It's going to feel sacrilegious, and it's going to feel dirty — so dirty, in fact, that you may get random urges to apply globs of hand sanitizer or shower multiple times a day. But it's also the right thing to do, even though it'll feel so wrong.
Yes, that's right: For the rest of the 2016 NFL regular season, Redskins fans should be pulling for the Cowboys. Hard.
That's because, over their next five games starting Thursday night against the Vikings, the Cowboys will be matched up against teams that will figure prominently in the NFC playoff picture — teams that could end up stealing the playoff spot the Redskins are fighting so hard for.
After the contest in Minnesota (who is a half-game behind the 'Skins in the NFC standings), Dallas will face:
- The Giants, who are right above Washington in the NFC East standings, and who currently occupy the first Wild Card position
- The Buccaneers, who are nipping on the Burgundy and Gold's heels for the second Wild Card and also a half-game back
- The Lions, who look primed for the NFC North crown with the Wild Card as a backup
- And the Eagles, who are a distant threat, but aren't eliminated from contention, either
The fact of the matter is that, at this point, it would take an utter collapse by "America's Team" to give up the top spot in the division. Therefore, the Redskins' only realistic chance at qualifying for the postseason again is via a Wild Card spot, which is why it makes total sense to root for their bitter rivals to win out and trip up the other franchises that are also interested in playing in January.
Sure, it'll be painful. More Cowboys success means more insufferable Ezekiel Elliot "feed me" celebrations and more TV time for Dez Bryant. Under normal circumstances, no one in the DMV would ever wish for those things to come to fruition.
Unfortunately, as the situation stands now, it's the smart thing to do. You know what they say, after all: Desperate times call for stupid, blasphemous and sinful measures. That's how that old phrase goes, right?
MORE REDSKINS: AN UPDATED LOOK AT THE TEAM'S PLAYOFF SCENARIOS