Week 16: To the Vikings, really?

I was lucky enough to score fourth row seats to this ultimately disastrous Christmas Eve outing against the Vikings so this post will be more brief than usual. We had a fun day, despite the heartbreaking loss and the rather obnoxious fan seated next to me, but would, of course, have preferred an early Christmas gift of a win...

Rex is Terrible
He doesn't protect the ball. He overthrows our receivers. Sometimes he just throws to no one. And the longer the throw, the more likely it will be picked off, batted away or caught by the invisible man.  

Paulsen Needs a Mentor
He has potential, but he needs a champion. His blocking continues to improve, though he must watch out for holding calls. Cooley never gets called (legitimately) for holding.

New Royster in the Roost
The rookie out of Penn State ran for over 100 yards in his first career start. Oh the power of our young backfield!

Whoa Gano
For all his missed and blocked kicks this year, he does occasionally nail a big one. This week it was a 53-yarder, right through the middle of the uprights.

I just love Kerrigan and Riley. Love. And even more so from the fourth row.

The clock management was terrible. 

Even Rex looked confused. Though I guess that really isn't all that unusual. 

PENALTIES! 

Poor Banks, not again... Not to mention the rest. 

Highlight

That Gaffney. Every week. But this week tops them all. His one-handed snag at the back of the end zone was pure Christmas Eve magic. And it looked effortless. Thank you, Santa, for letting that happen in the end zone right in front of us. 

There were a few exciting moments to hold onto in this loss, but perhaps that is just me grasping at the best of it so to make it a more worthy outing. We had fun. I just wish our team has as well. 

Week 15: Giant Surprise

I placed friendly wager with a Giants fan on the first Redskins-Giants game this season and was pleasantly surprised to win it. I never, however, would've taken a bet on this game. Low and behold, we were again surprised with a victory. I watched this game at neighborhood bar in New Orleans that was kind enough to give me one small screen for the NFC East match up. Maybe is was watching from a different city, but it felt like I was watching a different team.


What the heck was that opening play? 
Take it out of the book. Now.

Argh, A3
Armstrong saw more action this weekend, but I'm not sure he deserved to. He seems very disconnected from the rest of the offense and particularly out of synch with Rex. Armstrong slipped on some crucial opportunities. He lazily strolled back to the huddle, seemingly uninterested in the play calls. And he should have caught the would-be-TD-pass that Webster batted down. I won't be surprised or disappointed if we don't see him next season.

Valiant Veterans
With Cooley and Hightower on IR, our ground game is all about the young talent, but the air game this week was dominated by a few veterans relishing their opportunity to play. Gaffney has been our most reliable receiver all season. He is a playmaker and a joy to watch. Stallworth has not always proven as steadfast as Gaffney, but he has made big catches when we need them and proved this week to be excellent at pass protection. I think he is a class act and could be useful to retain for mentoring and depth.

Beastly Backfield
And now, to those young bucks. The Giants defense prevented us from ever really opening up the run, but that did not stop our rookie core from trying. Helu and Royster both made commendable pushes, showing great heart, strong legs and an unimpeachable persistence. Darrel Young deserves props for his first career TD. He is a fighter and shed Giants D-men as easily as brushing dirt off his shoulders. With Hightower hopefully back next season, we'll have a solid running core and one tough full back. Now if we can just get an O-line in place to open holes for them (actually, the makeshift one did all right this week)...

Dominant D
For once I think I can actually compliment the entire defense for their performance. As usual, our front core and linebackers put on a show, but the secondary actually seemed to be gelling too. Wilson, DHall and Atogwe all came away with INTs. Wilson had one of his better games, with batted balls and solid hits to compliment his second INT of the season. DHall's INT was one of those we've been longing for all season - a one-handed snag the likes of which we all wished we'd seen more than three of in 2011. Fletcher broke up the pass that opened the way for Atogwe's remarkable pick, also his third on the year. Needless to say, that was not Fletcher's only shining moment (we need to resign him ASAP). He forced a fumble off Jacobs and, per usual, made huge contributions throughout the game, tallying twelve tackles. Riley continues to impress and was the number two tackler this week with ten total. I think LaRon must have loaned him his cape, because he seems to be everywhere. Orakpo, Kerrigan and Bowen all got sacks on Eli. I do enjoy watching him get hit, only if because it means more Manning Face shots.    

Other Notables
I've always liked Lorenzo Alexander and have been glad the Shanny's found a place for him on special teams. He looked great this week and made a big contribution when he was brought in on D in Q4 for a goal line stop. Westbrook had quite the showing this week too. He has been a good practice squad retention for years. It's nice to see him contributing beyond special teams too.

Rex still had two INTs (not surprised). On the flip side, Gano made all his kicks (surprise).

