The Redskins have their second losing streak of the season, first since their 0-2 start, after falling to the Arizona Cardinals in Arizona, 31-23.
As every loss really is, this one is frustrating. The Redskins have shown promise and improvement in almost all of their wins this season, but in the last two losses regression has been the storyline. Today, not only did the Redskins show continued regression, but they were thoroughly outplayed.
Kirk Cousins had an average Kirk Cousins day, going 21/37 for 271 yards, a touchdown and an interception and fumble to match. The Cardinals' defense continued their season long streak of not allowing a quarterback to throw for 300 yards. The running game was imbalanced as it has been, with Rob Kelley getting all but four of the teams carries, gaining 63 yards on 14 rushing attempts. Kirk Cousins added the Redskins only rushing touchdown on a short quarterback sneak. An interesting note from this game is that three of the Redskins top receivers, Pierre Garcon, DeSean Jackson and Jamison Crowder had at least 33 percent of their game's reception yards off of a single reception.
The defense played about average: mediocre stopping the pass and slightly better stopping the run. Carson Palmer went 30 of 46 for 300 yards and three touchdowns. The defense was able to get intermittent pressure on Palmer, but over the course of the game it didn't prove to phase him much. On the ground and in the air the Cardinals were led by David Johnson who had 18 rushes for 84 yards and a touchdown and nine receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown.
The Redskins look to right the ship next Sunday at 1:00 p.m. against the hot-start Philadelphia eagles who are on a bit of a losing streak of their won, dropping six of their last seven after starting four and one.
Sunday, December 4, 2016
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Shootout at the AT&T Corral
Today is a day of giving thanks. I'm thankful for many things: Mike Ditka, Joe Buck's hair implants and most importantly, Hatin' ass Spurrier. The Redskins should be thankful that they were able to torn today's contest into an actual game by the time the fourth quarter rolled around.
The game started out ugly and looked like it wanted to stay that way with a missed 43-yard field goal, a failed two point conversion and two failed onside kicks.
The Redskins should also be thankful that Kirk Cousins really wants this new contract and that Jordan Reed was tired of this mediocre red zone offense and put the team on his separated shoulders.
Cowboys 31, Redskins 26 is the final from Arlington, Texas.
The balance of the offense is gone again because apparently winning is wrong and it actually doesn't matter. Kirk Cousins absolutely had the game of his life, completing 41 of his 53 attempted passes for 449 yards and these three touchdowns. 77 percent completions on over 35 passes is incredible and Kirk Cousins set the Redskins franchise record for 400-yard games. On the flip side, even though the commenters focused on how Rob Kelley had "Closed the door" on the starting running back spot, the Redskins still only attempted 18 rushes including a horribly obvious power out of The wildcat formation in the red zone. Kelley was able to pick up 37 yards on his 14 carries for a stellar 2.6 yard average per rush.
The defense was the defense and the Cowboys were the Cowboys. Ezekiel Elliott and his chipmunk face had 120 all-purpose yards and two scores. Dan Prescott had 17 completions for 197 yards and a touchdown and Cole Beasley continued his season long audition for "Who wants to be the next undersized slot receiver for the New England Patriots?" The Redskins lost and Dallas is now an insufferable 10-1.
The Redskins next game is a week from Sunday at 4:25 against the Arizona Cardinals, who now own American pro sports' longest championship drought. Thank you Chicago.
The game started out ugly and looked like it wanted to stay that way with a missed 43-yard field goal, a failed two point conversion and two failed onside kicks.
The Redskins should also be thankful that Kirk Cousins really wants this new contract and that Jordan Reed was tired of this mediocre red zone offense and put the team on his separated shoulders.
Cowboys 31, Redskins 26 is the final from Arlington, Texas.
The balance of the offense is gone again because apparently winning is wrong and it actually doesn't matter. Kirk Cousins absolutely had the game of his life, completing 41 of his 53 attempted passes for 449 yards and these three touchdowns. 77 percent completions on over 35 passes is incredible and Kirk Cousins set the Redskins franchise record for 400-yard games. On the flip side, even though the commenters focused on how Rob Kelley had "Closed the door" on the starting running back spot, the Redskins still only attempted 18 rushes including a horribly obvious power out of The wildcat formation in the red zone. Kelley was able to pick up 37 yards on his 14 carries for a stellar 2.6 yard average per rush.
