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| Redskins might be cautious, but won’t treat Cowboys game as meaningless | Redskins might be cautious, but won’t treat Cowboys game as meaningless |
| (about 22 hours later) | |
| The Washington Redskins will play a meaningless game in December again. Unlike the past two seasons, this one will be dramatically different. The team has already wrapped up the NFC East division title, and Washington is locked into the No. 4 seed heading into the season finale against the Dallas Cowboys. | |
| When asked about the unfamiliar situation, left tackle Trent Williams quickly corrected a reporter’s question. | |
| “The last couple of years?” Williams said. “I ain’t never had that. This is uncharted waters for me.” | |
| It’s a new experience for the entire organization. Redskins Coach Jay Gruden has had several days to figure out his approach for Sunday’s regular season finale against the Dallas Cowboys, and he is planning to use his healthy players with a home playoff game on the horizon. It’s unknown at this point, however, how long some of the Redskins’ key starters will play with the team locked into the NFC’s No. 4 seed. | |
| “I have a good feel for it, so we just have to make that determination,” Gruden said. “Number one, it’s the health of our football team with these injured guys who are legitimately injured and can’t play. Then, from there, we’ll have to figure out the able bodies that we have — personnel groupings will be adjusted — and then throughout the course of the game, we’ll make adjustments depending on the situation.” | “I have a good feel for it, so we just have to make that determination,” Gruden said. “Number one, it’s the health of our football team with these injured guys who are legitimately injured and can’t play. Then, from there, we’ll have to figure out the able bodies that we have — personnel groupings will be adjusted — and then throughout the course of the game, we’ll make adjustments depending on the situation.” |
| The Redskins have nine players listed on the injury report, with veterans like left tackle Trent Williams (knee/foot), defensive end Jason Hatcher (neck/knee) and safeties Dashon Goldson (shoulder/rib) and DeAngelo Hall (calf) all receiving the day off Wednesday. Hall and Williams both said they would be ready to play against the Cowboys if needed. The Redskins must have seven players on the inactive list, and they won’t have the luxury of suiting up more than 46 players like they could in a preseason game. They will need as many healthy bodies as they can have to get through the game before the playoffs begin. | The Redskins have nine players listed on the injury report, with veterans like left tackle Trent Williams (knee/foot), defensive end Jason Hatcher (neck/knee) and safeties Dashon Goldson (shoulder/rib) and DeAngelo Hall (calf) all receiving the day off Wednesday. Hall and Williams both said they would be ready to play against the Cowboys if needed. The Redskins must have seven players on the inactive list, and they won’t have the luxury of suiting up more than 46 players like they could in a preseason game. They will need as many healthy bodies as they can have to get through the game before the playoffs begin. |
| [D.C. Sports Bog: Nine incorrect assumptions about the Redskins] | [D.C. Sports Bog: Nine incorrect assumptions about the Redskins] |
| “I can get more reps under my belt [at safety], and it’s Dallas,” Hall said. “I don’t care if we’re both 0-15. That last game, man, it means a lot. It’s meant a lot the last couple of years, whether it’s them fighting for a spot or us fighting for a spot. It just so happens [we’re] in a position [where] we’re in and where we’re safe, and we know we’ve got a home playoff game. But it’s still Dallas, and you still want to go out there and hit those guys, pick them off, score points and beat them.” | “I can get more reps under my belt [at safety], and it’s Dallas,” Hall said. “I don’t care if we’re both 0-15. That last game, man, it means a lot. It’s meant a lot the last couple of years, whether it’s them fighting for a spot or us fighting for a spot. It just so happens [we’re] in a position [where] we’re in and where we’re safe, and we know we’ve got a home playoff game. But it’s still Dallas, and you still want to go out there and hit those guys, pick them off, score points and beat them.” |
| The Redskins played their way into this scenario after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-24, on Saturday to clinch the NFC East division with a week to spare. It’s their first playoff berth since 2012 but the first time they clinched before the final week of the regular season since 1999. | The Redskins played their way into this scenario after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-24, on Saturday to clinch the NFC East division with a week to spare. It’s their first playoff berth since 2012 but the first time they clinched before the final week of the regular season since 1999. |
| Washington went 7-25 in the two seasons between its most recent division titles, with consecutive last-place finishes in 2013 and 2014. Though there aren’t any playoff implications on the line Sunday, quarterback Kirk Cousins thinks it’s important to play against the Cowboys. | Washington went 7-25 in the two seasons between its most recent division titles, with consecutive last-place finishes in 2013 and 2014. Though there aren’t any playoff implications on the line Sunday, quarterback Kirk Cousins thinks it’s important to play against the Cowboys. |
| “I’d say that’s a coaches’ decision, not mine, but I can only speak for myself — I feel good and I want to play,” Cousins said. “I feel as a young player that I want to continue to develop and get a rhythm. I’ll always defer to the head coach with whatever he decides. I think it’s a pretty fluid situation as we go.” | “I’d say that’s a coaches’ decision, not mine, but I can only speak for myself — I feel good and I want to play,” Cousins said. “I feel as a young player that I want to continue to develop and get a rhythm. I’ll always defer to the head coach with whatever he decides. I think it’s a pretty fluid situation as we go.” |
| It was a relaxed environment Wednesday after the team celebrated its accomplishment over the weekend. In the Redskins’ first full practice this week, the players were loose on the field and in the locker room. | It was a relaxed environment Wednesday after the team celebrated its accomplishment over the weekend. In the Redskins’ first full practice this week, the players were loose on the field and in the locker room. |
| “From a mind-frame standpoint, it’s not even close — it’s night and day,” Williams said when asked to compare this Week 17 to previous season finales in his career. “Even in 2012, this week was like last week, where win and you’re in. Even at that time, the mind frame was different. It’s night and day knowing that you’re already there and you’ve just got to finish out the season.” | “From a mind-frame standpoint, it’s not even close — it’s night and day,” Williams said when asked to compare this Week 17 to previous season finales in his career. “Even in 2012, this week was like last week, where win and you’re in. Even at that time, the mind frame was different. It’s night and day knowing that you’re already there and you’ve just got to finish out the season.” |
| Regardless of who plays, Gruden made it clear he wants to end the year with another win. The Redskins are on a three-game winning streak, their longest streak since they won seven in a row to finish the 2012 season. Washington has won its past two road games, and a win at AT&T Stadium would give the team more road wins this season (three) than it had over the past two years combined (two). | Regardless of who plays, Gruden made it clear he wants to end the year with another win. The Redskins are on a three-game winning streak, their longest streak since they won seven in a row to finish the 2012 season. Washington has won its past two road games, and a win at AT&T Stadium would give the team more road wins this season (three) than it had over the past two years combined (two). |
| “It’s important for us to be healthy come playoff time, but it is also to have some kind of momentum also going in,” Gruden said. “I’d like to end on a four-game winning streak, win three games in a row on the road, finish the fourth quarter [of the season] 4-0 [and] finish 9-7. I think it’s a hell of a step in the right direction. The guys that are able to play are planning on playing and competing.” | “It’s important for us to be healthy come playoff time, but it is also to have some kind of momentum also going in,” Gruden said. “I’d like to end on a four-game winning streak, win three games in a row on the road, finish the fourth quarter [of the season] 4-0 [and] finish 9-7. I think it’s a hell of a step in the right direction. The guys that are able to play are planning on playing and competing.” |