2012 NFL Schedule: Analyzing the Washington Redskins' Season

The 2012 NFL season is over four months away, but it's never too early to get your Washington Redskins football fix! The Redskins' 2012 schedule has been released, and it looks like it's going to be another rough season in Washington.

We already knew that the Redskins would have a relatively easy schedule—it's the NFL's 25th-hardest slate, with an opponent winning percentage of .488. But there's still some bad news after the schedule's unveiling.

The Redskins open up with two straight road games, and three of their first four are away from D.C. What is even more concerning is that the Skins don't get a bye week until Week 10.  It could be a very long season if the Skins get weary during a brutally long stretch of games.

With that being said, here is analysis of all 16 of the Redskins' 2012 games, complete with winners and a final record prediction.

Week 1: at New Orleans Saints

The Skins face a massive challenge right off the bat against the supercharged offense of the New Orleans Saints. The Saints have had an eventful offseason to say the least, but it likely won't have a huge impact on a team that is as talented as any in the league.

If anything, facing the Saints early could be beneficial. Assuming Robert Griffin III suits up for the Redskins as a starter right away, an already depleted New Orleans defense could make for an interesting NFL debut. After the bounty scandal, the Saints will be missing some key defensive players due to suspensions—so the Redskins could take advantage.

If the Redskins lose game one, no one will be surprised—the Saints are clearly the superior team, and it is a road game for the Skins in one of the loudest stadiums in football. But if they win, it could be a huge lift that sets the tone for the rest of the season.

Winner: Saints

Record: 0-1

Week 2: at St. Louis Rams

Week 2 is very important for the Redskins for a number of reasons. First of all, it can be assumed that the Redskins are better than the Rams, and therefore should win this game (but with the Skins, you never know).

But, the more pressing reason is the fact that this is the second consecutive game for the Redskins on the road. If they can win at least one of the first two road games, it will really help in the grand scheme of things. Winning on the road is very difficult to do, and the Redskins could really make a statement by performing well, away from D.C.

In addition, it doesn't matter which team is better than the other—the Redskins and Rams always seem to play close games. Washington would be well-served handling St. Louis at the beginning of the year.

Winner: Redskins

Record: 1-1

Week 3: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals were one of the NFL's biggest surprises in 2011, leaning heavily on rookie QB Andy Dalton to shock everyone and make a run to the playoffs.

The Redskins have only played the Bengals eight times during the regular season, so there's no history to fall back on between these two teams. But the Bengals are better and the Redskins will be going up against a young and very balanced team. Hopefully, they can draw on the home crowd for some adrenaline and steal one in D.C.

Winner: Bengals

Record: 1-2

Week 4: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were a massive disappointment in 2011, following a near-playoff year with a dismal 4-12 record that resulted in Raheem Morris being fired as the team's head coach.

In a twist, Morris is now the defensive backs coach for the Redskins and gets to face his former team very early in 2012. The Bucs figure to be a much-improved squad under new coach Greg Schiano and will be a tough out for anyone in the NFL.

The Bucs and Redskins have played some very memorable games against one another in the past several years. This one figures to be no different. Though the Redskins find themselves on the road for the third time in four weeks, the presumed matchup of Josh Freeman against Robert Griffin could create some fireworks.  

Look forward to this game being one of the more entertaining matchups of the young season.

Winner: Redskins

Record: 2-2

Week 5: vs. Atlanta Falcons

It doesn't get any easier for Washington entering the second quarter of 2012. In Week 5, they find themselves up against a very good Atlanta Falcons team. The Falcons got blown out by the Giants in the first round of the playoffs last season and will be looking to make a statement in 2012.

Atlanta really has an edge on Washington in most categories, and the Redskins will have their hands full trying to defend the formidable weapons at QB Matt Ryan's disposal.  

Winner: Falcons

Record: 2-3

Week 6: vs. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings were atrocious in 2011 and it's not looking much better in Minny.

But that doesn't seem to mean anything in this matchup. The Vikings have beaten the Redskins for two years running, and for all we know, it could happen again.

The Redskins have more talent and ability than the Vikings do, and this game is at FedEx Field. History should give us pause, but it can be assumed the Redskins can come out victorious, especially against a Vikings secondary that is as porous as any in the league.

Robert Griffin could have a career day, both passing and running.

Winner: Redskins

Record: 3-3

Week 7: at New York Giants

Nearly midway through the season, the Redskins finally face their first divisional opponent: the Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

The Giants are good. They are really good. But for some reason, they couldn't beat the Redskins in 2011—in fact, they didn't even come close, losing by an aggregate score of 51-24 to Washington.

Why can't the Skins do it again? They match up well with New York and have the ability to rough Big Blue up. The Redskins can play with the champs, and they're very confident when facing New York, so I'll chalk them up for a win.

