The Upside

[Mark The Homer]

Believe it or not, the NFC East is the toughest and best division in the league. And at the same time, the NFC East has had the 2nd most difficult schedule so far. People can piss and moan about how weak the NFC is, but NFC east is the powerhouse of the league as of now, second to none.

Redskins lost yesterday to a top 8 team. Tough loss for sure, but contrary to their record, the Eagles are a good football team. In fact, three NFC East teams are now ranked in the top eight in the league.

The Redskins and the Bears have played more top ten teams (6 of only nine games) than any other team in the league.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/nfl07.htm

A win next week changes everything. Redskins play at Texas. Anything can happen. Anything.

Don't forget the 1989 Redskins. They played the pathetic winless Cowboys. Defying all odds, the Cowboys won that game at RFK and finished the season 1-15. Redskins finished 10-6 and missed the playoffs due to that loss.

Anything can happen.

Don't forget the 1993 4-12 Redskins -- they played Dallas and beat a far superior team that year -- the Cowboys ended up winning the SB.

Anything can happen.

Don't forget the 1995 6-10 Redskins -- they SWEEPED Dallas that year. Again, beating a far superior team -- the Cowboys ended up winning the SB once again.

Anything can happen.

Don't forget Sept. '05 win in Texas at the end of the 4th quarter. Most fans went to bed that night and missed it. That win came out of nowhere. I saw it. Did you?

Anything can happen.

How about the 35-7 historic blowout the Redskins won in late 2005?

Anything can happen. There are plenty more examples I could show you.

Washington - Dallas: History has proven it over and over again. Anything can happen.

A win at Dallas could be the spark this team needs.

I'm not ready to throw in the towel quite yet.

[#98QBKiller]

I'm not that pissed about yesterday, it was refreshing to see our offense move the chains for once, now if we can just do that once we get to the 10 yard line...

[Henry]

I will admit that if we beat Dallas in Dallas next week, I'll get over this loss. :)

That's a tall order though.

[SkinsNumberOne]

I agree. After watching that game yesterday, it's of course natural to not feel too great about our chances (because we lost one of those "winnable" games and seemingly in large part on stupid mistakes playoff teams don't generally make), but we're 5-4. Going into a very tough ending of the schedule with NYG@NY and the two Dallas games in there, but regardless, like you say - anything can happen still.

There's room for some hope.

[Chief skin]

The eagles STINK and they beat us in our building EMBARASSING CRUSHING LOSS WE STINK

[skinsfan07]

I'm not that pissed about yesterday, it was refreshing to see our offense move the chains for once, now if we can just do that once we get to the 10 yard line...

Surpisingly, niether was I. We put up points, JC looked like the QB that we all hoped he would become, and Portis is back to his old self. Our O is finally starting to gel. Our red-zone O o the other hand needs work.

If only we scored TD's on those 2 drives that we had to kick FG's inside the 10 yd line, we would have won. Also losing ST and having the D severly struggle b/c of it sucked.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

I think the Cowboys are legitimately 13.5 points better than the Skins.

However, I fully expect the Skins to win this game.

Since Gibbs has returned, this team has done two things consistently:

1. Been utterly unable to handle prosperity, and
2. Responded after ugly losses.

[SkinsNumberOne]

Surpisingly, niether was I. We put up points, JC looked like the QB that we all hoped he would become, and Portis is back to his old self. Our O is finally starting to gel. Our red-zone O o the other hand needs work.

If only we scored TD's on those 2 drives that we had to kick FG's inside the 10 yd line, we would have won. Also losing ST and having the D severly struggle b/c of it sucked.
You're right about these points. If we stick to that offensive gameplan, it will be interesting what happens.

Remember that we haven't done that very much. The Dallas D will now be ready for it. Yesterday's efforts were good and they went to a waste unfortunately without the W.

But you're right - those were positives. The big negative didn't have to do with the little things, but the overall thing like watching us have 0 timeouts yet again when it mattered, and seeing a big fat 3 for the Eagles. That was pathetic.

*

Again, though, there's room for hope. We can beat Dallas and still turn the season the right way again. And yes I know we have a winning record, but this is definitely a big point in the season.

[#98QBKiller]

Surpisingly, niether was I. We put up points, JC looked like the QB that we all hoped he would become, and Portis is back to his old self. Our O is finally starting to gel. Our red-zone O o the other hand needs work.

If only we scored TD's on those 2 drives that we had to kick FG's inside the 10 yd line, we would have won. Also losing ST and having the D severly struggle b/c of it sucked.


I think the red zone problems were based on the playcalling, I cannot understand why they would run the ball so many times in the red zone on that 4th quarter drive, KNOWING that Campbell had thrown 3 TD passes already in the game, passing the ball was working but they wanted to kill the clock, the best way to put away another team is to score points not to kill the clock.

I have no doubt that Jason Campbell could have rolled out and hit a WR or Cooley in the end zone on that drive and put the Eagles down for the game, but we chose to run Portis 6 or 7 times in a row and settled for a field goal and time off the clock. Bad decisions.

