Prime time is NOT a good time

Why do Redskins fans look forward to prime-time games? Because you can watch it on ESPN?

Remember your history! And start being afraid.

Since 2004, the Redskins are 3-8 in prime-time games (those games on Sunday or Monday nights). Here's a breakdown:

2008: 0-3
2007: 1-0
2006: 0-2
2005: 2-0
2004: 0-3

So, when the NFL's schedule was announced Tuesday, it was not with great joy that I saw the team was playing three prime-time games. And divisional games at that. Whoopee.

First off, for those that use this site as their NFL news haven, here is the Redskins' 2009 schedule:

Sept. 13 @N.Y. Giants, 4:15
Sept. 20 vs. St. Louis Rams, 1
Sept. 27 @Detroit Lions, 1
Oct. 4 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1
Oct. 11 @Carolina Panthers, 1
Oct. 18 vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 1
Oct. 26 vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 8:30 (Monday night)
Nov. 8 @Atlanta Falcons, 1
Nov. 15 vs. Denver Broncos, 1
Nov. 22 @Dallas Cowboys, 1
Nov. 29 @Philadelphia Eagles, 1
Dec. 6 vs. New Orleans Saints, 1
Dec. 13 @Oakland Raiders, 4:05
Dec. 21 vs. New York Giants, 8:30 (Monday night)
Dec. 27 vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 (Sunday night)
Jan. 3 @San Diego Chargers, 4:15

If the Redskins get interesting in the last half of the season, there is always flex scheduling to deal with, too. Maybe more games will go prime time. Yay?

Given the Redskins' horrendous nature in prime-time games, I suppose it's a saving grace that at least all of the games are at home. Not that FedEx Field has been great to the Redskins lately - the team was a mediocre 4-4 last season.

The rest of the games
Overall, the schedule isn't that bad.

The good news is, since the Redskins finished dead last in the NFC East, they get to play the K.C. Chiefs, the Lions and the rest of the bad teams in the NFL.

The crucial stretch is Nov. 22-Dec. 27. Out of those six games, four are against divisional rivals (@Dallas, @Philly, vs. Giants, vs. Dallas), plus you add in a tough road game against Oakland (they were terribad last year, yes, but the team is still traveling across the county), and that's a tough month of football.

If I've learned anything, it's that just because a team was bad one year does not mean that it'll be bad the next. Except maybe the Lions. And the Chiefs. And the Raiders. ... Maybe I do feel better about the Redskins schedule.

The opener against the Giants will be tough. Last year, if you'll recall, the team basically got stomped in New York in the season-opener. Well the Skins get to travel to N.Y. again this season for the season-opener. Hopefully it'll turn out better.

I think hoping for a 10-6 record with that schedule isn't crazy. I said hoping, because anything is possible.

Until next time.