The defense was the defense and the Cowboys were the Cowboys. Ezekiel Elliott and his chipmunk face had 120 all-purpose yards and two scores. Dan Prescott had 17 completions for 197 yards and a touchdown and Cole Beasley continued his season long audition for "Who wants to be the next undersized slot receiver for the New England Patriots?" The Redskins lost and Dallas is now an insufferable 10-1.
The Redskins next game is a week from Sunday at 4:25 against the Arizona Cardinals, who now own American pro sports' longest championship drought. Thank you Chicago.
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Crack the Pack
Two weeks, two wins, two Kirk Cousins videos to celebrate these wins. Tonight, in primetime, the Redskins handed the struggling Green Bay Packers their fourth straight loss in a game that for the better part of four quarters appeared it would be a shootout. The Packers have been struggling since the end of last season with a frequently injured and even more frequently nonexistent defense, an equally banged up and invisible running game and a quarterback who's been proven to be human after all in Aaron Rodgers forced to put a pedestrian offense on his back.
While the Redskins earned this win, also worthy of note that this was only the second time in almost a calendar year that Aaron Rodgers has looked ready to break out of the slump he's been in. This being said, he was still erratic at times, overthrowing open receivers on short and intermediate routes by a yard or more. In the past year this was only the second time he'd thrown for over 300 yards in a game, with the other coming in week 7 against the bears, who led by Smokin' Jay Cutler have plenty of problems of their own.
But this blog is about the victors, the Redskins: hail to them. In reality, this win is about the offense. Kirk Cousin's continued his strong sophomore season as the go-to guy in Washington going 21 for 30 for 375 yards and three touchdowns. For the second straight week, Cousins didn't throw an interception, a fact which would be shocking if it weren't for the even more shocking news that the Redskins had more touchdowns than field goals. Rob Kelley played well again in Matt Jones's absence rushing for 137 yards, 68 of which came on this beauty, and three touchdowns on 24 completions. DeSean Jackson, Jamison Crowder, and Pierre Garcon were all recipients of Cousins touchdowns. For the second week in a row, the Redskins also had the more balanced offense with 30 passing and rushing attempts, compared to Green Bay's 44 passing attempts and 19 rushing attempts.
As it has been all season, the Redskins defense got torn apart by a team with a competent quarterback and passing game. Aaron Rodgers went off for 351 yards and three touchdowns on 26 completions and for awhile this game was destined to be a shootout. By the grace of god or coincidence the Green Bay run game was bad enough to compliment the run defense that is the strength of this Redskins defensive unit. Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, was Green Bay's leading rusher with 33 yards on three attempts.
For the second week in a row, the Redskins play a game not at 1:00 p.m., color me shocked. They take on the NFL's best Dallas Cowboys next week in Dallas at 4:30 p.m. Dallas comes in at 9-1 and has been the surprise of the season. A Redskins win would certainly make the NFC East playoff picture a lot more interesting.
While the Redskins earned this win, also worthy of note that this was only the second time in almost a calendar year that Aaron Rodgers has looked ready to break out of the slump he's been in. This being said, he was still erratic at times, overthrowing open receivers on short and intermediate routes by a yard or more. In the past year this was only the second time he'd thrown for over 300 yards in a game, with the other coming in week 7 against the bears, who led by Smokin' Jay Cutler have plenty of problems of their own.
But this blog is about the victors, the Redskins: hail to them. In reality, this win is about the offense. Kirk Cousin's continued his strong sophomore season as the go-to guy in Washington going 21 for 30 for 375 yards and three touchdowns. For the second straight week, Cousins didn't throw an interception, a fact which would be shocking if it weren't for the even more shocking news that the Redskins had more touchdowns than field goals. Rob Kelley played well again in Matt Jones's absence rushing for 137 yards, 68 of which came on this beauty, and three touchdowns on 24 completions. DeSean Jackson, Jamison Crowder, and Pierre Garcon were all recipients of Cousins touchdowns. For the second week in a row, the Redskins also had the more balanced offense with 30 passing and rushing attempts, compared to Green Bay's 44 passing attempts and 19 rushing attempts.
As it has been all season, the Redskins defense got torn apart by a team with a competent quarterback and passing game. Aaron Rodgers went off for 351 yards and three touchdowns on 26 completions and for awhile this game was destined to be a shootout. By the grace of god or coincidence the Green Bay run game was bad enough to compliment the run defense that is the strength of this Redskins defensive unit. Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, was Green Bay's leading rusher with 33 yards on three attempts.
