Burner's Burning Questions: 2016 Season Predictions

[Burgundy Burner]

The new season is about to begin and the Redskins are facing another tough sixteen game schedule. In the final offseason edition of BBQ for 2016, we will make a game by game prediction. All of us would love to see a 16-0 record, but let

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[Burgundy Burner]

2016 Season Predictions​

The new season is about to begin and the Redskins are facing another tough sixteen game schedule. In the final offseason edition of BBQ for 2016, we will make a game by game prediction. All of us would love to see a 16-0 record, but let’s see if we can make some accurate prognostications. Are you ready for some football?

September 12 – Steelers at Redskins
The Jay Gruden era enters a third season with a lot of hope after winning the NFC East title in 2015, but a challenging schedule awaits. The Steelers are a perennial playoff team and they are looking to make a possible run at the Super Bowl. The visiting team is lacking a few players, but manages to win.
Steelers 24 Redskins 21
Record: 0-1

September 18 – Cowboys at Redskins
The Redskins are looking for a measure of revenge from last year’s home loss to the fierce rival from Texas. It’s close, but a late surge carries the Redskins to their first win of the season.
Redskins 34 Cowboys 24.
Record: 1-1

September 25 – Redskins at Giants
The Redskins visited the Giants in game three last year and the blue jerseys are looking for a similar result. This game is much closer and the home team prevails with a late touchdown.
Giants 31 Redskins 28
Record: 1-2

October 2 – Browns at Redskins
The Redskins are bit behind early in the season and hope to put a win on the board. The Browns and former quarterback for the Redskins, Robert Griffin, III, come to town. The Browns are in disarray and the home team wins by a wide margin.
Redskins 45 Browns 10
Record: 2-2

October 9 – Redskins at Ravens
The I-95 rivalry is renewed and both teams are struggling a bit. A win for either team puts them in a much better position. The Redskins use a handful of field goals from Dustin Hopkins it carries the day in a defensive battle
Redskins 26 Ravens 17
Record: 3-2

October 16 – Eagles at Redskins
The Eagles are having a season to forget, but they are focused on future seasons. The Redskins are poised to have a solid game against the NFC East foe. Confidence continues to build as the home team enjoys a comfortable win.
Redskins 38 Eagles 14
Record: 4-2

October 23 – Redskins at Lions
The Redskins are looking to build on their three game winning streak. Jamison Crowder has his best day thus far and a see-saw affair with the Lions leaves the game in doubt until Dustin Hopkins connects on a long field goal.
Redskins 27 Lions 26
Record: 5-2

October 30 – Redskins at Bengals…In London
Riding high on a four game winning streak, the Redskins are looking to build on the momentum and begin a push toward the playoffs. The Bengals have other ideas and the “visiting” team loses on a neutral field.
Bengals 37 Redskins 21
Record: 5-3

Bye:
After the return trip across the Atlantic, the Redskins hit the halfway mark of the season. If they can match their record in the first half of the season, it is likely to hand them a playoff berth and a division title.

November 13 – Vikings at Redskins
The Redskins are looking to sustain some momentum toward a solid playoff run. Playing the Vikings at home is a good chance to start a new winning streak. In something of an upset, the home team has one slip away.
Vikings 30 Redskins 28
Record: 5-4

November 20 – Packers at Redskins
The Packers come to town and are looking at a playoff run of their own. The Redskins are looking to rekindle the magic of their early season success. The Packers score early and often. It is the worst game of the season for the home team thus far.
Packers 42 Redskins 19
Record: 5-5

November 24 - Redskins at Cowboys
The annual Thanksgiving game in Texas gives the Redskins very little time to prepare for their division rivals. The spirited contest is an offensive battle, but a great game from Ezekiel Elliott leads the Cowboys to a win.
Cowboys 41 Redskins 35
Record: 5-6

December 4 – Redskins at Cardinals
After the excitement of a four game winning streak early in the season, the Redskins are now mired in a four game losing streak. It doesn’t get any better in the desert as the visiting team is now on the brink of elimination.
Cardinals 28 Redskins 25
Record: 5-7

December 11 - Redskins at Eagles
The boys wearing Burgundy and Gold travel to The Linc and hear the boo-birds. However, that booing is for the home team and the Redskins pour it on with a much needed victory.
Redskins 51 Eagles 21
Record: 6-7

December 19 – Panthers at Redskins
It sure is nice to have a home game. An upset win is needed to keep faint playoff hopes alive. However, Carolina is just too much. Too much Cam. Too much Kelvin. Too much Greg. Too much Jonathan. You get the idea.
Panthers 48 Redskins 31
Record: 6-8

