Washington Redskins: The Best Team in Football?

 His 96.7 quarterback rating is currently eighth in the NFL, and he has completed nearly 64 percent of his passes.

On top of that, he has faced some of the league's best defenses, all but one (New Orleans Saints) are in the top 14 overall. All but one (New Orleans Saints) are in the top 17 in pass defense.

The Redskins have run the ball as well as any team in the league, currently ranked fifth in average rush yards per game. The Redskins are the only team to rush for more than 100 yards against the Cowboys and Eagles this season, two teams in the top 10 in rushing yards allowed.

The Redskins' offense ranks fourth in time of possession (TOP) in the NFL, with a large disparity in TOP during the fourth quarter:

• Eight minutes 31 seconds
• Six minutes 30 seconds (the only game in which they did not win TOP in the fourth quarter, against the New Orleans Saints, the Redskins overcame a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win)
• 10 minutes, 32 seconds
• 13 minutes
• Nine minutes, 11 seconds

The Redskins had the league's most difficult schedule through the first five weeks of football, and have a 4-1 record in that span. Their opponents have a combined 12-7 record, by far the most of any other team's opponents in the NFL.

By strength of schedule (from Jeff Sagarin), the Redskins have opened the season better than any team the NFL. The Redskins are No. 1 in schedule difficulty, the New York Giants are 32nd (the easiest schedule in the NFL), and the Tennessee Titans are 30th (third easiest schedule).

The second most difficult schedule? The Cincinnati Bengals. And they haven't done very well, going 0-5.

All of this points to the Redskins being the best team in football after Week Five of the 2008 NFL season.

The Washington Redskins don't have the best collection of talent. They don't have the most Pro Bowlers, the most star players, or the best player in the NFL at any position.

But championships are not won by talent collectors, nor by any one player, no matter how good he happens to be.

Championships are won by good teams. And as of now, the Redskins are just that, a good team.

Will they be able to keep this pace for the rest of the season? Maybe.

Will they make the playoffs? Maybe.

Will they win the division? Maybe.

Will they win the Super Bowl? Maybe.

Can they do all of the above?

Definitely.

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