We have two games left in the season. We're not playing for anything at this point but pride. This win is without a doubt one which we can all take great pride. Even if a Cowboys fan TSA agent thanked for the win on my way through security, it did still make for a much more pleasant trip home. 

Week 14: Pride in Defeat

What a game! It got off to a rough start, but our Redskins fought back and stayed in it to the bitter end. No doubt, it was not a perfect game, but our men looked good and played with a lot of heart. 

Credit Where Credit is Due

Grossman had a 92.2 QB rating today. No, that is not a typo. Other than the fumble in the end zone (Idiot! Get out of the end zone!), he had a fantastic game. There were a few overthrown passes and a sack for a loss, but he made big plays with crisp, tight passes to diverse targets. His 51 yard pass to Stallworth was electric and set a nice tone for what this team came prepared to do. And I absolutely refuse to put that INT on him. 

Credit Where Credit is Due Part Deux

This one is even harder to write than Part One, but credit is certainly due to L'il Shanny this week for calling an even game and tapping into our depth at wide receiver. I must, however, question his red zone play calling. It is inconsistent and not terribly effective. Back to back unsuccessful run plays are not the way to get 6 points. 

Wide Reception

Our receivers saw the holes in the Pats secondary and used them to our full advantage. Last week I begged for more Gaffney and this week I got what I wanted. He is, without a doubt, one of our best off-season acquisitions who consistently produces. He has good hands and great ups to compliment his 6' 2" frame. I'll save the nice package jokes for the talking heads. Stallworth had a great game today. I am so pleased he was able to shine against his former team and to show our coaches that he is worth keeping around. We also saw nice catches out of Moss and Anderson. I'm not totally sold on Anderson and I'd have liked to see Armstrong get a few passes, but I support Kyle's spread-the-love approach. As for Santana... I am a Moss supporter and always have been, but that INT at the end of the game was all him. He bobbled the ball right into the hands of the Pats D. I'm still not totally sure that his TD should've been called back (ok, maybe I am), but I'm definitely sure that he should've caught that ball. 

Dynamic Duo

Helu had another incredibly impressive game, rushing for over 100 yards for the third week in a row - and he didn't even take all the carries. Helu was relieved several plays in the game by fellow rookie Evan Royster who also had a very strong showing. These two rookies give me great hope for the future of our run game. Both fit well in this system and Kyle is learning how to tap into their explosive production potential. If a healthy Hightower returns next year, which I hope he does, our backfield will be a force to be reckoned with. 

That Special Difference

That is what Special Teams are supposed to be. For the umpteenth week in a row, Gano showed why he isn't so special. He kicked the ball out of bounds. Again. No surprise there though. The real surprise of the game, what proved to be a pivotal shift in the momentum, was the emergence of Speedy Banks as QB2. What a play! Banks nailed a left-handed 49-yard pass to Moss who broke a tackle and took it in for six. That dude is 5'6". He's my size (plus some muscle). And yet he has an unending wealth of moxie, spirit, panache, verve, whatever you want to call it and we really shouldn't be surprised by the feats he'll attempt, and accomplish, to stay on this roster.   

Disappoint on D

Our defense was spotty at best on Sunday. A better showing by them, and the game may have had a different outcome. We were woefully underprepared for  the beastly Gronkowski. Much has been made of D. Hall standing by and watching Gronkowski carry and then shed two of his teammates along the sideline. Yes, that was an abysmal play on his part (tied in wretchedness with the 20 yards he cost us later - throwing a flag, really?!), but that was just one of the times we let the Gronk get the best of us. Unfortunately, we were also unable to stop the run. When you are playing an offense helmed by Tom Brady, you have to at least stop them on the ground. We were able to get pressure on Brady, which forced him to throw some un-Bradylike incompletions, and Fletcher, Bowen and Cofield all got solid hits on him. Josh Wilson snagged his first INT at an absolutely crucial moment in the game - I hope it is the first of many. The good news for our D, and really for the whole team, is that the young players are getting good playing time and learning from the veterans. Perry Riley could not have a better mentor than London Fletcher - skill, poise and a true class act. Gomes had another nice game, though I do wish he had a Fletcher of his own.   

Missing 99

Can someone please tell me why we couldn't find a place for Andre Carter on our D? I was always a Carter fan (it's no secret I'm partial to the D - hey, they are our better half). And Sunday he came back to town and showed us what we missed out on. I'm glad he found team that appreciates his talent and knows how to let him shine.

The Orange One

I have supported Papa Shanny on every ballsy challenge, 4th & 1 attempt, and 2-point conversion he has called this season. Until this week. That was a terrible challenge, Paps. Terrible. We all knew it. Better luck next time. 

Oy, the Refs!

