The Washington Redskins were one of the NFL’s first-half surprises as they started their season with wins in six of their first nine games. However, injuries have torpedoed the team’s playoff hopes. A win in Jacksonville last week has kept them alive but the odds of survival are long for the Redskins. The oddsmakers at BetDSI have posted betting lines on whether this team will make the postseason and Washington appears to be a longshot.
Will Washington Redskins qualify for 2018-19 NFL Playoffs?
Yes +525
No -1000
At one point earlier in the season, the Redskins were not only in first place in the NFC East but they had a comfortable lead. They started out 5-2 while the Philadelphia Eagles were 3-4, the Dallas Cowboys were 3-4 and the New York Giants were 1-6. However, as we approach Week 16, the Redskins now trail in the division and are on the outside of the playoffs looking in.
Related: NFL Betting Guide | Week 16 Odds
The main issue for the Redskins has been injuries. They lost wide receiver Paul Richardson for the season, who was one of their prized offseason signings. They also lost two starting guards off of their offensive line. Then they lost starting quarterback Alex Smith and then backup Colt McCoy shortly after. They’ve also played without running back Chris Thompson and wideout Jamison Crowder for chunks of the season. Few teams have had to weather as many injuries as the Redskins have.
Even still, they find themselves just one win out of a playoff spot. To pull it off, they’ll first have to win at Tennessee this week. That figures to be a tall order as the odds suggest it’s not going to happen. The Redskins are one of the biggest dogs of the week at +10. They’re starting quarterback Josh Johnson again, who was a free agent just a few weeks ago. The 32-year-old was never even a starter when he had his first shot in the league and he hadn’t been in the league since 2013 before the Redskins gave him a call. Washington has lost four of five and is averaging just 17.8 points per game in that span, so going on the road to face a defense that leads the league in points allowed might be asking too much.
If Washington does find a way to win this week and next (versus Philadelphia), they’ll also need help. Either the Dallas Cowboys will have to lose a game or two, or the Minnesota Vikings will have to do the same. The Cowboys are currently 8-6, while the Vikings are 7-6-1. The Cowboys are a touchdown home favorite over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week while the Vikings are a small road favorite at Detroit.
It’s been mostly a positive season for the Redskins but it looks like they’ll fall just short of the playoffs.
