Technically the Redskins could still win the NFC East and make playoffs

It’s been a forgettable season for the Redskins, but the truth is that they could still win the division and make the playoffs.

Highly unlikely? Yes. Utterly impossible? Not exactly.

After their recent string of wins, coupled with the string of misfortune for the two teams at the top of the NFC East — the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys— it has to be brought up that the Washington Redskins could technically still make a playoff run this year. Yes, even in a year where they started out 0-5 and fired their head coach right off the bat. That’s how bad the NFC East is.

Let’s take a look at how it would work.

The Redskins must win-out in order for any of this to matter. That starts this weekend with a very tough game in Green Bay against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Once again, not impossible but highly unlikely. After that the schedule gets fairly manageable with games at home vs. the Eagles and New York Giants, then a trip to Dallas to finish out the regular season.

The Cowboys need to lose the remaining games on their schedule, which is looking more and more possible as of late. In the final four weeks of the season, Dallas goes on the road to the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams and then hosts the Eagles and Redskins in Jerry World. Before the season, those games against Chicago and Washington looked like easy wins, but after their recent string of defeats, the same can’t be said with much confidence.

The Eagles need to go 1-3 over the final four weeks, as long as that victory comes against the Cowboys. Philadelphia currently is one game back of the Cowboys for the division lead, so the race for the division title rests mostly between those two teams. The four remaining games for the Eagles all rest within the division, with two games against the Giants, one against the Redskins and one against the Cowboys.

If we were to pick which scenario is least likely to come to fruition, I would have to say it’s the Eagles going 1-3 over the next four weeks. Two games against the Giants should result in two victories, and a Week 16 game against the Cowboys will have some playoff intensity that is sure to bring the best out of Carson Wentz.

It’s unlikely to happen, but anything is possible in December. Nobody would have said five weeks ago that Washington would eventually have three wins on the season with a chance to take the division, and here they are. Maybe in a month, we’ll be looking back at this time and laughing as the Redskins sit atop the NFC East on their way to the postseason.

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Bears DL Akiem Hicks aiming for Week 15 return vs. Packers

Bears DL Akiem Hicks practiced for the 2nd straight day as he returns from injured reserve. Hicks is aiming to return in Week 15 vs Packers.

Eight years into his NFL career, Chicago Bears defensive lineman Akiem Hicks finds himself dealing with something unfamiliar: A serious injury that has held him out for a significant period of time.

Hicks suffered a dislocated elbow against the Oakland Raiders back in Week 5, and he was placed on injured reserve shortly after. He’s missed seven games this season after having missed no games with the Bears prior to this season.

But Hicks practiced for the second straight day as he’s coming off injured reserve and aiming to return next week against the Green Bay Packers.

“I won’t lie; it was super tough,” Hicks said, via ChicagoBears.com. “You know you play this sport and you know that it’s violent and rough and they say there’s a 100 percent injury rate.

“I always felt I was above that. I never really had to really experience some of the things that teammates of mine have experienced or opponents of mine have experienced. Yeah, it was hard on me. But everything that has a beginning has an end, right? Being here in this place right now and being able to practice with my teammates, there’s nothing better.”

While Hicks has been permitted to practice, he isn’t eligible to return to game action until Week 15 against the Packers, where he fully intends to play, regardless of the result of Thursday night’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

“If I can get my body to a place where I feel like I can compete at a high level, there’s nothing that would stop me from being on the field with my boys,” Hicks said.

While there is no live tackling in practice, Hicks isn’t concerned about whether his elbow can take a hit.

“We’re testing it right now,” he said. “We’re making sure that it can do the moves that I’m accustomed to doing and we’re giving it our best shot. We’re going to try to be out there as soon as possible and play some good football.”

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NFL 2019: Report cards for all 32 teams after three-quarters of the season

Every team has played 12 games and the byes are bygone for the 2019 season. The report card for all 32 teams after three-quarters of the season. Arizona Cardinals Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports The Cardinals will struggle to improve. And they have …

Every team has played 12 games and the byes are bygone for the 2019 season. The report card for all 32 teams after three-quarters of the season.

