Redskins will get job done vs. N.Y. Tankees

Tanking in the NFL? It doesn’t seem like it would work. With 22 players on offense and defense plus special teams, sometimes not even the quarterback can make the difference if he doesn’t have enough around him. And even then, you have to make sure you’re getting Peyton Manning and not Ryan Leaf.

The Browns, without even tanking, have had 10 top-10 picks in the last 15 years and still are struggling to be competitive. The Jaguars had 10 consecutive top-10 picks and only now are reaping the benefits. And even then, after reaching the AFC Championship Game last season, they’re 3-4 and benched Blake Bortles last week.

NFL coaches are so wired to win that they usually disdain the notion of tanking, even when the benefits are obvious. In 1997, the Bears had a chance to be in position to draft Manning when they were 2-11 heading into the last three weeks. But they beat the Bills 20-3, then beat the Rams 13-10 in one of the worst games in NFL history — at one point featuring Tony Banks vs. Rick Mirer in a comedy of errors, with five interceptions and six fumbles. Alas, even a victory would have saddled the Bears with Leaf. They needed to lose out for Manning.

But the times appear to be changing. The Raiders just traded wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Cowboys for a first-round pick. And the Giants all but announced tank mode by trading cornerback Eli Apple to the Saints and defensive tackle Damon Harrison to the Lions for draft picks.

It remains to be seen if the gambit will work. But the Giants seem determined to get the chance to find out.

Pick: Redskins 30, Giants 16.