Where do the Redskins rank going into Week 12 of the 2018 season?
The Redskins lost more than a game on Sunday, they lost their starting QB for this year and possibly beyond. Washington is still 6-4, and in 1st place in the NFC East, but confidence in their division and playoff hopes are fading quickly among the International Brotherhood of NFL Power Rankers. Most have dropped the Redskins, some pretty significantly because of this loss and Colt McCoy taking over as the team’s starter. Surprisingly two of the lowest graders for the Redskins actually ranked them higher this week.
The Redskins travel to Dallas on Thursday to face the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. The Cowboys are 1 game behind in the division, and this is the biggest game of the season so far. If Colt McCoy repeats his last game vs Dallas, where will the Redskins rank next week?
Where should this week’s Washington Redskins team be ranked?
Highest Ranking: W1: 14 W2: 8 W3: 12 W4: 7 W5: 7 W6: 13 W7: 9 W8: 9 W9: 6 W10: 11 W11: 9 W12: 11
Lowest Ranking: W1: 26 W2: 23 W3: 27 W4: 20 W5: 19 W6: 20 W7: 20 W8: 20 W9: 19 W10:20 W11: 21 W12: 23
Average Ranking: W1: 20.5 W2: 15.5 W3: 22.7 W4: 15.1 W5: 14.3 W6: 16.4 W7: 14.3 W8: 11.2 W9: 9.8 W10: 15 W11: 12.3 W12: 15.3
11. SB Nation
Washington leads the NFC East but after Alex Smith’s injury, it’s hard to imagine that we don’t see a shift in the division. Because of his injury, Washington took a slight fall in this week’s power rankings. After recording two straight wins for the first time this season, the Cowboys are on the rise and seem to be in the best position to steal away Washington’s lead. Dallas and Washington play on Thanksgiving afternoon and due to a division record tie break, the Cowboys can claim the lead in the NFC East with a win. A Washington win would further complicate a strange NFC East in which the 3-7 Giants are trying to climb back into the division race after their own two-game winning streak. Last Week: 9
11. Fansided
It was a battle of division leaders at FedEx Field as the Redskins hosted the Houston Texans for the first time since 2010 in what was only the fifth regular-season meeting between the franchises. And Jay Gruden’s team found itself in a 17-7 hole in the second quarter. Things would get even worse in the second half as veteran quarterback Alex Smith (2 interceptions, 1 returned for a touchdown) went down with a broken tibia and fibula (via Gruden) and is now out for the season. Veteran running back Adrian Peterson scored twice but Washington’s makeshift offensive line surrendered five sacks, three on Smith and two on backup Colt McCoy. Last Week: 10
11. Sporting News
The Redskins lost Alex Smith, but at this point, considering they are the least QB-dependent team in the NFL, they won’t look much different with Colt McCoy taking over with a limited receiving corps and run-heavy, defensive-minded approach. Their non-QB problems are more likely to catch up to them soon. Last Week: 11
12. USA Today
Easy to assume they’re cooked after Alex Smith’s horrid injury. But Colt McCoy has always played well for them and has system down cold. Last Week: 9
We’ll see if Colt McCoy can fill in adequately for Alex Smith. What might be more of a mystery is what happens after this season. Joe Theismann suffered a similarly awful injury at age 36 and he never played again. Smith is 34 and in great shape so maybe be bounces back and is fine next season. What makes it tricky is Washington gave Smith $71 million guaranteed and he’s on the cap for $20.4 million next season no matter what. Last Week: 12
13. The Score
What awful luck for Alex Smith. The Redskins have a capable backup in Colt McCoy, but he has a career 7-18 record and very little margin for error. Last Week: 11
13. Bleacher Report
The Washington Redskins are finished. Done. Through. There isn’t going to be any NFC East championship in 2018. The team will be lucky to be able to hold on to a wild-card spot.
It’s not that Washington came up short against the Houston Texans on Sunday. That’s unfortunate, sure. But the Redskins are still in first place.