And yes, I definitely think losing ST hurt our defense. I seriously believe that he would've stopped Westbrook on the 57-yard screen pass and at least made it harder for them to score.

[SkinsNumberOne]

I think the Cowboys are legitimately 13.5 points better than the Skins.

However, I fully expect the Skins to win this game.

Since Gibbs has returned, this team has done two things consistently:

1. Been utterly unable to handle prosperity, and
2. Responded after ugly losses.
I have noticed the same thing, in that order too. I just made that comment 5 minutes ago here at work to a coworker.

[RedskinsNation]

This L will stick w/me longer than others due to the situation and how we lost and being up...etc. It stings. This L yesterday was a duplicate of last years loss vs. Philly at FEDEX. I felt like we deserved to win both games and lost both.

The team has a do or die opportunity in Dallas next week. The NFC is so sorry that 6-4 puts us in the mix. 5-5 doesnt kill us but really sets us back. A win at Dallas would be bigger than this loss to the Eagles...that is for sure. Skins are going to have to play the game of their lives on both sides of the ball. Its not a NEW ENGLAND sized task but will be tough considering we never play well at Dallas.

[hail2skins]

I think the Cowboys are legitimately 13.5 points better than the Skins.

However, I fully expect the Skins to win this game.

Since Gibbs has returned, this team has done two things consistently:

1. Been utterly unable to handle prosperity, and
2. Responded after ugly losses.

You can say a win is a win, but I was expecting a little more after Foxboro than ekeing it out in OT against the Jets. What about after our loss to Tennessee last year and we went to Indy? How was that response?

[Walking Deadman]

I don't like the odds on this one at all especially if we play like we did against the Eagles, Cardinals, Dolphins, Giants, Packers etc.

Also losing Thrash and Taylor along with Santana being Gimpy makes things really look grim......but I remember 14-13, there's still a chance to pull a shocker- especially if Dallas gets full of themselves.

[Mark The Homer]

I think the Cowboys are legitimately 13.5 points better than the Skins.Me too.


However, I fully expect the Skins to win this game.Based on the history of the rivalry, I think we have a decent shot.

[skinsfan07]

I think the red zone problems were based on the playcalling, I cannot understand why they would run the ball so many times in the red zone on that 4th quarter drive, KNOWING that Campbell had thrown 3 TD passes already in the game, passing the ball was working but they wanted to kill the clock, the best way to put away another team is to score points not to kill the clock.

I have no doubt that Jason Campbell could have rolled out and hit a WR or Cooley in the end zone on that drive and put the Eagles down for the game, but we chose to run Portis 6 or 7 times in a row and settled for a field goal and time off the clock. Bad decisions.

And yes, I definitely think losing ST hurt our defense. I seriously believe that he would've stopped Westbrook on the 57-yard screen pass and at least made it harder for them to score.

agreed. I was expecting Campbell to playaction rollout at least once during that 7 play stand inside the 10 yard line but he didn't. And as a result we only got 3 which really hurt us. IMO we should have gone for it on 4th down b/c even if we didn't make the TD, the Eagles would have had to drive 90 + yards for a TD, but if we do score, we go up by 9 and basically seal the win. I was really disappointed there. And when Sellers dove on 3rd down on the other time we were inside the 10, and missed it, that upset me too. We needed the TD there to put us up 19-7 in the 3rd but instead only got that fg. So inside the 10 yard line yesterday we got 6 points, when in reality we should have gotten 14 easy and killed the eagles.

And I can almost guarantee that if ST was back there when McNugget bombed that poss to Reggie Brown, he would have adjusted and made the int, unlike PP who gave up the TD.

[Dondrae474]

Thanks for the post Mark. It uplifted my spirits and gave me hope for Sunday.

[Taylor From DA U]

I don't care if Philly was a top 3 team....how many times are we gonna blow leads in the 2nd half?...if you wanna be a good football team you can't do that...its unexceptable and even worse its happening at home!!!!!!!

[#98QBKiller]

agreed. I was expecting Campbell to playaction rollout at least once during that 7 play stand inside the 10 yard line but he didn't. And as a result we only got 3 which really hurt us. IMO we should have gone for it on 4th down b/c even if we didn't make the TD, the Eagles would have had to drive 90 + yards for a TD, but if we do score, we go up by 9 and basically seal the win. I was really disappointed there. And when Sellers dove on 3rd down on the other time we were inside the 10, and missed it, that upset me too. We needed the TD there to put us up 19-7 in the 3rd but instead only got that fg. So inside the 10 yard line yesterday we got 6 points, when in reality we should have gotten 14 easy and killed the eagles.

And I can almost guarantee that if ST was back there when McNugget bombed that poss to Reggie Brown, he would have adjusted and made the int, unlike PP who gave up the TD.



Agreed.

