The Washington Redskins' schedule for 2020, the 28th hardest schedule in the NFL, was released Thursday.
The regular season kicks off with the Houston Texans visiting the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, Sept. 10 (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC). The opening doubleheader for Monday Night Football will feature the Pittsburgh Steelers at the New York Giants (7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN) and the Tennessee Titans at the Denver Broncos (10:20 p.m. ET) on Monday, Sept. 14.
Check out the full week-by-week schedule here. Here's what is in store for the Redskins:
Game-by-game prediction
Redskins reporter John Keim is predicting a 6-10 finish:
Sept. 13: vs. Philadelphia, Win
Sept. 20: at Arizona, Loss
Sept. 27: at Cleveland, Loss
Oct. 4: vs. Baltimore, Loss
Oct. 11: vs. L.A. Rams, Loss
Oct. 18: at N.Y. Giants, Win
Oct. 25: vs. Dallas, Loss
Nov. 1: BYE
Nov. 8: vs. N.Y. Giants, Win
Nov. 15: at Detroit, Loss
Nov. 22: vs. Cincinnati, Win
Nov. 26: at Dallas, Loss
Dec. 6: at Pittsburgh, Win
Dec. 13: at San Francisco, Loss
Dec. 20: vs. Seattle, Loss
Dec. 27: vs. Carolina, Win
Jan. 3: at Philadelphia, Loss
Strength of schedule: 28th, .465
Breakdown
After a disastrous 3-13 season in 2019, it's clear the NFL isn't anticipating much from Washington in coach Ron Rivera's first season, with no prime-time games and only one prominent game -- at Dallas on Thanksgiving, for the third time in five years. Every other game, with the exception of two games out West, will start at 1 p.m. ET. Of the previous six coaches hired by franchise owner Dan Snyder, none had a winning record in their first seasons -- but they did average 6.5 wins.
Monday Night shutout
The Redskins won't play on Monday Night Football for the first time since 1999. Perhaps that's not such a bad thing. Since 2010, Washington has lost 13 of its past 15 games on Monday nights. Their .133 winning percentage during that time was easily the worst in the NFL. But keep this in mind: In 1999, the Redskins were predicted by some to win three games but instead won 10 and captured the NFC East title.
Familiar faces
Rivera no doubt will look forward to a Dec. 27 matchup against Carolina, whom he coached for eight-plus seasons until being fired with four games remaining in 2019. But it'll be fun to watch former Ohio State quarterbacks Joe Burrow vs. Dwayne Haskins on Nov. 22. Burrow broke his hand in 2017 and Haskins emerged as the No. 2 quarterback behind J.T. Barrett. He then beat out Burrow that spring, prompting the latter to transfer to LSU. Another Ohio State alum, Redskins rookie end Chase Young, might want to show why he was the best player in the 2020 NFL draft, despite going one pick after Burrow.