The Redskins’ path to Super Bowl 50 isn’t impossible.
On Sunday, Washington begins its playoff run at home against the Packers — its best possible opponent. Green Bay ended the regular season with two straight losses and went 4-6 down the stretch after starting the year 6-0.
If they beat the Packers (10-6) on wild-card weekend, the fourth-seeded Redskins (9-7) would then travel to No. 1 Carolina or No. 2 Arizona in the divisional round.
Win that game and get a little help from the sixth-seeded Seahawks (Seattle would have to beat the Vikings and Panthers on the road), and the NFC title would be decided at FedEx Field. And the Redskins have never lost an NFC championship game at home.
Things could fall the Redskins’ way just as they did in 1987, when Washington won the Super Bowl as a No. 3 seed.
In that playoff run, the Redskins upset the second-seeded Bears thanks to a Darrell Green punt return touchdown. Then, No. 5 Minnesota crushed No. 1 San Francisco, making Washington the host for the NFC championship game — which the Redskins won 17-10. Washington then went on to beat the Broncos 42-10 in Super Bowl XXII.
According to Vegas, Washington is the NFC’s biggest long shot to reach the Super Bowl, but underdogs have done it before. Since 2005, only three No. 1 seeds have won Super Bowls, while four teams seeded Nos. 4, 5 or 6 have won it all. In 2011, the Giants were just 9-7 and won a lousy NFC East to earn the No. 4 seed. (Sound familiar?) Then, they went on to win the Super Bowl.
But is this really that type of magical season for the Redskins? It certainly didn’t feel so Dec. 7, when Washington lost to Dallas to fall to 5-7. The Redskins had alternated wins and losses for seven weeks with no sense of momentum. Yet, the following four consecutive wins — three on the road after losing their first five away from home — have made the Redskins among the hottest teams in the playoffs.
Washington still hasn’t gained respect nationally, as pundits downgrade its chances by claiming that the NFC East was a mediocre division and that Washington hasn’t beaten a team with a winning record this season.
Now, the NFC playoffs beckon with titans in Carolina (15-1), Arizona (13-3) and Minnesota (11-5). And two-time defending conference champion Seattle (10-6) might be the top contender.
This is the best Washington has played since 2012, when it closed the regular season with seven consecutive victories. That year’s playoff run — just like the Redskins’ previous two postseason appearances — ended with a loss to Seattle. Facing the Seahawks in the playoffs for the fourth time in 11 years would certainly be an attractive NFC title game.
Should Washington reach the Super Bowl on Feb. 7 in Santa Clara, Calif., whom might it face? Look for Kansas City to emerge from the wide-open AFC field. With New England’s recent collapse, anyone has a chance.
And that’s what the Redskins are finally getting — a chance to dream big.