For the second week in a row, the Redskins play a game not at 1:00 p.m., color me shocked. They take on the NFL's best Dallas Cowboys next week in Dallas at 4:30 p.m. Dallas comes in at 9-1 and has been the surprise of the season. A Redskins win would certainly make the NFC East playoff picture a lot more interesting.
Sunday, November 13, 2016
Pillaging the Vikings
IT'S BACK! An ugly win is still a win. The Redskins love winning ugly, they love ugly games and they've shown it all season. If the tie wasn't enough to prove that, then today cemented it. It wasn't all ugly, the Redskins wore their Burgundy alternate jerseys and helmets with gray facemarks, which are among the best alternate jerseys in the NFL, the defense put together a successful game-ending stand and the Redskins came out with a win, so as ugly as it was, it was ultimately positive.
Offensively, the Redskins played about to their season average. Kirk Cousins was 22/33 with 262 yards and a pair of touchdowns to compliment those numbers. Kirk didn't throw any interceptions today which was a nice, yet surprising touch. Rob Kelley provided 97 yards on 22 carries in Matt Jones' absence. Cousins' two touchdowns came courtesy of Vernon Davis and Jamison Crowder. As could have been predicted, the Redskins had trouble getting into the end zone and Dustin Hopkins had to provide four field goals.
Defensively, today was a mixed bag. Stephon Diggs torched the defense with 13 receptions for 164 yards. Sam Bradford threw for 302 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 31 completions. In the rushing game, the Redskins were dominant. The Vikings leading rusher was Jerick McKinnon, who amassed 16 yards on six carries. For every lopsided game the Redskins had, for the Vikings, this was exponentially worse, as they were only able to muster 47 yards on 21 carries. It wasn't beautiful, but this was by no means even a bad defensive effort compared to what the Redskins have shown this season. Two key sacks on the final drive definitely helped the overall effort.
The Redskins now move to 5-3-1 and are still third in the NFC East. Next week they take on The Packers at home in a rare primetime game for the Redskins, Sunday at 8:30.
Offensively, the Redskins played about to their season average. Kirk Cousins was 22/33 with 262 yards and a pair of touchdowns to compliment those numbers. Kirk didn't throw any interceptions today which was a nice, yet surprising touch. Rob Kelley provided 97 yards on 22 carries in Matt Jones' absence. Cousins' two touchdowns came courtesy of Vernon Davis and Jamison Crowder. As could have been predicted, the Redskins had trouble getting into the end zone and Dustin Hopkins had to provide four field goals.
Defensively, today was a mixed bag. Stephon Diggs torched the defense with 13 receptions for 164 yards. Sam Bradford threw for 302 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 31 completions. In the rushing game, the Redskins were dominant. The Vikings leading rusher was Jerick McKinnon, who amassed 16 yards on six carries. For every lopsided game the Redskins had, for the Vikings, this was exponentially worse, as they were only able to muster 47 yards on 21 carries. It wasn't beautiful, but this was by no means even a bad defensive effort compared to what the Redskins have shown this season. Two key sacks on the final drive definitely helped the overall effort.
The Redskins now move to 5-3-1 and are still third in the NFC East. Next week they take on The Packers at home in a rare primetime game for the Redskins, Sunday at 8:30.
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Comfortably Numb
For the first time since 1997, games have ended as ties in consecutive weeks, as the Redskins and Bengals fought to a 27-27 stalemate ate Wembley Stadium in Lindon, England. While this game was far more entertaining than last Sunday night's Cardinals-Seahawks affair, it was still a tie. While ties aren't as bad as a loss, they almost feel like a loss because of how unsatisfying the outcome is. The fact that there are still ties in the NFL is mind boggling. For a league that prides itself in the level of competition and action, ties are an antithesis. The NFL is desperate for more viewers, which is apparent with the overload of games in London and falling ratings. If the league wants to make overtime more exciting and attract new fans, it should adopt the overtime system that college football uses. That being said, there are way more pressing issues that the league needs to address before it considers overtime reform.
Rant aside, this week's tie, like last week's, came down to a missed field goal. This one came courtesy of the Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins. It's become apparent that when a game goes bad, it's not because of the other team, its because the Redskins are their own worst enemy. Kirk Cousins had another big day passing, going 38-56 with 458 yards, a pair of touchdowns and his obligatory interception. Kirk Cousins attempted 58 passes. 58. That's unheard of. To have there be a game where an offense rushes the ball 31 times and the play calling is still lopsided by 27 plays is incredible almost impressive. It's not like the rushing game was failure either. Robert Kelley had a respectable 21 carries for 87 yards. The game became a bit of a shootout with an unsatisfying finish.
