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Washington Redskins 2020 NFL schedule: 5 must-win games

By Matt Conner

ASHBURN, VA- JANUARY 2: Ron Rivera is introduced as the Washington Redskins new had coach at a Redskins Park press conference in Ashburn, VA on January 2, 2020 . (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
ASHBURN, VA- JANUARY 2: Ron Rivera is introduced as the Washington Redskins new had coach at a Redskins Park press conference in Ashburn, VA on January 2, 2020 . (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 26: Head coach Ron Rivera of the Washington Redskins interviews during the second day of the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

If Ron Rivera wants to chart the right course in his first year in the NFC East, these are the five regular season battles the Redskins need to win.

Patience is required in the nation’s capital these days.

Ron Rivera and the new regime in charge of the Washington Redskins have already begun to radically remake the roster, and given the previous roster’s ability to win a total of three games under Jay Gruden and then Bill Callahan, it’s going to take some time. Patience, then, is needed, but fortunately the right leaders are in place to oversee the shift.

Chase Young is the presumed choice at No. 2 overall and with young pieces like Jon Allen, Montez Sweat, Da’Ron Payne, and Matthew Ioannidis in place, the Redskins front seven could look very good very quickly. The secondary is another subject, however, one that’s been stripped down to the bare studs. It also hurts to say that the team’s offense was already in such disrepair.

That means the Redskins should have some bright spots to celebrate on a roster which will struggle to win as much in 2020 as it did in 2019.

If they make some noise, however, here are five games in which they could do it.

Away: New York Giants

The NFC East isn’t exactly the most talented division these day with such a clear divide between the haves and have-nots. This matchup of those on the unfortunate side of that coin is going to be a jostling for draft position and nothing more, but the chance to build organizational confidence is important in this first year under Rivera and the Giants give him two chances to show himself the more competent leader than whatever Dave Gettleman is assembling in the Big Apple.

The secondary, even with Kendall Fuller, is going to be a problem all year for Washington, but the aforementioned front seven should feast on the front line in front of Daniel Jones. Offensively, this team will have a tough time getting much of anything going, but in these games between two inept teams, the defensive strength of the one should be enough to win a battle of field position and/or turnovers.

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