December 24 – Redskins at Bears
It’s Christmas Eve and the Redskins still have their dwindling playoff hopes alive by a thread and desperately need a win. The Bears are more than happy to oblige as the home team flounders. The bad news comes after the game. The playoffs are no longer a possibility and a division title is out of reach.
Redskins 43 Bears 15
Record: 7-8

January 1 – Giants at Redskins
The Giants choose to rest their starters on the first day of 2017 and with a division title in hand, they will concede this game to the Redskins. Several players in the Burgundy and Gold are able to get some valuable game experience.
Redskins 35 Giants 10
Record: 8-8

The Redskins are served a serious plate of humble pie in the second half of the season, but there are no changes in the coaching structure. However, there are many positive signs and the team could be poised to have a very good 2017. A solid foundation is established. Kirk Cousins has convinced team brass that he is the future and is signed to a multi-year deal. Scot McCloughan chooses to move on from Junior Galette as Preston Smith is now a star. Free agency will once again focus on depth and special teams. The draft will focus on defensive line, running back, offensive line, wide receiver, and outside linebacker.

When making such predictions, this was not a blog that BBQ enjoyed writing – it was very tough. What are your expectations for 2016? Do you see a better record? Worse? Are there any surprises coming for 2016? Let us know what you are thinking.

This is the final offseason edition of BBQ for 2016. The weekly format will return after each game during the regular season. Thanks for making the last eight months an enjoyable experience as we attempted to formulate free agent predictions, mock drafts, and final roster guesses.

On a personal note, thank you so much for the well wishes, thoughts, and prayers this summer. I am humbled by it all and grateful at the same time.

It’s time for some football!

Hail To The Redskins!

 

[Goaldeje]

I dunno BB, if we go 3-5 down the stretch, I'm not sure there aren't some changes made.

I agree with most of your assessment, but I put us down for a W against the Vikings - I've never liked Bradford that much and don't think they are nearly as good without Bridgewater.

The Bengals game is a complete toss up for me at this point also. I just don't know what to expect there - it wouldn't shock me to see us win convincingly because I suspect Cincy may be on the way down. But the game in London is a complete crapshoot to me.

9-7 or 10-6 sounds about right to me.

 

[McD5]

I was going to type this two weeks ago, but it would have sounded crazy.

11-5, and we're going to the SB.

Washington vs. Pittsburgh.

 

[JohnssBass]

Lots of work in there, BB.

Hard for me to predict anything much past breakfast but I think that if the Steelers game turns into a shoot out that actually favors the Redskins. I believe that the line will break 60 and it's going to be a lot closer game than the average Joe believes. I still think Pittsburgh wins but I wouldn't take them in Survival Pool this week. The Skins Week 1 record over the last five years is not good. 1-4 with the lone win on the road against New Orleans in 2012 while the last Week 1 home game win was in 2011 when they swept the Giants for the first time since 1999.

The winner in the division will be the division winner.

For the season - they gotta win in the division. That's how the Redskins won the division last year, by going 4-2. The Giants have had Washington's number for several years now and really no reason for it. In the last four seasons Washington has won exactly two games against New York and are 10 & 22 since the turn of the century. The Eagles are in a reboot so it's hard to say how that'll pan out this year but I suspect that they'll be much better in December than they'll be in October. And the Cowboys with a change at QB. Prescott may be a change for the better all things considered and they've added a stud RB. For a long time Dallast should have been a run first team and relied way more Romo than necessary plus Tony's never going to play a full season again even if he does come back.

2016 Season: 6 & 4 outside the NFC East (5-5 last year) then go 3 & 3 in the division so 9-7 overall. If they want to break into double digits under the W column they'll have to do better than .500 in the East
Prior to last year the last time the Skins had a winning division record was 2012 netting a 5-1 record which was also the last time they had double digit wins (10-6).

 

[Henry]

That's more or less how I see the season going, BB. The first half of the season looks a lot softer than the second half. I would not be surprised with a strong start and a lackluster finish, ending up around 8-8.

Yep. Sounds about right.

Hopefully you are correct and there aren't sweeping front office changes if the second half of the season goes south. I don't think that would be necessary or helpful.

 

[Boone]

You guys are ****ies

10-6 and we reach the NFC championship game. We'll win 3 of our first 4 btw - including the opener (the Gmen will trip is up on a late FG)

Oh - and we'll be the #1 passing attack in the league in 2016.


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[Burgundy Burner]

I corrected grammatical errors - it needed editing. If you see any other mistakes, please let me know.