Defensively, this wasn't a great performance. Andy Dalton performed about how The Dalton Scale would predict, finishing 27-42 with a touchdown, interception and a rushing touchdown. The Bengals' leading rusher was Jeremy Hill who had 20 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown. While these stats aren't impressive by any means, it was the Redskins defense that allowed the Bengals to stay in the game. Three of the Bengals four touchdown drives were for 60 or more yards.
I'm going to be saying this all season. The Redskins have proven that anything is possible during any game. They could be the most hot-or-cold team in the NFL. We'll see which team shows up on November 13th at home against the Minnesota Vikings at 1:00 p.m. The Redskins have their bye week next week.
Rant aside, this week's tie, like last week's, came down to a missed field goal. This one came courtesy of the Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins. It's become apparent that when a game goes bad, it's not because of the other team, its because the Redskins are their own worst enemy. Kirk Cousins had another big day passing, going 38-56 with 458 yards, a pair of touchdowns and his obligatory interception. Kirk Cousins attempted 58 passes. 58. That's unheard of. To have there be a game where an offense rushes the ball 31 times and the play calling is still lopsided by 27 plays is incredible almost impressive. It's not like the rushing game was failure either. Robert Kelley had a respectable 21 carries for 87 yards. The game became a bit of a shootout with an unsatisfying finish.
Defensively, this wasn't a great performance. Andy Dalton performed about how The Dalton Scale would predict, finishing 27-42 with a touchdown, interception and a rushing touchdown. The Bengals' leading rusher was Jeremy Hill who had 20 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown. While these stats aren't impressive by any means, it was the Redskins defense that allowed the Bengals to stay in the game. Three of the Bengals four touchdown drives were for 60 or more yards.
I'm going to be saying this all season. The Redskins have proven that anything is possible during any game. They could be the most hot-or-cold team in the NFL. We'll see which team shows up on November 13th at home against the Minnesota Vikings at 1:00 p.m. The Redskins have their bye week next week.
Sunday, October 23, 2016
All Good Things Must Come to an End
That was ugly. So ugly. That was not the Redskins team that has shown up for the last four games. Two turnovers and a missed field goal aren't usually benchmarks of a successful game.
That last drive. The last Lions drive. Matthew Stafford has proven himself as a last-minute quarterback, but that was embarrassing. The Redskins defense, which had been looking better coming into this game, allowed the Lions to drive 80 yards in 49 seconds. Throughout the game, the defense, while only allowing 20 points, regressed. Josh Norman left the game in the third quarter with a concussion and Bashaud Breeland found himself picked on time and again.
The offense was a mixed bag. Kirk Cousins was 30-39 with 301 yards and a touchdown. Jamison Crowder had seven receptions for 108 yards. Matt Jones struggled again, and the team's leading rusher was Chris Thompson, who gained 73 yards on 12 attempts. Jones was held to 27 yards on 10 attempts. There were 10 more passing attempts than there were rushing, which isn't that bad, but isn't optimal at 39-29.
The winning streak had to end eventually, but that was an ugly way for it to end. The Redskins will look to right the ship next week in London, at Wembley Stadium against the Cincinnati Bengals. The game will start at 9:30 a.m. eastern time.
That last drive. The last Lions drive. Matthew Stafford has proven himself as a last-minute quarterback, but that was embarrassing. The Redskins defense, which had been looking better coming into this game, allowed the Lions to drive 80 yards in 49 seconds. Throughout the game, the defense, while only allowing 20 points, regressed. Josh Norman left the game in the third quarter with a concussion and Bashaud Breeland found himself picked on time and again.
The offense was a mixed bag. Kirk Cousins was 30-39 with 301 yards and a touchdown. Jamison Crowder had seven receptions for 108 yards. Matt Jones struggled again, and the team's leading rusher was Chris Thompson, who gained 73 yards on 12 attempts. Jones was held to 27 yards on 10 attempts. There were 10 more passing attempts than there were rushing, which isn't that bad, but isn't optimal at 39-29.
The winning streak had to end eventually, but that was an ugly way for it to end. The Redskins will look to right the ship next week in London, at Wembley Stadium against the Cincinnati Bengals. The game will start at 9:30 a.m. eastern time.
