NFL Power Rankings 2019, Week 3: Redskins lose again, “The seat under Jay Gruden is scorching”

The Redskins lost to the Cowboys at home, and are now 0-2 and have lost two division games. The first part of the season was always going to be rough, but Washington’s defense is already in late season form. Injuries are adding up, and they can’t seem to stop anybody in the 2nd half of games.

Their standing in the power rankings hasn’t changed this week. They continue to be placed in the 20-31 range, or the bottom of the NFL. Until the Redskins get a win, or three, that’s not going to change. Washington hosts the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football this week.

Highest Ranking: 20

Lowest Ranking: 31

Average Ranking: 27.7

20. The Big Lead

Washington is a feisty team that won’t be easy to beat all season, but it’ll require a lot of luck to come away above .500. That defensive line is downright frightening, though. Last Week: 21

25. Washington Post

The Cowboys looked like a legitimate NFC heavyweight Sunday at FedEx Field while the Redskins looked like, well, the Redskins. It appears to be a lost season and now the only relevant question becomes: When will Coach Jay Gruden switch to rookie Dwayne Haskins at QB? Last Week: 23

25. Houston Chronicle(McClain)

Washington is 0-2 in the NFC East going into Monday’s home game against Chicago. Jay Gruden’s seat is so hot he’s unable to sit. Last Week: 23

25. Scout

They win the Super Bowl in less than 0.1% of simulations. Current Odds are 1000/1, 0.1%. They are projected to win 6 games and live up to their pre-season futures line of 6. Their average wins per simulation puts them at #14 in the NFC. At 0-2 they are obviously short of expectations. Based on the money lines, the Redskins had an expected win percentage of 24%. Their 7-9 record last season was ahead of what was expected of them. Their game-by-game odds gave them a projected record of 6.3-9.7. Week: 23

26. Pro Football Focus

For the second week in a row, the Redskins started strong against a division rival but were ultimately overwhelmed by the opponent’s offensive firepower as the game went on. Fittingly, they rank only 29th in defensive grade and 31st in pass-rush grade. The coverage doesn’t hold up either, as none of their cornerbacks have earned a coverage grade above 60.0 at this point. The offense doesn’t have enough weapons to overcome this handicap. Last Week: 23

26. New York Post

Last Week: 23

26. Vegas Insider

Last Week: 26

26. Associated Press

Last Week: 26

27. The Athletic

Washington is not ready to compete in the NFC East. That’s surely a frustrating thought just two weeks into the season, given the most direct way to a playoff spot is to, you know, win your division, but here Washington is, 0-2, with losses to Philadelphia and Dallas, two games in which the Redskins led early and fell apart late. Last Week: 23

27. Bleacher Report

On some level, the Redskins deserve a little credit. The team has at least been competitive with two NFC East foes that made the playoffs last year.

After all, we’re talking about an offense that has already lost its starting tailback and has a journeyman quarterback with maybe the weakest cadre of receivers in the NFL. The team’s best offensive lineman (tackle Trent Williams) is away from the team and has reportedly vowed he’ll never play another down for Washington.

The defense isn’t exactly brimming with talent, especially after losing defensive lineman Jonathan Allen. And it shows—the Redskins have now surrendered over 30 points in two weeks.

Long story short, the Redskins just aren’t a good team. They’ll squeak out a win here and there (New York in Week 4 and Miami in Week 6 are possibilities), but Washington’s season was effectively over before it started.

