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          NFL Nation

          Washington Redskins' schedule 2020: Low expectations for Ron Rivera's crew

          • John Keim, ESPN Staff WriterMay 8, 2020, 12:45 AM
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              John Keim covers the Washington Commanders for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2013 after a stint with the Washington Post. He started covering the team in 1994 for the Journal Newspapers and later for the Washington Examiner. He has authored/co-authored four books. You can also listen to him on 'The John Keim Report', which airs on ESPN Richmond radio, and follow him on Twitter @john_keim
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          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.