Needing to win their season-finale against the New York Giants Jan. 1 to reach the playoffs, history says the Washington Redskins will advance.
Since 1974, the Redskins are 9-2 when facing a must-win scenario in their final game for a chance to make the postseason. Three times, though, the team won and still lost a tie-breaker to advance. Still, Washington has won three straight scenarios, in 2005, 2007 and 2012, to make the postseason.
Older fans remember the 1979 backbreaker, when Washington lost in the final moments to Dallas, 35-34, for the NFC East title. The Redskins didn't make the wild card, either. One moment they were nearly division champs, the next they were headed into the offseason. That loss came after winning the 1974, 1976 and 1977 finales to advance.
