Washington and the Miami Dolphins have had two of the most eventful offseasons in the NFL, though in entirely different ways. The Dolphins were active on the free agent market once again, making one of the splashiest signings by securing defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh with a massive contract. Washington seemingly tried its hardest to achieve stability in the offseason, bringing in new general manager Scot McCloughan, but then old drama burst forth anew when quarterback Robert Griffin III was benched for Kirk Cousins late in the preseason.
Dolphins vs. Washington 2015 streaming: Start time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Washington’s season is seemingly on the brink, and it’s only just beginning. Unfortunately for Kirk Cousins and company, Miami’s mammoth defensive line might be exactly the wrong matchup at exactly the wrong time.
Suffice it to say, the Dolphins are entering Week 1 in better shape from a mental standpoint. Physically, there are a few bumps and bruises -- losing safety Louis Delmas to a torn ACL certainly stings -- but at least the team can have high hopes, with Ryan Tannehill rounding into form and perhaps the NFL's best defensive line leading a strong defense.
The silver lining is more difficult to find in Washington. Though it also made big additions to the defensive line in Terrance Knighton and former Dolphin Stephen Paea, it lost troubled pass rusher Junior Galette almost as soon as it signed him.
Washington doesn’t have nearly the same stability at quarterback as Miami. Cousins threw eight interceptions to five touchdowns in his final four appearances last season after throwing just one interception to five touchdowns in his first two appearances. Head coach Jay Gruden is no doubt hoping he is finished addressing the position this season, but Cousins’ track record is almost as spotty as Griffin’s.
Protecting Cousins will largely be the same offensive line that gave up 58 sacks last season. Rookie Brandon Scherff -- selected fifth overall in the 2015 NFL Draft -- is the biggest addition, but he has hardly been a cure-all. Against the Detroit Lions during the preseason, Washington gave up three sacks on Griffin, including the hit that gave Griffin a concussion and sparked the team's annual quarterback controversy ahead of schedule.
Washington isn't hopeless. It still has tremendous offensive talent in Alfred Morris, DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon and Jordan Reed, and good edge rushers in Ryan Kerrigan and Trent Murphy. There's good reason to believe that Washington can compete in Week 1 and beyond if Cousins is on top of his game.
“Hope to be competitive” isn’t an inspiring goal, but it’s much more than Washington has accomplished the last two seasons. At home in Week 1 against the Dolphins, a win would not be shocking, but even a close loss may be therapeutic in some sick way. Washington needs a minor success, even if it’s covering a 3-point spread, to set its mind back on building a football team and off of the petty, passive spats among Griffin, Gruden and management.
Unfortunately for Washington, there exists, as always, the potential for disaster. Let Suh have his way with the offensive line (or Cameron Wake, or Olivier Vernon) and Sunday's game could be utterly demoralizing. It's difficult to remember a team whose psyche was so fragile before the season even began. So much is riding on a tough Week 1 matchup, though nothing bigger than the potential for another long season in the nation's capital.
How to Watch
When: 1 p.m. ET
Where: FedEx Field, Landover, Md.
TV: CBS
Announcers: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Evan Washburn
Online: NFL Game Pass
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