WASHINGTON — Stop me if you’ve heard this one before — the Redskins are aiming to win back-to-back games for the first time this year.
The Redskins had heard all year about not being able to win on the road, they took care of that last week in Chicago. This week, it’s time to make it back-to-back wins.
“I’ll be the first to tell you that that’s got to change,” Kirk Cousins said at practice Thursday.
Washington has lost its last six games after a win and is currently at 6-7 on the year. Right now, they control their own playoff destiny. But the only way to make sure that stays true is to beat the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
The Bills (6-7) have been inconsistent this year, especially on the defensive side of the football. They are coming off a tough loss on the road last week to the Eagles. Rex Ryan still runs that defense and players know that he can dial things up to make it very difficult to move the football. Cousins will have to make sure he protects the football and make smart decisions. Plain and simple: don’t turn it over.
On the offensive side, the Bills have playmakers starting with quarterback Tyrod Taylor and running back LeSean McCoy. McCoy is currently seventh in the NFL in rushing, averaging nearly 79 yards a game and 4.5 per carry. A positive, perhaps, is that the Redskins are very familiar with McCoy, having seen him twice a year while he was with the Eagles.
As for Taylor, he is a QB that can be dangerous with his legs as well. Robert Griffin III has been good in practice giving the defense a great look at what to expect from a QB like Taylor by playing Taylor’s role on the scout team.
If the Redskins were to lose on Sunday, that would not be the end of the season and their chances. Players are using the “each week is do or die” mentality and that’s good, but while a loss may take things out of their hands, it wouldn’t be a season-ender.
The big one is going to be next Saturday night in Philadelphia against the Eagles. Anything is still possible in the wild NFC East, and all you can ask for is to be playing meaningful games in December. This team is certainly doing that.
