We’re already 5 games into the NFL season and the Redskins stand at 3-2, 2nd place in the NFC East.

The Redskins opened the season at home against an offensively strong Philadelphia Eagles team. The Redskins entered the 4th quarter only down 19-17, but turnovers ruined their chance to capitalize and allowed the Eagles to break free to a 30-17 final score.

The following week the Redskins defeated the surprisingly much-improved Los Angeles Rams 27-20 with a dominant 2 touchdown performance by running back Chris Thompson.

For week Three’s edition of Sunday Night Football, the Redskins faced a struggling Oakland Raiders team. Kirk Cousins’ stellar 365 yard passing performance propelled the Redskins to a 27-10 victory.

Monday Night Football in week 4; the Redskins faced the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs down at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. In one of the best games of the early season, the Redskins took an early 10 point lead into the second quarter. It was back and forth the entire game with the two teams heading into the 4th quarter tied 20-20. The Chiefs kicked a field goal to go up 3 with 4 seconds left, and put the nail in the coffin with a fumble returned for a touchdown to end the game 29-20.

Sunday, the Redskins played the San-Francisco 49ers, edging them out sloppily 26-24.

These first 5 games of the season should give fans hope. The Redskins faced 3 of the top 15 teams in the NFL and played each game close heading into the 4th quarter. The Redskins defense has been impressive, ranking 9th in team defense. Although Kirk Cousins has opened the season strong, the offense has much to improve ranking 26th in total offense and having trouble in sustaining drives. Controlling the ball has been a problem, with the Redskins ranking 2nd in fumbles lost.

The Redskins now face arguably their toughest 3 game slate of the season, playing next Monday at Philadelphia, the following Sunday at home against Dallas, and on the road again the following week in Seattle. If the Redskins can pull out a win against either one of their NFC East foes and beat Seattle, expect them to be in the playoff conversation during the second half of the season.

Last week after the Nationals playoff loss, there was lots of national media attention to DC sports as a whole. Washington DC has the longest active streak without a major sport’s team winning a conference title dating back to 1998. That’s 69 consecutive seasons in total. Will the Redskins finally break that streak this season? Tune in to find out.