UPDATE: The Redskins’ playoff picture got a lot clearer after Monday night’s game: The victory by the Dallas Cowboys over the Detroit Lions means that the Redskins must beat the Giants in the regular-season finale Sunday, while hoping that the Packers-Lions game doesn’t end in a tie. So … (gulp) thank you, Cowboys?
Also, the Redskins’ game against the Giants has been moved from 1 p.m. to 4:25 p.m. Sunday, while the Lions-Packers game has been moved to 8:30 p.m.
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WASHINGTON — The Redskins path to the playoffs got a little clearer after Saturday’s 41–21 win in Chicago and after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to the New Orleans Saints, which sets up a couple of scenarios for the Burgundy and Gold to return to the playoffs.
First, the Redskins have to win this Sunday at FedEx Field in the regular season finale over the New York Giants, who are locked into the fifth seed in the NFC playoffs. Washington also has to hope that the Dallas Cowboys beat the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football. Then, should the Redskins win over the Giants, Washington would get into the playoffs as the number six seed in the NFC playoffs.
Should the Lions defeat the Cowboys on Monday Night Football, the Redskins would then need the Lions to beat the Green Bay Packers this Sunday, while again Washington winning over the Giants, to get back to the postseason.
So, the Redskins could know their fate either after Monday night’s Lions-Cowboys game, otherwise we will have to wait until next Sunday after the Lion-Packers game.
The early gift the Redskins gave us Saturday makes this Christmas a lot more enjoyable this year.
But, should the Lions and Packers tie on Sunday, Jan. 1, and the Skins did their part in beating the Giants earlier that day, then the Skins would be eliminated from postseason play. The Burgundy and Gold already have one tie on the season, and don’t need another tie as a belated Christmas present…
In Saturday’s win over the Bears, Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins reached 4,630 passing yards, a franchise record, and with his two rushing touchdowns, gave him four on the season, making Cousins the second player in NFL history to pass for over 4,000 yards and rush for four touchdowns in consecutive seasons, the only other player to throw for over 4,000 yards and rush for four touchdowns in back-to-back seasons, Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers, doing so in the 2008–09 seasons.