In the third quarter of the game though, Redskins quarterback Alex Smith went down with what quickly became apparent was a serious injury. Sure enough, per NFL.com, Smith fractured the tibia and fibula in his leg and will require season-ending surgery.
To call it a devastating injury is an understatement. The Redskins weren’t winning with offensive fireworks this season, but the drop-off from Smith to backup Colt McCoy is precipitous.
As if that news weren’t bad enough, now McCoy and the Redskins have to get ready to play the second-place Cowboys on a short week.
It’s shaping up to be a miserable Thanksgiving for the team. Last Week: 12
14. NESN
With Smith suffering a fractured fibula and tibia, the Redskins’ playoff hopes now rest on the right arm of 32-year-old Colt McCoy. Good luck. Last Week: 11
With the injury to Alex Smith, their playoff chances suddenly look a lot bleaker - even as they lead the division. Colt McCoy is the man for now. Last Week: 11
14. ESPN
Thankful for: No one else signing Adrian Peterson before Aug. 20. That enabled the Redskins to grab him once injuries piled up at running back, starting with expected starter Derrius Guice. Many wondered what Peterson had left; now you have to wonder where the Redskins would be without him. Peterson has rushed for 723 yards and six touchdowns. He has given the Redskins enough offense for them to have a one-game lead in the NFC East after 10 games. He has helped not just on the field, but with his attitude and demeanor in meeting rooms and in the locker room. Last Week: 12
15. NJ.com
The loss of Alex Smith derails what looked like a season that would end with a division title. Last Week: 11
Washington has to move forward with Colt McCoy under center now that Alex Smith is done for the year. Their division lead is certainly in jeopardy. Last Week: 13
Rough outing for the Redskins, who lost starting quarterback Alex Smith for the season on their way to losing to the Texans. Colt McCoy pinch-hit admirably, yet in the end, the Washington defense could not stop the Houston offense between the 20s, particularly when Josh Norman was called for a key holding penalty late, extending another drive that burned valuable ticks off the clock. Perhaps Dustin Hopkins wouldn’t have been forced to boot it from Rockville to try and win the game. Time to put Sunday’s outcome to bed and get McCoy ready on a short week. Winning in Dallas on Thanksgiving has been darn near impossible for this franchise. Last Week: 13
17. Washington Post
Colt McCoy is a capable backup and he has a chance to keep the Redskins in the division race after taking over as the starter at QB for the injured Alex Smith. But Smith’s prudence in avoiding turnovers and his athleticism while playing behind a depleted offensive line may have been overlooked and underestimated. He didn’t have overwhelming numbers but he wasn’t losing games for the Redskins. Will the same be said about McCoy? Last Week: 9
17. Chicago Tribune
Alex Smith’s injury, on the 33rd anniversary of a very similar one to Joe Theismann, throws their season in a lurch. The 1985 Redskins won four of their last five without Theismann to finish 10-6 but still missed the playoffs. Last Week: 14
17. NumberFire
Last Week: 20
17. OddsShark
Last Week: 21
18. Walter Football
I’m not even sure there’s much of a difference between Smith and Colt McCoy, really. Both have limited arm strength with plus mobility, and I don’t think either can take a team deep into the playoffs. Last Week: 20
Colt McCoy on Thanksgiving Day feels like it’s going to memorable. The reason why could go either way. Last Week: 15
21. Athlon Sports
What an awful sight it was to see Alex Smith suffer that horrific leg injury. That it came 33 years to the day of Joe Theismann’s injury was spooky for a franchise that seems a little bit cursed. Last Week: 12
23. Scout.com
WASHINGTON REDSKINS (6-4, 60%): Winning 42 Percent of Neutral Field Simulations PROJECTED RECORD: 8-8
Their playoff chances currently stand at 58 percent. Their chances are down from 85% back on 11/2. Their power ranking is down 7 spots since 10/29. They are not as good as their projected win-loss record would indicate. Their rank based on projected wins is #12. Last Week: 18
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