After starting with two three-and-outs against the Bengals on Sunday, Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins said the offense may not hit its stride until one month into the season. Meanwhile, the early schedule includes playoff contenders from Oakland and Kansas City along with a cross-country trip to the Los Angeles Rams after Philadelphia.

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If Cousins is right, the team’s playoff chances might be grim after the first quarter of the season.

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“I don’t think really we know what kind of team we have until maybe October,” Cousins said. “I think it’s always evolving, you’re learning, but we’re going to have to be ready. We don’t have a choice.”

Right now, the offense is a mess. Free agent receiver Terrelle Pryor Sr. hasn’t made a tough catch. Wideout Josh Doctson is hurt for the second straight preseason. Tight end Jordan Reed wasn’t healthy enough to play in a game until Sunday, when he caught two passes for 12 yards. That trio was supposed to twist defenses into submission.

Running back Rob Kelley ran for 57 yards against Cincinnati but had been almost invisible up to that point. The Redskins may still scan the waiver wire looking for a spare running back. Former starter Matt Jones has done nothing to reclaim his job.

Washington clearly misses 1,000-yard receivers Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson, and maybe offensive play-caller Sean McVay, too. Then again, coach Jay Gruden hasn’t revealed his regular-season playbook, so the impact of McVay’s absence is uncertain.

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The only upside is an offensive line that finally responded to a series of sorry efforts by pushing back against Cincinnati with a 10-play scoring drive fueled by three long passes and seven grinding runs.

Cousins will spend this week preparing for Philadelphia, putting in extra film study and extra reps with receivers, while reserves finish the preseason at Tampa Bay on Thursday. Cousins recently remarked that practice reps offered “a false sense of reality.” Blows such as Vontaze Burfict’s 62-yard interception for a touchdown Sunday, complete with a stiff-arm to Cousins at the goal line, show the true speed of the game.

The Redskins’ offense can’t wait until October to show up. The team needs to win at least two of its first four to avoid another uphill playoff chase.

That may be asking too much.