Winner: Redskins

Record: 4-3

Week 8: at Pittsburgh Steelers

The Redskins do not play well against the Steelers. In their last three matchups with Pittsburgh, the Skins have been outscored 63-16. And the Steelers look to be in the Super Bowl hunt once again in 2012.

This could be the toughest game to date that presumed starter Robert Griffin and the Redskins' offense will have to face. The Steelers always have a top-rated defense and a solid offense to compliment. The only way Washington can win is if they dominate the Steelers' offensive line and take control of the game in the trenches.

Winner: Steelers

Record: 4-4

Week 9: vs. Carolina Panthers

Ah, the Cam Newton game. The game that everyone in the NFL seems to dread. The game that really derailed Washington's season in 2011.

Last season, the Redskins had no answer for the Panthers in an important game, and got whipped 33-20. The Redskins will need to find a way to stop Newton if they want to have a chance here.

These two teams figure to be pretty evenly matched, so it will be interesting to see how it ends up—especially if both teams are in the early-season playoff chase.

Winner: Panthers

Record: 4-5

Week 10: Bye

The Redskins have a very late bye in 2012, which will be a very welcome sight after nine straight games without any rest. If the Redskins have a winning record at this point in the season, the bye week will be critical for them in terms of getting their legs back under them.

Week 11: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Talk about a disappointment. The Eagles embodied every sense of that word in 2011, a season in which they entered with Super Bowl aspirations and exited with very little fanfare.

That being said, Philly is still one of the most talented teams in football and will be a tough matchup for nearly every team in the league. The Eagles handed it to the Skins in 2011—and who can forget that historic Monday night game in 2010 which they lost 59-28?

It doesn't look good for the Redskins. The Eagles weren't very good in 2011, but they are still much more talented than the Redskins and should win this game.

Winner: Eagles

Record: 4-6

Week 12: at Dallas Cowboys

It's finally Dallas week, and the Redskins have no luck against the Cowboys. Dallas has won six of the last seven matchups and has generally owned Washington in the last several seasons. The Skins gave two away last season and could have had a very, very different year if those two games had gone their way.

The Cowboys are always a very talented team who can never put it together. But that talent counts for something, especially against a team like Washington that isn't very deep and will be scraping for wins all year. The Cowboys seem to have the upper hand in this one.

Winner: Cowboys

Record: 4-7

Week 13: vs. New York Giants

I had the Redskins winning the first matchup on the road. I can honestly say I think they'll win this one at home.

For whatever reason, the Redskins play very well against the Giants and I feel that they match up well for what the Giants do. It's all about controlling the ball and stopping the run, which the Skins can do against New York.

Winner: Redskins

Record: 5-7

Week 14: vs. Baltimore Ravens

In this version of the Battle of the Beltway, it's clear which team is superior. The Ravens should be Super Bowl contenders in 2012 and have the upper hand on the Redskins at nearly every position. FedEx Field will probably have an equal amount of Redskins burgundy and gold and Ravens purple and black dotting the stands.

Out of all the Redskins' games in 2012, this one has the biggest chance of being very lopsided. I don't see the Skins escaping this one, even if Ravens QB Joe Flacco has an off game.

Winner: Ravens

Record: 5-8

Week 15: at Cleveland Browns

As a Redskins fan, I can easily say that I'm glad I'm not a Browns fan.

It's going to be another long year in Cleveland. The Redskins tend to play the Browns close, but this should be a win for Washington. The Browns simply don't have enough talent to compete with most teams in the NFL.

The Browns will have a bone to pick with D.C., as it is presumed Cleveland would draft Robert Griffin III before the Redskins swooped in. But that shouldn't provide too much of a motive for revenge. The Redskins should have the ability to run Cleveland into the ground, even on the road.

Winner: Redskins

Record: 6-8

Week 16: at Philadelphia Eagles

Playing in Philadelphia is never easy to do. But this late in the season, you never know what can happen when the playoff picture starts to shape up.

If the Eagles are in the playoffs, the Redskins could win this game.

If Philly is playing for a spot in the postseason, the Skins will lose.

It's as simple as that.

Winner: Eagles

Record: 6-9

Week 17: vs. Dallas Cowboys

It doesn't matter if either team is in or out of the playoff chase—it's a season-ending game in D.C. against the Cowboys, so you can expect a fun and intense matchup. Since it's a game in Washington, I'll give the Redskins an edge. Adrenaline and energy can do a lot for a young team like Washington.

And if the Redskins happen to be in the playoff picture, it could go down as one of the great games in this storied rivalry.

If the Cowboys need to win to make the playoffs, the Redskins could make a great group of spoilers.

Winner: Redskins

Record: 7-9