New York Giants in Week 1. This year the burgundy and gold will face their hated rival Dallas in the season kickoff. Never has Week 1 meant so much. The Cowboys are favored to be Super Bowl contenders this year so the game will not be easy for the home team trying to start strong. The Redskins have much to prove and plenty of criticism to overcome from the 2009 campaign. Putting the Cowboys 0-1 at season's beginning would pay huge dividends for Washington. It's a tall order, and the odds heavily favor Dallas. Look for Washington to push for the upset. The Redskins not only have a rough season opener, they flat out have a rough season. The Redskins have the 8th hardest schedule this year of any team in the NFL.



From Dallas, the Redskins will have to dust themselves off and play an up and coming Houston Texans whose offense looks second to none. Following that game, it would appear the Redskins have a break against the Rams, but the Rams have made plenty of improvements and will be on their own turf making it a rough game for the Redskins. Week 4 will carry the most significance of any other game as McNabb will step into Philadelphia to face his former team. The Eagles will put it all on the field against Washington that week giving the Redskins another hard game. Many teams would be worn down to almost nothing after those four games, but that is just the beginning for the Redskins. Green Bay will visit the nation's capital in Week 5 as a former playoff contender. The odds heavily favor the defending AFC Champs in Week 6 as Indianapolis will play Washington at FedEx Field. The Redskins will head to Soldier Field to play Chicago in Week 7, and travel to Detroit for Week 8. Those two weeks plus the BYE Week the following week will hopefully be a chance for the Redskins to catch their breath. After the BYE, the Eagles will come to Washington to face McNabb again in a grueling grudge match for Week 10. The next two weeks could prove the hardest of the season for Washington with a home game against the Minnesota Vikings and a road game against Tennesee Titans. Week 13 the New York Giants and Washington Redskins will meet on the gridiron for the first time in 2010. Week 14 might be a break against Tampa Bay, but the following week will be crucial. Dallas Week in Arlington, TX will pit the two most bitter rivals in the NFC against each other once again in Week 15. The Redskins will end their hard 2010 campaign against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville and their season ends at home against the Giants in Week 17.

Overall, it will be very hard for Washington to have a winning season in 2010, but if they do it will not go unnoticed. If the Redskins wanted to shock the league and establish themselves as a playoff contender, wins in the first 6 weeks will be the time to do it. Look for Washington to play the underdog in almost every game in an attempt to reach the playoffs in 2010.