NFL Playoffs: Five reasons Washington Redskins won’t win NFC East
By John Buhler
2. Bad with the Run
As it grows colder, it is more important for a football team with playoff aspirations to both run the football well and stop the run convincingly. Unfortunately, the 2015 Washington Redskins aren’t great at dealing with the run on either side of the football.
Entering Week 13, the Washington Redskins are 22nd in total rushing yards (1,053) and 27th in rushing yards allowed (1,393). It doesn’t help that they are only slightly better at throwing the football and defending the pass, 19th in passing (2,677) and 13th in pass defense (2,640).
There was a four-week stretch where the Redskins rushed for 51 or fewer yards. They also had another stretch where they allowed 142 yards or more on the ground in five straight weeks. Not shockingly, both streaks overlapped each other in the middle part of the season (Weeks 5-9).
How the Redskins handle the run is normally indicative of if they are going to win on Sunday. They are 4-1 when they rush for over 100 yards and are 2-4 when the surrender more than 100 yards on the ground. Expect the Washington Redskins’ final four opponents (Dallas twice, Chicago, Buffalo, and Philadelphia) to pound the rock and stuff the run against Washington in the final five weeks of the regular season.
Next: 3. Kirk Cousins