Sunday, October 16, 2016
No Fly Zone
Four straight wins, four straight weeks of the best audio to come out of Washington since 1972. An explosive rushing performance by Matt Jones, paired with a defensive effort that shut down rookie phenom Carson Wentz lifted the Redskins to a 27-20 win.
Just like every other Redskins game this season and seemingly every single game for the rest of time, it wasn't always pretty. There was the 86-yard kickoff return touchdown, set up by an excessive celebration penalty on Vernon Davis' touchdown. There were slight red zone struggles, capped by Malcolm Jenkins taking a Kirk Cousins pass 86 yards to the Baja. Overall though, it was a fun win to watch.
Aside from the pick-6, Cousins continued to cruise with the offense, going 18-for-34 with 263 yards and a pair of touchdowns, one of which was this beautiful 16-yarder to Jamison Crowder. Balance was restored back to the offense, with 33 rushes to nearly match the 34 passing attempts. 15 of those rushing attempts came courtesy of Matt Jones, who took those attempts for 135 yards an a touchdown.
The Redskins defense cooled down the hot start of Eagles rookie phenom Carson Wentz. The North Dakota State product went just 11-for-22 with 179 yards and no offensive touchdowns to his team's credit. in addition, he was sacked five times, with two and a half of those coming courtesy of Ryan Kerrigan. The backfield continued their streak of keeping the offense without a 100-yard receiver and in the surprise of the season Bashaud Breeland looked comfortable in coverage. Any given Sunday.
After the disasters that were the first two weeks of the season, this Redskins turnaround has been astonishing. Not only was the defense able to recover, but the offense has been able ton establish a running game and work through the woes of the red zone that plagued their start. The Redskins are now second in the NFC East, behind the equally surprising start of the rookie-led Dallas Cowboys.
The Redskins next game is a week from today in Detroit against the Lions. The game is at 1:00 and the lions are coming off of two straight victories over the Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams.
Just like every other Redskins game this season and seemingly every single game for the rest of time, it wasn't always pretty. There was the 86-yard kickoff return touchdown, set up by an excessive celebration penalty on Vernon Davis' touchdown. There were slight red zone struggles, capped by Malcolm Jenkins taking a Kirk Cousins pass 86 yards to the Baja. Overall though, it was a fun win to watch.
Aside from the pick-6, Cousins continued to cruise with the offense, going 18-for-34 with 263 yards and a pair of touchdowns, one of which was this beautiful 16-yarder to Jamison Crowder. Balance was restored back to the offense, with 33 rushes to nearly match the 34 passing attempts. 15 of those rushing attempts came courtesy of Matt Jones, who took those attempts for 135 yards an a touchdown.
The Redskins defense cooled down the hot start of Eagles rookie phenom Carson Wentz. The North Dakota State product went just 11-for-22 with 179 yards and no offensive touchdowns to his team's credit. in addition, he was sacked five times, with two and a half of those coming courtesy of Ryan Kerrigan. The backfield continued their streak of keeping the offense without a 100-yard receiver and in the surprise of the season Bashaud Breeland looked comfortable in coverage. Any given Sunday.
After the disasters that were the first two weeks of the season, this Redskins turnaround has been astonishing. Not only was the defense able to recover, but the offense has been able ton establish a running game and work through the woes of the red zone that plagued their start. The Redskins are now second in the NFC East, behind the equally surprising start of the rookie-led Dallas Cowboys.
The Redskins next game is a week from today in Detroit against the Lions. The game is at 1:00 and the lions are coming off of two straight victories over the Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams.
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Flip the script
One thing. This Redskins team has proven one thing this season: you never know what to expect. It's like they pride themselves in being unpredictable.
And again, while it's available.
No part of this season could have led anybody to believe that the Redskins would bet the allegedly resurgent Ravens 16-10 in a defensive contest. Coming into the game, the Redskins had the NFL's 29th ranked defense: a point that has been brought up and beaten to death, especially in this blog. There wasn't a lot of reason to expect a win like this, or even, at the very least, have confidence in this defensive unit.
But it happened. The defense was able to hold Baltimore to an impressive 10 points and questionably "elite" quarterback Joe Flacco to only 210 yards passing and a lone touchdown. For the second straight week the Redskins did not allow an opposing receiver to gain 100 yards after giving up three 100-yard games to start the season. After last week's less than stellar performance defending the running game, the defense stiffened and only allowed 118 rush yards in the game.
