Redskins 2013 Schedule

The 2013 NFL schedule has been released to the general public. It often surprises me how many people are uneducated about how the NFL schedule is developed. All but two games are planned years in advance. The AFC divisions and the NFC divisions play each other every four years. This portion of the schedule counts for four of the sixteen games.  AFC divisions will play each other every three years, and the same with NFC divisions. This, again, will count as four games. Six more games will come when each team will play the other three teams in their division twice (once home, once away).  If your keeping track the total of games is now at fourteen. So where do the other two games from? Those games are decided on your previous year’s divisional standing. If you finished second in your division you will play the two NFC teams that finished 2^nd in their division that you were not already scheduled for.

 Because this is a Redskins post I will use them as an example to show what I mean. Last Year  (2012) the Redskins played the AFC North (Ravens, Browns, Steelers, and Bengals).  This year (2013) they will play the AFC West (Chargers, Raiders, Chiefs, and Broncos).  2014 they will play the AFC South (Jags, Colts, Texans, and Titan), and in 2015 they will play the AFC East (Patriots, Dolphins, Bills, and Jets). After that the rotation will begin again in 2016 with the AFC North.

The same goes for the Redskins playing the other NFC divisions. Last year (2012) they played the NFC South (Panthers, Saints, Bucs, and Falcons).  This year (2013) they will play the NFC North (Packers, Bears, Vikings, and Lions) and then in 2014 they will play the NFC West (49ers, Seahawks, Rams, and Cardinals). The rotation then begins again with the NFC South in 2015.

Since the Redskins won their division and already plan to play the NFC  North this year, their remaining two games will consist of the division winners of the NFC West, the 49ers, and the NFC south, the Falcons.

Okay now that I have explained how the schedule is constructed, let me show you the 2013 Washington Redskins schedule.

REGULAR SEASON

Sep 9 7:10PMEST  Eagles ESPN  

Sep 15 1:00PMEST @  Packers   FOX

Sep 22 1:00PMEST   Lions  FOX

Sep 29 4:25PMEST @ AT  Raiders   FOX

BYE

Oct 13 8:30PMEST  @  Cowboys   NBC

Oct 20 1:00PMEST  Bears   FOX

Oct 27 4:25PMEST  @ Broncos   FOX

Nov 3 1:00PMEST   Chargers   CBS

Nov 7 8:25PMEST  @  Vikings   NFL

Nov 17 1:00PMEST @  Eagles   FOX

Nov 25 8:40PMEST   49ers   ESPN              

Dec 1 8:30PMEST   Giants   NBC

Dec 8 1:00PMEST   Chiefs   CBS

Dec 15 1:00PMEST  @  Falcons   FOX

Dec 22 1:00PMEST Cowboys  FOX

Dec 29 1:00PMEST  @  Giants  FOX

Things I find Interesting about the schedule.

-The Skins are currently scheduled to play five nationally televised games this year.  I find it interesting to look at who the Redskins play in those games. Three out of the five games are the teams in the Redskins division; the Cowboys, the Giants, and the Eagles. By scheduling three out of the six Redskins divisional games to be on the big stage the NFL is implying two things.  One thing it is saying that they intend the Redskins to be a good show and put up points. Two, the NFL suspects that the NFC East will be a tight contest throughout the season and should be showcased for all to see.  Also by scheduling the Redskins to play the Eagles on the first Monday night of the season they are expecting, and were convinced, Robert Griffin III will be able to start the season for the Redskins, if not they would not have scheduled this game to be on Monday night. The NFL also scheduled the two most well-known option QB’s, Kaepernick and Griffin, for a prime time game expecting it to be a high scoring and very entertaining.  

- The bye week is going to be a challenge for the Redskins. I know for myself, as a player, that was one of the first things I looked for when I recieved my schedule in college. I always wanted it as close to the center of the season as possible. I know in the moment players want the bye week early, however after that bye week passes you realize it is going to be a long time until you get a significant break again in your season. The Redskins will only play four games before their bye in week five and then will play twelve games. I do not know about you, but I have played nine games in a row before and the toll it takes is extraordinary. So an early bye will be a very difficult hurdle for the Redskins to jump in order to repeat as NFC East division champions.

-Like last year,  the NFL has back ended the Redskins schedule with division games. In the first eight games of the season, the Redskins only play two division games (vs Eagles - 9/9 and Cowboys - 10/13)  and both of them are in prime time. The last eight games of the season the Skins will play four divisional games with three of them in the last five weeks. That is a tough way to end the season if you ask me. 

-The Redskins only play two away games back-to-back in consecutive weeks. They do play back-to-back away games in week four and six but the bye week in week five separate those games.

-Long away games to Dallas, Denver, and Oakland all happen early in the season. After the Redskins play the Broncos in week eight they will not have to travel out of the eastern time zone to play a football game. Which is an underestimated advantage late in the season; at least I believe it is.

I am not going to make and predictions on the season just yet as we are still very long away from the beginning of the season. 

HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!

Is it September yet? 

-JM