Arizona Cardinals

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Cardinals will struggle to improve. And they have numerous challenges ahead as evidenced by getting slugged by the Los Angeles Rams in Week 13. They have lost five in a row and that can’t be ignored no matter how much love and praise is being thrown the way of Kyler Murray. Grade: C-minus

Vikings loss in Seattle clarifies Packers’ path to NFC North crown

The Packers can now win three of their final four games and win the NFC North title.

The Seattle Seahawks gave the Green Bay Packers a big hand when they delivered a 37-30 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night.

The loss dropped the Vikings to 8-4 after 12 games and clarified the Packers’ path to the NFC North crown.

Matt LaFleur’s team can now win three out of their final four games, even if the one loss is Dec. 23 in Minnesota, and still win the NFC North.

Of course, the Packers can simply win the next three games – including the Week 16 matchup against the Vikings – and secure the division before entering Week 17.

The Packers finish the season with home games against the Washington Redskins and Chicago Bears and road games in Minnesota and Detroit. Any combination of three wins out of those four games will make the Packers the NFC North champions.

The key now is division record, the second tiebreaker. The Packers are 3-0, with a head-to-head win over the Vikings, who are 1-2 against the NFC North. If both teams finish 12-4, the Packers will have a better division record.

According to the New York Times playoff predictor simulator, the Packers have roughly an 80 percent chance of winning the division entering Week 14.

NFC North standings

1. Packers (9-3)
2. Vikings (8-3)
3. Bears (6-6)
4. Lions (3-8-1)

Current NFC standings

1. Saints (10-2)
2. Seahawks (10-2)
3. Packers (9-3)
4. Cowboys (6-6)
5. 49ers (10-2)
6. Vikings (8-4)

7. Rams (7-5)
8. Bears (6-6)
9. Eagles (6-7)

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NFL Week 13: 32 elite performances

Plenty of great performances led by Deshaun Watson and Derrick Henry in Week 13.

Week 13 is in the books, concluding with a wonderful game between Minnesota and Seattle. Plenty of plaudits to go around and not all of them are for expected players.

Arizona Cardinals: Andy Lee

 Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

In an all-around awful effort by Arizona, punter Andy Lee did his part, at least. Lee kicked seven times for a 44.4-yard average and left the Rams inside their 20 four times.

Studs and duds from Packers’ 31-13 win over Giants in Week 13

Studs and duds from the Packers’ win over the Giants on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

The Green Bay Packers are 9-3 through 12 games after going on the road and beating the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.

Here are the studs and duds from the Packers’ win over the Giants:

Studs

QB Aaron Rodgers: He threw four touchdown passes, didn’t take a sack and didn’t come close to a turnover. He also created at least three incredible throws. He maneuvered through traffic and found Allen Lazard for 43 yards on the second play from scrimmage. The difficulty of the throw was high. His best play of the day came on 4th-and-10 in the third quarter. He bought time, gave himself a throwing platform against heavy pressure and still managed to hit a 25-yard throw while falling away and getting hit. Amazing. Later, he put the dagger in the Giants by eluding what should have been a sack and firing a perfect throw to Marcedes Lewis for a 1-yard score. He’d been waiting a long time to throw a score to “Big Dog.” Credit Rodgers for attacking the middle of the field, by far the weakest part of the Giants’ defense.

WR Allen Lazard: He sparked the offense’s fast start with a diving catch on the first drive and a 37-yard score on the second. He showed surprising straight-line speed on both catches. On the first, he ran past Janoris Jenkins and into the clearing in the three-deep zone. A drive later, he blew past safety Antonie Bethea for an easy score. He went over 100 yards receiving when he got clear in the middle of the field for 23 yards on third down. As good as Lazard was in the passing game, he was equally good as a run blocker and on special teams. He’s a physical presence in the run game and fearless covering kicks. He had two crunching tackles covering kickoffs.

