Washington Redskins: 4 Talking Points from the 2012 Regular-Season Schedule

NFL.com has released the Washington Redskins' official schedule for the 2012 season. Here are the four main talking points concerning the new schedule: 

How will the Redskins fare with difficult first-half schedule?

Mike Shanahan's team faces a tough first half to the season. In the first eight games, the Redskins will face the New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers and the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants on the road.

Having beaten the G-Men twice in 2011, the Redskins have the rare luxury of feeling confident heading into their Week 7 game with Big Blue. The Steelers and Saints offer contrasting styles and present different challenges.

Washington also hosts two 2011 wild-card playoff teams in the form of the Cincinnati Bengals and the Atlanta Falcons. The Bengals are first up in Week 3, while Matt Ryan and the Falcons visit Redskins Park in Week 5.

How successfully the Redskins navigate this difficult beginning, will largely determine the fate of the team in 2012.

Will the Redskins' pass-rush be able to slow down Drew Brees in the season opener?

The Redskins' pass-rush logged 41 sacks in 2011 and bookend linebackers Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan accounted for 16.5 of those sacks.

The rampaging duo will need to be at their best if Jim Haslett's defense has a chance of slowing down Drew Brees and the high-powered Saints offense.

How will the offensive line cope against so many quality pass-rushers?

The Redskins' porous offensive line will be put to the test all season long against a host of quality pass-rushers. Aside from NFC East foes like DeMarcus Ware, Cullen Jenkins and Jason Pierre-Paul, Washington's front five will also have to contend with some of the top sack artists from the rest of the league.

Players like Atlanta's John Abraham, Jared Allen of the Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers star Charles Johnson, will no doubt be eager to attack a group which surrendered 41 sacks last season.

The front office has so far done little in the offseason to strengthen the O-line. This is a major risk and this schedule will prove whether or not the team was wise or foolish to ignore this concern in free agency.

Complex defenses will provide stern tests for a rookie quarterback

In addition to traveling to Pittsburgh in Week 8, the Redskins also host the Baltimore Ravens in a tough-looking Week 14 encounter.

Both the Ravens and Steelers boast smart, talented veteran defensive units. Their respective multiple-blitz schemes will provide major challenges for whichever rookie is the Redskins quarterback.

Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III have both been commended for their high football IQ's and ability to read and dissect schemes. Legendary Steelers defensive guru Dick LeBeau will certainly test a rookie signal caller's recognition skills, while Baltimore stars Ray Lewis and Ed Reed can outwit and intimidate any passer.

Conclusion

By drawing games against tough divisions like the AFC North and the NFC South, the Redskins could be in for a difficult time during the 2012 regular season.

Their performance against their own division will be key to the chances of securing a postseason berth. Shanahan has gone 4-8 in two season's worth of NFC East competition.

Improving that mark will be vital, as five of the last seven games pit the Redskins against division opponents. If they win four games in the division, the Redskins can give themselves a good chance of finishing at least 8-8 for the season.