We can only hope that Gibbs takes this as a lesson learned, stick with what's working, even if that means putting trust in your young QB to throw the TD in the endzone.

And yes I would give ST an 85% chance of making the adjustment and getting the INT on that play.

[TheItalianStallion]

Moss has been struggling thus far, but he had his first big game of 2005 in Dallas. With the new approach to the O, I think he can be very successful, especially against the Cowboys' suspect secondary. Don't be surprised if Santana has a big game.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

You can say a win is a win, but I was expecting a little more after Foxboro than ekeing it out in OT against the Jets. What about after our loss to Tennessee last year and we went to Indy? How was that response?

The Indy game was arguably the second-best performance of the year last year. Indy was just THAT much better than us.

You can play well and still lose.

[Taylor 36]

Depending on what happens with Sean Taylor, we may not have a chance next Sunday.

[skinsfan07]

Depending on what happens with Sean Taylor, we may not have a chance next Sunday.

IF ST plays we will win. He intimidates TO that much. If not, we will get ****ted out of that toilet bowl stadium.

[SkinsNumberOne]

agreed. I was expecting Campbell to playaction rollout at least once during that 7 play stand inside the 10 yard line but he didn't. And as a result we only got 3 which really hurt us. IMO we should have gone for it on 4th down b/c even if we didn't make the TD, the Eagles would have had to drive 90 + yards for a TD, but if we do score, we go up by 9 and basically seal the win. I was really disappointed there. And when Sellers dove on 3rd down on the other time we were inside the 10, and missed it, that upset me too. We needed the TD there to put us up 19-7 in the 3rd but instead only got that fg. So inside the 10 yard line yesterday we got 6 points, when in reality we should have gotten 14 easy and killed the eagles.

And I can almost guarantee that if ST was back there when McNugget bombed that poss to Reggie Brown, he would have adjusted and made the int, unlike PP who gave up the TD.
PP does not have good tracking on the ball, yeah.

As for going for the TD, at the time we were up 22-20, so if we go for it and don't make it on 4th down, they only need a FG to take the lead. That's why we went for the FG. I don't disagree with that; I just think that there were much better plays to call than the draw play on 3rd-and-7.

[jamesbondman]

My season is OVER. I have cried and I am feeling sad. I have nothing left to look forward to this season....and I now just go into the job day after day admiring the Cowboys and N.E. fans, wishing that somehow years ago I had made a different decision on which team to sell my soul to and give my heart to.

It's about being a winner for most of us. Most of us don't make $80,000 plus a year and have a beautiful home with a pretty wife and so many of us are living from paycheck to paycheck and we feel like it would be nice to have something in our lives that proves we are a WINNER. So, we latch onto the Skins and root and holler to show everyone that we are part of something better than our paycheck to paycheck lives.

But when we are wrong...and we are let down..and we are finally faced with the reality that we are losers because we have chosen to latch onto a worthless franchise of a team that continues to lose, continues to be dominated by teams, and continues to be overwhelmed even by other losers...then the reality sinks in and we are hurting deeper and harder than some of you can ever realize. Because we are actually the ones who are being dominated and told that we can't do it. Unfortunately, we have no control over any of the teams decisions, even when we know we are right. That is always up to someone else...and that would be the people who are letting us down.

So now I will try to block out the feelings I have, try to deal with the pain I am feeling, accept the comments and insults from the Eagles, Giants, and Cowboys fans who I work with....and I will suffer in silence until next spring when the number 1 pick in the draft and free agency once again give me some false hope.

[#98QBKiller]

My season is OVER. I have cried and I am feeling sad. I have nothing left to look forward to this season....and I now just go into the job day after day admiring the Cowboys and N.E. fans, wishing that somehow years ago I had made a different decision on which team to sell my soul to and give my heart to.

It's about being a winner for most of us. Most of us don't make $80,000 plus a year and have a beautiful home with a pretty wife and so many of us are living from paycheck to paycheck and we feel like it would be nice to have something in our lives that proves we are a WINNER. So, we latch onto the Skins and root and holler to show everyone that we are part of something better than our paycheck to paycheck lives.

But when we are wrong...and we are let down..and we are finally faced with the reality that we are losers because we have chosen to latch onto a worthless franchise of a team that continues to lose, continues to be dominated by teams, and continues to be overwhelmed even by other losers...then the reality sinks in and we are hurting deeper and harder than some of you can ever realize. Because we are actually the ones who are being dominated and told that we can't do it. Unfortunately, we have no control over any of the teams decisions, even when we know we are right. That is always up to someone else...and that would be the people who are letting us down.

So now I will try to block out the feelings I have, try to deal with the pain I am feeling, accept the comments and insults from the Eagles, Giants, and Cowboys fans who I work with....and I will suffer in silence until next spring when the number 1 pick in the draft and free agency once again give me some false hope.



I almost felt bad for you after reading this, but stop being emo.



I have learned to not place the Redskins higher than the truly important things in life and it sounds like you might benefit from doing the same.