OLB Za’Darius Smith: The Packers can count on him bringing energy to every game. They can also count on his pressure. The team counted 12 pressures from the defensive captain, including five quarterback hits. Three different times, Smith hit Daniel Jones and forced an incompletion. It was easy to tell that Jones was hearing footsteps in the pocket in the second half and in obvious passing situations. Mike Pettine must love that he can line up Smith over any position along the offensive line and know No. 55 can get pressure.

DL Kenny Clark: He’s starting to re-establish himself as a consistently dominant interior defender. On 3rd-and-1 on the opening drive, he knifed through the line and wrecked Saquon Barkley in the backfield. Maybe his best play came in the fourth quarter when he backed center Jon Halapio three yards into the backfield and helped stop Barkley for no gain. Once again, he was consistent with producing interior pressure even if the box score was empty. He’s so due for a multiple-sack game.

K Mason Crosby: The veteran kicker’s awesome season marched on. He battled through a trying personal time and difficult weather conditions and made all five of his kicks, including a hugely impressive 47-yarder when the precipitation was at its worst. Crosby has made 14-of-15 field goals and all 33 extra points this season.

Duds

LB Oren Burks: He was a standout covering kicks, but the Packers have to be disappointed with his late-game stint on defense. He’s a good athlete but he doesn’t look good playing in space. You have to wonder if there’s still way too much thinking going on. And when he gets blocked, he stays blocked.

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling: There’s a disconnect between him and the quarterback. They haven’t been on the same page all season. Both of his targets fell incomplete. Rodgers underthrew him slightly in the end zone but his effort going after the ball wasn’t great. Later, Rodgers expected one route and MVS provided something else. He’s fallen well behind Allen Lazard and Geronimo Allison on the receiver depth chart.

Raiders waive former Packers WR/KR Trevor Davis

The Raiders waived former Packers returner Trevor Davis on Monday. Could GM Brian Gutekunst be interested?

Here’s an interesting twist to the Green Bay Packers’ on-going dilemma at returner: The Oakland Raiders released former Packers receiver and returner Trevor Davis on Monday.

The Packers traded Davis, who will be a free agent after the 2019 season, to the Raiders for a sixth-round pick on Sept. 18.

Davis played in two games for the Packers before being dealt to Oakland. With the Raiders, Davis caught seven passes for 83 yards, rushed four times for 73 yards and a touchdown and returned 19 kicks for 411 yards and 13 punts for 111 yards.

If the Packers were interested in returning Davis at no cost, they could put in a waiver claim and hope he’s not claimed before the Packers’ slot. It’s possible Davis, who already knows Matt LaFleur’s offense, would provide the best combination of return ability and offensive potential at this point in the season, although it’s equally possible GM Brian Gutekunst and the Packers were simply done with him when they traded him away in September.

The Packers have struggled returning punts and kicks all season. In fact, the team’s longest punt return is just three yards, and they still have negative total punt return yards (-8) after 12 games. No other team has fewer than 90. The Packers are also 29th in the NFL in kick return average (19.5).

Bringing back Davis could certainly help.

The Packers are looking. Gutekunst swapped returners on his roster Monday, claiming Tyler Ervin off of waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars and releasing Tremon Smith.

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Packers notes: OLB Za’Darius Smith produces dozen pressures vs. Giants

The Packers had Smith down for 12 pressures on Sunday against the Giants.

Za’Darius Smith didn’t have a sack on Sunday against the New York Giants, but the Green Bay Packers outside linebacker was still a dominant pass-rushing force for Mike Pettine’s defense.

The NFL’s official stats credited Smith with five quarterback hits and 10 total pressures. According to coach Matt LaFleur, the Packers – more specifically, outside linebackers coach Mike Smith – tallied 12 pressures for Smith during the 31-13 win.

“He spent a lot of time in the backfield. I believe the NFL had him credited for 10 pressures on the quarterback, and of course, Mike Smith had him for two more than that,” LaFleur said Monday.

After 13 weeks, Smith now has an NFL-high 28 quarterback hits, and he’s one of eight NFL players with at least 10 sacks.

