Frequent early home cooking leads to a road grind during potential playoff push.

After a day of speculating and leaked rumors, the Washington Redskins 2018 regular season schedule was released.  While it is still way too early to offer predictions, we can still look at what the NFL has dealt the Redskins:

• The Redskins will have two prime time games on Monday night. Both games will be away, with the first at New Orleans in Week 5 and the second at Philadelphia in Week 13.  This total is down from them having 5 prime time games in 2017.  The thinking by the league can be for two reasons.  The first being that with the Kirk Cousins “cha-cha-cha” over, there is no compelling story line.  The second could be more of a local reason with the D.C. metro system refusing to stay open past closing time on game nights.  This has led to fans leaving games early and giving the perception that the stadium is half empty.  With all the issues the NFL is having, they want to limit the visual eye sores of empty seats as much as possible.
• Thanksgiving will be home to a Redskins game for the third year in a row. Two years ago, they played Dallas and lost 31-26. Last year was just an ugly mess when the Giants came to town in the prime time game and proceeded to beat the Redskins 18-10.  The last time the Redskins won on Thanksgiving-day was in 2012 against the Cowboys when they went on a 7-game winning streak to take the NFC East.
• The Redskins open the season playing 4 of their first 6 games at home. Pending on what the Cardinals do in the draft and how healthy Andrew Luck is, the Redskins can get off to a fast start.  With this early chance of home cooking is an early Bye Week.  Their Bye Week will come at the earliest point possible at Week 4 after a home game against the Green Bay Packers.  There is still plenty of opportunity for the Redskins to keep feast early before they get to the back half of their schedule.
• The NFL did the Redskins no favors with Washington playing 4 of their final 6 games on the road and 3 of those final games will be against division opponents. They play back to back away games twice; first at Dallas in Week 12 and at Philadelphia in Week 13, then at Jacksonville in Week 15 and at Tennessee in Week 16.  The Redskins will finish up the 2018 season at home with the Eagles in what the NFL must expect to be a playoff push for both teams.  If that is the case, there should be an expectation that the season finale gets flexed.

Washington Redskins 2018 Schedule

Postseason:

Jan. 5 & 6: Wildcard Round
Jan. 12 & 13: Divisional Round
Jan. 20: Conference Championship Game
Feb. 3: Super Bowl LIII (Atlanta, GA)

All home games are in bold
All kick off times are Eastern
* Game is subject to flex scheduling