Where do I even start? What a horrendous officiating effort. Both teams were the victims of terrible calls, which, of course, means both teams also benefitted from the bad calls. But not one call made me as stand-on-the-couch-and-yell-at-the-TV livid as the call against Fletcher for his hit on Brady. That was a completely bogus call against a player who brings the utmost integrity to every game. Not that we needed him to confirm it for us, but even Brady publicly stated that it was a legal hit and a very bad call by the refs.

There is no shame in that loss. At least not for the team (a few individuals should probably be questioning their performance. They know who they are). We held our own against a play-off caliber team and an elite offense. I have nothing but love for (most of) my Redskins today and nothing but optimism for 2012. 

Post Script: Props to @UKSkin1 for the title. Sums it up nicely. Check out his work for Hogs Haven.

Week 13: The Collapse

That was a game we could've and should've won. Unfortunately, the entire team conspired against themselves, against the hopes of the fandom, and collapsed mid-performance. There were few brights spots in a loss that has ultimately been overshadowed by the suspension of two of our most important offensive players.

False Start
For the second week in a row, our offense managed to put together an opening drive that culminated in seven points. Roy Helu put our first points on the board and went on to have a 100 yard game for the second week in a row. That was the best thing that came out of the game.

Freddy Delight
It was an awfully mixed bag for his last game of the season - and, no, I don't mean someone mixed the schwag and the nugs to ruin the spliff (first and only one, I promise). He had two great catch and runs for over thirty yards or more, breaking tackles a long the way and racking up 99 yards for the day. That is the tough and fast Freddy D we love to see. Unfortunately, he also made a rookie mistake on a very nice sideline pass from Grossman, not managing to drag his foot inbounds to secure the catch. I don't know where we'll see Davis on the field next, but if it is in Ashburn, he better have his head on straight and be ready to produce better results.

Ridiculous Rex
Other than the great sideline pass to Davis, Rex put on a performance that even his biggest fans can't defend. Thanks to some inattention and slippery fingers on the Jets D, he only recorded one INT, but there were almost many more. Some times I want to applaud his seeming obliviousness to distraction in the pocket, but, mostly, I want to ask him how his peripheral vision is and if doesn't see the blitzes and sacks coming or if he actually gets pleasure out of getting hit, losing yards and throwing the ball away. When he did manage to get passes off, he consistently overthrew the receivers, especially the receivers ready and waiting in the end zone. Our receivers can't do it all on their own, the QB has to at least give them a chance. And when Special Teams came away with the Riley fumble recovery on a punt return, Rex still couldn't produce, leaving us with three points courtesy of Gano. Ditto Banks's nice fourth quarter return.

Dependable No More
I can't say I blame them. Our defense has been carrying the weight this season and the burden became too much. We struggled to stop the run all game, most noticeably on the Q4 TDs. DHall had several opportunities for INTs, but couldn't complete the transaction. We need big plays on D, big plays like the Bowen bat-down, and lots more of them. Kerrigan and Riley both continue to impress, and Fletcher remains the leader, but, overall, it was an unimpressive outing for our D.

Meager Management
Back on my list again - Kyle the Wunderkid. The nice balance we saw in play calling last week went missing and we struggled to convert third downs. It was the red zone offense that got me most worked up. I just couldn't understand his decisions, especially when seven points were so close. But it is Pappa Shanny I'd like to take to the mat for the fourth quarter woes. We mismanaged the clock and took too much time when there wasn't any to spare. Rex proved once again he cannot run a no huddle offense, but that is old news, and the father-son super duo couldn't seem to dial up any remedy to give us even a fighting chance. And then came the final blow - a lost on-sides kick with two minutes left in the game. I usually admire Pappa Shanny's moxie - going for it on fourth downs and throwing challenge flags - but that call seemed like an admission that our defense could not be relied upon to stop the Jets or make the big play. While that may, in fact, have been true of the D, it seemed like a desperate, even foolish, act.

Other
Where was Gaffney? He's a spark when we need fire and yet was seen very little Sunday. Gano showed both good and bad, as usual, but my favorite performance of his was by far his sideline tackle of the Jets returner. A3 had a nice 30-ish yard return and then disappeared for the remainder of the game.

Bonus
The rest of the division lost this week as well. If the Giants can defeat the Cowboys this weekend, they'll be tied in both overall and division records, meaning there is still a chance that Dallas will won't see the post season after all.

Broadcast Miscasts
The CBS commentators proved far superior to the D-class slough Fox has been producing, but they weren't without their fair share of gems. There was a 30 second close up of Sanchez's Jets mouthguard that had them all aflutter. And later they noted that is was a good thing a player had a face mask or else he'd have a bloody nose. Well golly guys, it's a good thing the kickers wear shoes or they might stub their toes. Of course, it could've been worse, we could've had Troy Aikman announcing the game.

For the second rate fans out there who called for us to lose for better draft position, seems your wish is coming true. For the rest of us, that was a serious disappoint and an unfortunate regression from the efficient team we saw last week.