It feels weird to be nervous about a game between a pair of 3-11 teams who have been eliminated from the playoffs in mid-December, but that’s where we’re currently at as the Washington Redskins host the New York Giants on Sunday.
Though there is quite literally nothing outside of personal achievements on the line when these two meet, the same cannot be said for future outlooks for each team. When the final whistle blows on Saturday, one team will walk away with a significantly higher draft pick than the other will be gifted. We’ve been saying this for most of the year, but now it holds true more than ever:
The Redskins need to find a way to lose this football game.
As it stands now, Washington is in line for the No. 4 draft pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, where they will likely miss out on Ohio State DE Chase Young, and possibly Alabama WR Jerry Jeudy as well. The Giants, who sit with the No. 2 pick due to their strength of schedule edge, would be in line to pick up Young, who has the power to terrorize every NFC East team for the next decade.
If the Redskins can manage to pick up their 12th loss of the season, it will be worth more than any win could be, as it has the potential to catapult them into the No. 2 spot on the board.
While the Redskins and Giants battle it out for the bottom spot in the NFC East, the Cincinnati Bengals (No. 1 pick) travel to face the Miami Dolphins (No. 3 pick) in a matchup that has similar stakes on the line. If the Bengals lose, they will lock up the No. 1 overall pick in 2020, and it will leave the Redskins and Giants fighting it out for the No. 2 pick.
While a team is in the dog days of a losing season, it is easy for fans to brush off criticism from friends by saying “I hope they lose every game now, it only helps our draft pick.” Now, more than ever, that statement rings true. Fans of the Redskins and Giants need to hope with every ounce of willpower that their team can find a way to come out of Sunday with the short end of the stick, knowing that it will benefit them greatly in a few months’ time.
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