Hard to believe after nine games last season they were in first place in the NFC East. Last Week: 28

27. Blogging the Boys

They put up a bit more of a fight than any of us thought that they would, but this is still a bottom five-ish team. That’s the Jay Gruden way. Last Week: 29

27. The MMQB

Case Keenum hasn’t thrown a pick and is completing 69 percent of his passes. That’s about the nicest thing we can say about the Redskins. Last Week: 30

28. The Score

The betting market predicted the Redskins to be one of the three worst teams in the NFL and so far, Washington hasn’t disappointed. The Redskins are underdogs at home for the second week in a row and 1,000-1 to win the Super Bowl. Last Week: 28

29. Business Insider

Of concern for Washington, No. 1 cornerback Josh Norman has been roasted by wide receivers in the first two weeks of the season. Last Week: 21

29. Bleeding Green Nation

Washington already has an 0-2 division record, which is the worst way to start a season. With Chicago up next, Jay Gruden is staring 0-3 right in the face. Last Week: 27

29. NFL.com(Hanzus)

Defense was supposed to be the side of the football that carried the Redskins this season. Not so far. The D looked overmatched against a great Cowboys offense, unable to sniff Dak Prescott (two hits, one sack) and surrendering over 200 yards on the ground to Ezekiel Elliott and company. That’s back-to-back weeks of 30-plus points for Redskins opponents, both division rivals. The trenches have been an issue in general for the Redskins during their 0-2 start. The ground game has averaged just 2.5 yards per carry on 30 rushes against the Eagles and Cowboys. On Sunday, it was Adrian Peterson’s turn to repeatedly run into a wall of defenders. Jay Gruden was an obvious hot-seat candidate entering the season -- you have to wonder if defensive coordinator Greg Manusky is the first to go if Washington’s defense tosses off another stinker next week in prime time against the Bears. Last Week: 28

29. USA Today

Given how well QB Case Keenum is playing, no hue and cry for Dwayne Haskins — especially with Chicago up next. Last Week: 28

29. Sporting News

Case Keenum is doing just enough to delay the Dwayne Haskins era. The defense is doing plenty to bring it on faster, because its first-half respectability has been overshadowed by its second-half collapses. The seat under Jay Gruden is scorching. Last Week: 28

29. CBS Sports (Prisco)

They are competing for a half in their games, but that doesn’t win many. They just don’t have enough talent right now. Last Week: 30

29. Detroit Free Press

Buzz: Some free fantasy advice: Grab Terry McLaurin if he’s still available on your waiver wire. Last Week: 30

29. NumberFire

Last Week: 29

29. OddsShark

Last Week: 31

30. ESPN

Pleasant surprise: WR Terry McLaurin. When you’re 0-2 with a defense getting picked apart, it’s hard to find pleasant things. McLaurin is part of what could be a strong rookie class for the Redskins, but he’s the one who has stood out most so far. In two games he has caught 10 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns. He has been open deep on other plays that could have -- or should have -- resulted in touchdowns. His speed helps create opportunities in the passing game, but his improved route running from college gives him more chances, too. The Redskins do a good job of trying to get him the ball and taking shots downfield. Both he and the Redskins will have to adjust to various looks he’ll face, but he will continue to get the ball. Last Week: 28

30. PressBox

I was trying to think of something to say about the Redskins that hasn’t already been said repeatedly.

But “maybe they won’t be an embarrassing train wreck forever” just seems so flat untruthful and we have standards here. Last Week: 30

30. Chicago Tribune

They have lost six straight NFC East games and are 3-12 in their last 15 division games after being soundly beaten by the Cowboys. Another trend working against the Redskins is their home record on “Monday Night Football,” which is a brutal 1-16 dating to 1998. They host the Bears Monday before getting back into division action against the Giants in Week 4. Last Week: 31

30. Walter Football

Case Keenum threw a back-door touchdown against the Eagles in Week 1, and it looked like he was going to do so against the Cowboys, but simply ran out of time. If this continues, we may have to revive the Back-Door Bandit nickname for Keenum. Seneca Wallace was the original Back-Door Bandit, but it would be nice if we could bring back that moniker for the 20-year anniversary of the Web site. Last Week: 31

31. Yahoo(Schwab)

Rookie receiver Terry McLaurin looks like a good find. The third-round pick has 187 yards and two touchdowns through two games. He’s a nice story in a season that might not contain too many other positives. Last Week: 31

31. NJ.com

They’re awful, but still not as bad as Miami. Not even close. Last Week: 31