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
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.
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