It's tough to read my own writings these days. I know that my cognitive function is still problematic, but writing, studying, and researching helps a lot. I've been told that the healing process will take until next summer. I just soldier along.

Again, if you see mistakes, point them out. It helps. Hope everyone is having a good day.

 

[Elephant]

I think we end up going into London with a 6-1 record. It will be down the stretch we start to slide, but still end up at 10-6/9-7 and we win the division again.

 

[Boone]

I corrected grammatical errors - it needed editing. If you see any other mistakes, please let me know.

It's tough to read my own writings these days. I know that my cognitive function is still problematic, but writing, studying, and researching helps a lot. I've been told that the healing process will take until next summer. I just soldier along.

Again, if you see mistakes, point them out. It helps. Hope everyone is having a good day.

You are doing great brother!


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[Henry]

You guys are ****ies

10-6 and we reach the NFC championship game. We'll win 3 of our first 4 btw - including the opener (the Gmen will trip is up on a late FG)

Oh - and we'll be the #1 passing attack in the league in 2016.

When I see it, B. When I see it.

 

[Elephant]

You guys are ****ies

10-6 and we reach the NFC championship game. We'll win 3 of our first 4 btw - including the opener (the Gmen will trip is up on a late FG)

Oh - and we'll be the #1 passing attack in the league in 2016.


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McD5...what have you done with Boone?

 

[TomE]

10-6

 

[Bulldog]

Looking at the schedule, I think a number of people are overrating the Ravens and Packers. The Redskins have much better than a puncher's chance of winning those fights.

Also, the Redskins passing game is going to work on the road too, so I would not be so quick to put us down for close victories at home and blowout losses on the road.

FYI, we have beaten the Cowboys in Dallas the past 2 years. And I don't see a trip to see the Giants as being a double digit loss.

 

[Fear The Spear]

October 2 – Browns at Redskins
Redskins 45 Redskins 10

Sounds like a familiar story.
We beat ourselves !

 

[Burgundy Burner]

Sounds like a familiar story.
We beat ourselves !

I apologize. It's fixed.

 

[Ax]

Same thing I said in June.

11-5, division champs, playoffs, where anything can happen.

Redskins over the Steelers in the Super Bowl is as possible as anything else.

Defense is gonna shock a lot of people.

 

[Om]

There are still enough question marks about the 2016 Skins that I'm not comfortable "predicting" a record improvement over last year.

- The defense is still an unknown quantity--yes, the secondary has clearly improved, but the same old concerns about rushing the passer in key situations late in games remain.

- Offensively, the run game remains an unknown quantity. Yes, the passing game looks to be dangerous and should keep us in most games, but we have yet to see evidence that the running game will provide that extra push take some pressure off Kirk, reliably complement the passing game via play-action, and most importantly, be able to grind out key first downs late in games where we're protecting a lead.

- Kirk Cousins. It's reasonable to expect he'll be, if not top-3 like he was in the second half last year, at least a solid starting NFL QB from week to week. But, half a season is still just half a season, so it's also reasonable to take a wait-and-see approach.

- Joe Barry. Year One was better than expected, particularly given the relatively bare cupboard and crazy amount of injuries in the secondary. Year Two? We'll start finding out Monday night.

- Jay Gruden. Unlike many here, I think his progress was huge last year and that it bodes very well for continued growth in 2016. But, as with Kirk, until he consolidates his gains from last year, I'm not ready to go all-in yet. I want to see it carry over.

Meaning? I'm thinking we've graduated from the bottom-feeder category (0 to 5 or 6 wins) to the upper tier of the middle-of-the-pack (6 to 10 wins). I'm looking for somewhere between 8 and 10 wins, based on health (ours and other teams') and how well the funny-shaped ball bounces for us all year, literally and figuratively.

 

[Boone]

That's about as reasonable a take as any of us could put together. People take 'prediction threads' too seriously to begin with. No one knows what will happen - and sometimes the level of success (or lack of it) is as unpredictable due to external factors (health and strength of opponents, timing of opponent injuries, bad officiating calls, you name it) as it is on internal ones.
We tend to think the Redskins coaches and how we drafted determine how many wins we'll have each season but I think that's just a small piece of the puzzle. If I were really to 'predict' I'd probably say that with a tougher schedule this year we'll hover somewhere around 8-8 and should expect to contend. But I'd rather be optimistic and hope the success curve continues to move upward.


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[Fear The Spear]

I apologize. It's fixed.

No need to apologize for something that brought humor to the place !