The Giants couldn’t block him at times, especially early on. On three different incompletions, Smith hit rookie quarterback Daniel Jones as he was releasing the football. He even hit Jones on his touchdown pass to Sterling Shepherd in the first quarter. Twice, Smith delivered a tackle for loss or a stop for no gain.

According to Pro Football Focus, Smith now has 70 total pressures through the first 12 games of the season.

“He’s been a consistent player,” LaFleur said. “That’s one thing I know we can count on each and every week. He’s going to go out there and play a hundred miles an hour and make plays for us.”

G-Mo’s route on fourth down: LaFleur credited receiver Geronimo Allison for getting open against a tough coverage on the offense’s crucial fourth-down conversion in the third quarter.

“G-Mo, first of all, did a great job of – typically in two-man, you’re not supposed to win inside. G-Mo stemmed up, ran a great route, doubled up the defender at the top of the route and was able to break across,” LaFleur said.

The 15-yard completion moved the sticks on 4th-and-10 and led to the touchdown that put the Packers up 24-13 in the fourth quarter.

Giants slot cornerback Grant Haley played inside leverage against Allison, who shook free as he broke back inside and created a throwing window.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers called it the “play of the game” from the 31-13 win.

LaFleur also called it a “wow” play from Rodgers.

“You don’t see many people who are physically capable of making that play,” LaFleur said.

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Packers put trust in Crosby: LaFleur said he put all his trust in Mason Crosby’s confidence before sending him out for a 47-yard field goal in the snow at MetLife Stadium.

The Packers were originally comfortable kicking from the 27-yard line. With a drive stalled at the 30-yard line, LaFleur asked on the sideline for Crosby’s input, and he gave the thumbs up with no hesitation.

That confidence gave LaFleur confidence, and Crosby paid it off in style.

The veteran kicker, who lost his sister-in-law to an illness two days prior, went out into the elements and drilled the kick, giving the Packers a 17-7 lead in the first half.

LaFleur said Crosby, who has made 14-of-15 field goals and all 33 extra points in 2019, is kicking at a Pro Bowl level this season.

“I’m going to trust what our players think they’re capable of doing,” LaFleur said. “I have a lot of confidence, a lot of faith in him, and he’s answered every time.”

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After claiming Tyler Ervin, Packers release KR/PR Tremon Smith

The Packers are swapping out Tremon Smith for newcomer Tyler Ervin.

The roster move that will clear the way for newcomer Tyler Ervin was announced by the Green Bay Packers on Monday.

The team officially released kick and punt returner Tremon Smith.

Smith was the primary returner for the Packers in six games this season. He returned 13 kickoffs for 303 yards and four punts for zero yards. He also fumbled at the end of a punt return on Sunday against the New York Giants.

The Packers originally claimed Smith off of waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 17. He was waived on Oct. 14, signed back to the practice squad on Oct. 16 and promoted back to the active roster on Oct. 29.

Ervin, a fourth-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2016, has over 1,200 total kick and punt return yards in his four-year NFL career. He will be expected to replace Smith on kick and punt returns if he passes his physical and is officially added to the 53-man roster, a move that could come as early as Tuesday.

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Packers claim former Jaguars RB/returner Tyler Ervin

The Packers might be making another change at returner.

The Green Bay Packers might be making another change at kick and punt returner.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Packers claimed former Jacksonville Jaguars running back and returner Tyler Ervin off of waivers on Monday.

Ervin, a fourth-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2016 who has over 1,200 total return yards in his NFL career, was waived by the Jaguars on Nov. 30.

Ervin has rushed only five times and caught only 14 passes over his first four seasons, but he has vast experience returning both punts and kicks. He turned 34 kickoff returns in 716 yards and 61 punt returns in 505 yards.

At San Jose State, Ervin returned three kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns.

The Packers have used Trevor Davis, Darrius Shepherd and Tremon Smith at returner this season.

Smith fumbled at the end of a 3-yard punt return against the New York Giants on Sunday.