Bring on the Capitals and Wizards... lets go Terps (men and women) and Hoyas-- what's the initial prognosis for GW and AU-- and please punch my passport for Mason Nation! (currently searching for Howard pun). Can you believe the season-ending march is underway with a campaign that's only halfway complete? It's quite like "Hey Jude"... a 3-minute song with a 4-minute coda. Only not as fun to witness. I've often maintained that the Skins-centric beltway region gives other teams a chance to operate under the radar until January... obviously a 1-10 start means curtains but the glare isn't traditionally there until the Skins are done. Well-- the curtain is officially drawn on the rest of the sports scene.
Thoughts from weak eight (with an occasional NFL note to keep you from going crazy)--
Not Half Bad, just half-horrible-- the worst 30 minutes of the regular season came after two weeks off against a team working on short rest... a 24-3 landfill made even worse when given the fact the Skins haven't scored 21 points in any full game-- let alone a half. Once again, the offense was encouraged with second-half scores... touchdowns that wound up meaning little.
Double Down!-- Once again, the Blackjack offense was in effect-- and for the fourth time this fall the Skins stayed at 17...unfortunately the Falcons didn't hold a bust card. Even Spurrier's season-in-the-mail 2003 had the Skins hitting the 20-point mark nine times. You'd have to go back to 1993 to find an Redskins team with as little output (Pettibon's posse tallied 230 points; the current unit is on pace for 226).
Good Humor Men a Uniform Foul-- RR notes that the Skins are 4-12 since donning Burgundy on Burgundy against Pittsburgh last year... did they think White on White would be much better? This team has a Tradition with a capital T... does the University of Michigan roll out Maize jerseys if the players "vote on it"? Say what you will about the Cowboys color schemes-- but for the most part they are consistent. By DC or Maryland ordinance the Skins should be legally obligated to wear white jerseys with burgundy pants at all times-- with burgundy jerseys/white pants the only other option (special exemption to wear gold pants in a turn back the clock to George Allen era).
*NFL Note--keep the creamsicle!-- Tampa Bay ended an eleven game losing streak by outscoring Green Bay 38-28... wearing their old-school Orange unis from the 70's and 80's-- they even had the ambiguous pirate Bucco Bruce adorning white helmets. We humbly ask that the Bucs view this as a major sign and wear these unis forever.
O Line = Oh no!-- Jason Campbell was sacked five times in the first half and had to leave the game twice with various bumps and bruises. The fragmented line featured Mike Williams, Will Montgomery, D'Anthony Batiste and Levi Jones... proving once again it's rather difficult to throw when one's lying flat on his back.
TO TD's-- Campbell threw a pick-six... the second straight game where a Redskin turnover led to opposing points (and if one looks at the Chiefs game, Todd Collins was tackled for a game-clinching safety). It's rough enough when the Skins can't outscore opposing offenses... but opposing defenses?
Fantasy Focus-- the Dread Pirate Roberts has all but kidnapped the Princess Buttercup Division with three straight wins (inconceivable!)... going with the Texas two-step at quarterback (Romo/Schaub) and two dominant defenses (Steelers and Giants have both contributed this fall)... with the playoffs only a few weeks away--have fun storming the castle!
What's a Haynesworth?-- the Skins $100 million man racked up four tackles against the Falcons... but his presence allows others to succeed. First round pick Brian Orakpo tallied two sacks--giving the rookie 5 and a half for the season.
Tracking the Triumvirate-- the firm of Thomas, Davis & Kelly notched three catches for 30 yards... as their combined total swells to 32 receptions for 324 yards and two touchdowns-- prorating to 64--648--4... triple last year's output!... until you realize they're three players and the offensive linemen available last year (Sam Baker, Duane Brown, Mike Pollak and Chilo Rachal) are all starters in the league.
Sending out an SOS!-- after handling a softserve pre-bye slate with not just losing teams-- but positively dreadful squads: the Chiefs, Bucs, Lions and Rams are all 1-7... Cleveland being the lone 1-7 squad not on the Skins slate this fall. Wrapping up the remainder of the season-- there's not only an unbeaten (New Orleans) plus three more games against division leaders (Dallas twice and Denver once). Oakland (2-6) is the only pushover-- and that one's out west.
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