

Do the Redskins want another playoff showdown with Aaron Rodgers and his surging Packers? Probably not. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)

Assume for a second that the Redskins beat the Giants on Sunday and earn the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoffs.

I know, I know, this is lunacy. But just assume that. Washington could still play any one of four teams in the first round of the playoffs: the Lions, Packers, Falcons or Seahawks. This has already led to some debate about how these teams rank as potential opponents. And it led me and colleagues Scott Allen and Master Tesfatsion to discuss this matter ourselves. We did not reach a consensus, but our exchange is below. Go further down to see all the playoff scenarios.

DS: Start with Detroit? After Monday night, I gotta imagine everyone would agree that Detroit is the weakest possible opponent? Plus the Redskins had them as good as beaten, on the road, earlier this year. And Matt Stafford is wearing that weird thing on his throwing hand. And it’s the shortest and easiest flight. So I think Detroit is best for everyone.

MT: That glove looks like something cool people wore in the ’80s though.

DS: It makes him throw the ball to the Cowboys.

SA: The prospect of Zach Zenner ending the Redskins’ season scares me, but yeah, it’s gotta be Detroit.

MT: I fell asleep for much of the Cowboys-Lions game, but Detroit has been the luckiest team this season with its last-second heroics. That luck will eventually run out, whether it’s Sunday against Green Bay or in the playoffs.

DS: Right. I can’t imagine anyone would choose any opponent before Detroit. So which is the next best option?

MT: It’s a toss up between Atlanta and Seattle.

SA: Whoa. You must be new here. I think it’s Atlanta or Green Bay, with Seattle a distant fourth.

MT: Seattle is pretty banged up! It just lost WR Tyler Lockett for the season. The defense has been without Earl Thomas. That offensive line is horrendous. If you can’t beat the Seahawks this year, you’ll never beat them.

DS: I think it’s Seattle too! At some point, the Redskins gotta get revenge for all those playoff losses. They’d be underdogs to any of the other three, so why not have a chance to redeem a decade of playoff heartbreak?

[Redskins in great shape to make the playoffs, thanks to the Cowboys]

DS: Plus I got this cool stat. The Redskins are 2-5-1 against teams that average more than 105 rushing yards a game, and 6-1 against teams that don’t. Atlanta averages 119 rushing yards a game. Seattle averages 100.

SA: Wow. Putting aside the Redskins’ recent history against the Seahawks in the playoffs, I’d argue the home-field advantage is greater at CenturyLink Field than at the Georgia Dome or even the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, where the Packers are 5-5 in their last 10 playoff games. I’d put the over/under on Redskins false starts at 8.

SA: The 12th Man (TM) terrifies me.

MT: Hate to break it to y’all: most of these stats don’t matter (except Seattle’s greatness at home).

SA: I was waiting for that.

MT: Washington’s last 10 playoff games won’t impact this (possible) first-round matchup, and Dan’s stat is so niche that I dunno where to begin.

SA: Someone find a stat about the Redskins defense against TEs this season. Jimmy Graham doesn’t concern you?

DS: It all just reminds me of 2007, when the Redskins went on that late-season run, got the sixth seed, went to Seattle, and were winning in the fourth quarter with a potential trip to No. 1 seed Dallas on deck. Plus the Seahawks destroyed RGIII’s career in the playoffs. Plus Carlos Rogers in 2005. So many bad memories you could put to rest.

DS: Tell me that 2007 doesn’t matter Master. Go ahead and tell me.

DS: Anyhow, I say Seattle is 2 and Atlanta is 3, although No. 1 in Master’s heart. And I really, really, really don’t want to spend a week reading about Kyle Shanahan.

MT: I just wanna go to Atlanta, man. No bad memories there.

MT: (Well, for the Redskins, there’s that Kirk Cousins pick-six last year in overtime).

DS: Detroit has a casino. Atlanta doesn’t. Detroit > Atlanta.

SA: Detroit also hasn’t hosted a playoff game since 1994, so one would think Ford Field would be bumping.

MT: It was like 70 degrees in Atlanta on Christmas! Plus, it could be the final game at the Georgia Dome, and the Falcons’ defense is just as bad on third down as the Redskins. That would be a really fun shootout.

MT: Okay, I think I just talked myself into putting Atlanta as No. 2.

1. Detroit

2. Atlanta

3. Seattle

4. Green Bay

MT: I would not wanna play Green Bay right now (or go to Green Bay right now) under any circumstances at Lambeau Field. Aaron Rodgers has been amazing the last five weeks.

DS: I agree Green Bay is No. 4. Lambeau, Rodgers, the run they’re on, plus it would be a pain for us to get to.

DS: Although I guess if I’m using “revenge for past playoff failures” as justification for wanting Seattle up high, that should work for Green Bay too, after last year. And the Redskins smashed them last month.

DS: Here’s my list:

1. Detroit

2. Seattle

3. Atlanta

4. Green Bay

DS: Although personally, I have zero interest in covering an 8:30 pm Saturday night game 4,000 miles from here. So I’m rooting for Detroit to win, Seattle to win, and Atlanta to lose. Seattle would get the 2, Detroit would get the 3 on a tiebreaker, and I could spend next Saturday night in a casino.

SA: After careful consideration, I still think Seattle is the least desirable trip (for the Redskins, not you two). I’ll be in the office regardless.

SA: My list:

1. Detroit

2. Atlanta

3. Green Bay

4. Seattle

MT: Ty Montgomery has added another dimension to Green Bay’s offense that it didn’t have in Week 11 against Washington.

MT: Plus, Green Bay is a very boring town. And the bars don’t serve Henny.

Outside of Lambeau, there's seriously nothing good about Green Bay. It's like traveling back to the 1960s and the bars ain't got Henny. — Master Tesfatsion (@MasterTes) July 27, 2016

SA: That Packers defense is [trash emoji], though.

MT: Truuuuuuu.

MT: Dan, I’m almost convinced the Redskins will be the Saturday night game regardless. The Giants vs. anyone is a more sexy matchup fit for Sunday.

DS: Ugh.

DS: There is nothing sexy about Giants at Atlanta.

MT: Eli/Matty Ice and Julio/Beckham is pretty damn sexy.

SA: If it’s Redskins-Falcons, I’ll write Best and Worst from a sportsbook in Vegas and place in-game bets for you both.

DS: Anyhow, we all agree that Detroit is the best option and Green Bay would be bad.

MT: This was fun. Can’t wait to do this next week when we analyze Washington’s divisional opponents on the road to Houston.

As for the scenarios leading to a Washington first-round game, they go something like this. All, of course, assume the Redskins beat the Giants to clinch the 6 seed, and that no games end in a tie.

Atlanta beats New Orleans, Seattle beats San Francisco: Seattle is the No. 3 seed, regardless of what happens in Green Bay-Detroit.

Atlanta beats New Orleans, Seattle loses to San Francisco, Green Bay beats Detroit: Green Bay is the No. 3 seed.

Atlanta beats New Orleans, Seattle loses to San Francisco, Detroit beats Green Bay: Detroit is the No. 3 seed.

Atlanta loses to New Orleans, Seattle beats San Francisco, Green Bay beats Detroit: Atlanta is the No. 3 seed.

Atlanta loses to New Orleans, Seattle beats San Francisco, Detroit beats Green Bay: Detroit is the No. 3 seed

Atlanta loses to New Orleans, Seattle loses to San Francisco, Green Bay beats Detroit: Green Bay is the No. 3 seed.

Atlanta loses to New Orleans, Seattle loses to San Francisco, Detroit beats Green Bay: Atlanta is the No. 3 seed.