WASHINGTON — The Washington Redskins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to play a preseason game tonight.

If the fourth and final preseason game, which has already been moved up a day in advance of a tropical storm moving over Florida, goes forward as planned, the players will be subjected to high winds and heavy rainfall. Both elements are fine for football, if the game was meaningful in any way.

Raymond James Stadium, you should know, is located in Hillsborough County, one of the 42 counties for which Florida Governor Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency. A state of emergency. And the NFL wants its players to play football.

“It is crucial that every Floridian has a plan in place to ensure their families, homes and businesses are fully prepared,” Scott said.

Look at this field.

I've covered hurricanes before and it's raining about as hard as I've ever seen here in Tampa #Redskins pic.twitter.com/lpa8rSLzF0 — Mitchell Tischler (@Mitch_Tischler) August 31, 2016

Meanwhile, an NFL PR flack would like you to know the value of preseason.

Preseason meaningfulness: The 16 SB champs since 2000 had combined a 41-23 (.641) preseason record in their championship season. Discuss. — Greg Aiello (@gregaiello) August 31, 2016

Oh yeah? Tell that to the Redskins, who didn’t even bother sending their starters — 25 players — to Florida.

It would be impossible for the league to feign concern for its players’ health after making them play in this weather, which is expected to worsen as the day progresses. Cancel the game.

Why take the chance?

Follow @ChrisLingebach and @1067TheFan on Twitter.