WASHINGTON — In 2012, the Washington Redskins were 3-6 at the bye week. Then head coach Mike Shanahan made headlines for hinting that the assessment process for 2013 was already underway.

His team responded with seven straight wins after the bye week, finishing 10-6 and champions of the NFC East. Heading into the team’s 2015 bye week, safety Dashon Goldson has visions of a similar miracle run to the playoffs.

Appearing on the NFL Network, the two-time Pro Bowler suggested this team could not only beat New England in Week 9, but every other team on the 2015 schedule.

“What are we 3-4?” he responded to host Andrew Siciliano’s assertion that a 9-7 record could win the NFC East. “I’m picturing [a record of] like 12-4. For sure, yeah.”

Siciliano quickly caught himself after laughing, realizing that Goldson wasn’t laughing because he wasn’t kidding.

Siciliano: “You’re going to run the table? I shouldn’t laugh at you–why not?”

Goldson: “Don’t sleep on us.”

Asked to elaborate on why this team has what it takes, Goldson noted that the team is finally finding its identity.

“We can win because we’ve got what it takes. We’ve got the players, the coaching staff and philosophy and our scheme and things fit our players,” he explained. “We’re starting to understand every week what teams are going to do to us. We kind of see the same thing every week.

“And we’re getting better. If you look at the games we played, there’s some tough games that we lost, but we played well. And there’s some games we didn’t start well, but at the same time, we come into work every day, same mindset, positive attitude, come out on Sundays and give our best effort.”

Reminded that he was playing Tom Brady and the New England Patriots out of the bye week, Goldson didn’t blink. “That’s cool,” he said, before offering his best Kirk Cousins impression: “You like that?! I do.”

The Redskins will get an early look at the Pats, who take on the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football. Players and coaches know that another colossal comeback won’t be in the cards again.

“We can’t go out there making mental mistakes and missing tackles against a football team like this. Definitely can’t have no breakdowns in the secondary,” Goldson said. “We’ve got to start fast and finish faster.”

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