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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 28: Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Redskins in action against the New York Giants during their game at MetLife Stadium on October 28, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Everyone knew the Redskins were making progress. But no one knew just how far they’d come.
After a strong 2018 offseason, the Washington Redskins were viewed by some as a team that could be a sleeper to a secure a wild card spot in the NFC playoffs. Others saw the loss of Kirk Cousins as a death knell that would relieve them of any success. Many more wrote off the Redskins entirely.
Even inside the confines of the fan base, expectations were tempered. Some made the bold claims that Washington might sneak into the playoffs, notching ten wins in the process, but the Philadelphia Eagles were untouchable in preseason projections, as were other future Redskins opponents, such as the Packers, Panthers, Falcons, and Jaguars.
Fast forward to Week 9 of the 2018 regular season. The Redskins are 5-2, and 2-0 in the NFC East. The Eagles are 4-4.
The Redskins and Eagles have yet to meet this season, but as it stands, Washington has an impressive resume in tow. Their defense is borderline elite, especially in the trenches, and the offense has been under stable direction with Alex Smith, Adrian Peterson, and Jordan Reed.
Still, however, the going won’t get any easier in the latter stages of the season. As the bye week distances itself, and the games compound on one another, violent contact will take its toll. And it will be up to the Redskins X-Factors to help the team withstand.
Who can the Redskins rely on, to carry them through adversity?
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