brandymac27
December-26th-2007, 10:27 PM
Just thought I would post this here for everyone to read. Sorry if it has already been posted.
Resolute Redskins deserve to make playoffs
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Posted: December 24, 2007
Of the few teams vying for a playoff spot, the Redskins are the most deserving. When the Redskins lost to the Bills, 17-16, on Dec. 2, they were as low as a team could possibly be. It was Washington's fourth consecutive loss, it came on a last-second field goal and Sean Taylor's funeral was the next day. The team was in mourning and in a fragile state both on and off the field. If the Redskins had gone into freefall, nobody would have been surprised.
Instead, the Redskins haven't loss since. After Sunday night's 32-21 victory over the Vikings, the Redskins will be in the playoffs if they beat the Cowboys on Sunday at FedEx Field. Imagine how pumped up Redskins fans will be Sunday, knowing what is at stake and what the team has been through.
Everyone in the Redskins' organization deserves credit for keeping the team together. One of Taylor's closest friends, running back Clinton Portis (javascript:fantasyPopup('nfl', 5937)), has played inspired football during the three-game winning streak, running with passion and blocking with purpose. And the defense has stepped up without its murdered All-Pro safety, making opportunistic plays and taking pressure off quarterback Todd Collins (javascript:fantasyPopup('nfl', 3116)), who took over in Week 14 after Jason Campbell (javascript:fantasyPopup('nfl', 7201)) was injured.
The Redskins' resurgence also has reaffirmed Joe Gibbs' strength as a head coach. Following the loss to the Bills, Gibbs deservedly was criticized for illegally calling back-to-back timeouts, trying to ice Buffalo kicker Rian Lindell. Gibbs' gaffe resulted in a 15-yard penalty, turning what would have been a 51-yard game-winning attempt by Lindell into a much easier 36-yarder that Lindell drilled.
That mistake by Gibbs intensified talk that, at age 67, he no longer was an effective coach. However, Gibbs looked pretty effective Sunday night. With less than nine minutes to play, Gibbs threw his red flag and called for a replay challenge, after the Vikings recovered a fumble. The Vikings had too many men on the field. The play was overturned. The Redskins got the ball back. And the Vikings' momentum was crushed.
Late-season runs are nothing new for Gibbs' teams. Four different times during Gibbs' career, his teams have gone undefeated in December. And in 1982, the Redskins won their final eight games, culminating with their victory over the Dolphins in the Super Bowl.
If this current Redskins' run doesn't prove that Gibbs still can coach, nothing will. But he admitted after Sunday's game that few people could have seen this resurgence coming.
"We're just thrilled, really, to be quite truthful," Gibbs said. "We've been through a lot this year. It's really hard to put into words. We had four brutal last-second losses. You'd figure that would take the life out of most teams. Emotionally, to lose Sean the way we did. It's just been a real long journey."
The Redskins won't beat the Cowboys on Sunday simply by showing up. But several things are working in the Redskins' favor. The Cowboys will be without injured wide receiver Terrell Owens, and they already have clinched home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. How much incentive will Cowboys coach Wade Phillips have to play key starters and risk injury, knowing the Cowboys have nothing to gain by winning?
If the Redskins (8-7) make the playoffs, they'll face a difficult opening-round game against the Seahawks (10-5) in Seattle. The Redskins wouldn't be favored in that game, but since when has being an underdog bothered this Redskins team?
No matter how this season ends for the Redskins, it will be one that they'll never forget. Faced with tragedy and adversity, they haven't succumbed. More than any team still trying to reach the playoffs, the Redskins deserve to make it.
Senior writer Clifton Brown covers the NFL for Sporting News. Email him at cbrown@sportingnews.com.
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=322998
Resolute Redskins deserve to make playoffs
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COMMENTS (http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=322998#comments) 18 http://i.tsn.com/i/s/hp2/ut_sm.gif
Posted: December 24, 2007
Of the few teams vying for a playoff spot, the Redskins are the most deserving. When the Redskins lost to the Bills, 17-16, on Dec. 2, they were as low as a team could possibly be. It was Washington's fourth consecutive loss, it came on a last-second field goal and Sean Taylor's funeral was the next day. The team was in mourning and in a fragile state both on and off the field. If the Redskins had gone into freefall, nobody would have been surprised.
Instead, the Redskins haven't loss since. After Sunday night's 32-21 victory over the Vikings, the Redskins will be in the playoffs if they beat the Cowboys on Sunday at FedEx Field. Imagine how pumped up Redskins fans will be Sunday, knowing what is at stake and what the team has been through.
Everyone in the Redskins' organization deserves credit for keeping the team together. One of Taylor's closest friends, running back Clinton Portis (javascript:fantasyPopup('nfl', 5937)), has played inspired football during the three-game winning streak, running with passion and blocking with purpose. And the defense has stepped up without its murdered All-Pro safety, making opportunistic plays and taking pressure off quarterback Todd Collins (javascript:fantasyPopup('nfl', 3116)), who took over in Week 14 after Jason Campbell (javascript:fantasyPopup('nfl', 7201)) was injured.
The Redskins' resurgence also has reaffirmed Joe Gibbs' strength as a head coach. Following the loss to the Bills, Gibbs deservedly was criticized for illegally calling back-to-back timeouts, trying to ice Buffalo kicker Rian Lindell. Gibbs' gaffe resulted in a 15-yard penalty, turning what would have been a 51-yard game-winning attempt by Lindell into a much easier 36-yarder that Lindell drilled.
That mistake by Gibbs intensified talk that, at age 67, he no longer was an effective coach. However, Gibbs looked pretty effective Sunday night. With less than nine minutes to play, Gibbs threw his red flag and called for a replay challenge, after the Vikings recovered a fumble. The Vikings had too many men on the field. The play was overturned. The Redskins got the ball back. And the Vikings' momentum was crushed.
Late-season runs are nothing new for Gibbs' teams. Four different times during Gibbs' career, his teams have gone undefeated in December. And in 1982, the Redskins won their final eight games, culminating with their victory over the Dolphins in the Super Bowl.
If this current Redskins' run doesn't prove that Gibbs still can coach, nothing will. But he admitted after Sunday's game that few people could have seen this resurgence coming.
"We're just thrilled, really, to be quite truthful," Gibbs said. "We've been through a lot this year. It's really hard to put into words. We had four brutal last-second losses. You'd figure that would take the life out of most teams. Emotionally, to lose Sean the way we did. It's just been a real long journey."
The Redskins won't beat the Cowboys on Sunday simply by showing up. But several things are working in the Redskins' favor. The Cowboys will be without injured wide receiver Terrell Owens, and they already have clinched home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. How much incentive will Cowboys coach Wade Phillips have to play key starters and risk injury, knowing the Cowboys have nothing to gain by winning?
If the Redskins (8-7) make the playoffs, they'll face a difficult opening-round game against the Seahawks (10-5) in Seattle. The Redskins wouldn't be favored in that game, but since when has being an underdog bothered this Redskins team?
No matter how this season ends for the Redskins, it will be one that they'll never forget. Faced with tragedy and adversity, they haven't succumbed. More than any team still trying to reach the playoffs, the Redskins deserve to make it.
Senior writer Clifton Brown covers the NFL for Sporting News. Email him at cbrown@sportingnews.com.
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=322998