Offensively, well, at least they put up more points than the Ravens. Jamison Crowder got the scoring started in the first quarter with an electric 85-yard punt return touchdown. Kirk Cousins was 29-41 with 260 yards, a touchdown and an interception to match. The balance of the offense suffered a bit of a reversion as the Redskins ran the ball only 20 times, compared to 41 pass attempts. Furthermore, Matt Jones had another less than stellar game, managing only 31 yards on 14 carries, with 12 of those yards coming in a single play. The offense's lone touchdown came via a 21-yard pass from Kirk Cousins to Pierre Garcon with 8:28 remaining in the third quarter.
Next week's unpredictable mess of a game comes against NFC rival Philadelphia. The Eagles are coming off of their first loss at the hands of the Detroit Lions 24-23. The game is another 1:00 affair, this time at home.
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Bird Hunting
Tomorrow, the Redskins take on the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, for the chance to go above .500 for the first time this season.
The Ravens, at 3-1, suffered their first loss last week to the hands of the Oakland Raiders. Baltimore is looking to build on their hot start and forget their abysmal 2015 season.
Although 2015 was a disaster and their first two games were a bit ugly, the Ravens are no joke. That being said, if the Redskins' offense is able to build off of last week's performance, Baltimore's defense can be exposed.
If the Redskin's offense is able to capitalize, it'll be through the efforts of tight end Jordan Reed. The weakness in Baltimore's defense if the inability of the linebackers to cover the middle of the field. Not only did Reed have two touchdowns last week, but he has proven to be one of Kirk Cousin's favorite targets.
Offensively, the Ravens are very confusing. They may or may or may not have an elite quarterback. Their top two receivers are among the top in the league - or at least were four seasons ago, and their running game has been inconsistent ever since the, uh, departure of Ray Rice. Even with their banged-up secondary, the Redskins realistically have no reason to fear Baltimore's offense.
Much like the season has consisted of, this is a very winnable game for the Redskins if they can play up to the standards they've shown flashes of. As they've proven, there no such thing as a scheduled win and Baltimore is a tough opponent.
The Ravens, at 3-1, suffered their first loss last week to the hands of the Oakland Raiders. Baltimore is looking to build on their hot start and forget their abysmal 2015 season.
Although 2015 was a disaster and their first two games were a bit ugly, the Ravens are no joke. That being said, if the Redskins' offense is able to build off of last week's performance, Baltimore's defense can be exposed.
If the Redskin's offense is able to capitalize, it'll be through the efforts of tight end Jordan Reed. The weakness in Baltimore's defense if the inability of the linebackers to cover the middle of the field. Not only did Reed have two touchdowns last week, but he has proven to be one of Kirk Cousin's favorite targets.
Offensively, the Ravens are very confusing. They may or may or may not have an elite quarterback. Their top two receivers are among the top in the league - or at least were four seasons ago, and their running game has been inconsistent ever since the, uh, departure of Ray Rice. Even with their banged-up secondary, the Redskins realistically have no reason to fear Baltimore's offense.
Much like the season has consisted of, this is a very winnable game for the Redskins if they can play up to the standards they've shown flashes of. As they've proven, there no such thing as a scheduled win and Baltimore is a tough opponent.
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Believe it or not
The Redskins were able to get to the .500 mark for the first time this season following a 31-20 win over the lowly Cleveland Browns.
This game provided Washington fans with something unseen on the season until today: red zone offense. The Redskins capitalized on four of their five red zone opportunities, all for touchdowns, including two from Kirk Cousins to Jordan Reed in the first quarter.
Another anomaly? A Redskins running back rushed for more than a hundred yards in the game: the first time that has happened this season. Matt Jones gained 117 yards and a touchdown on 22 attempts. This was the second week in a row that the offense saw true balance, with 26 rushing attempts to compliment 27 passing attempts.
As can be expected, the defense still has work to do. While this was the first week the defense held the opposing offense without a 100-yard receiver, running back Isaiah Crowell was able to pick up 112 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, while backup running back Duke Johnson Jr. accumulated 53 yards on nine carries.
Any distaste that would have come from allowing Cleveland a comfortable day rushing was erased as the result of the Redskins forcing three Browns turnovers, an interception and two fumbles. Whether he was worried or not, it appears that Browns quarterback-turned-wide receiver Terrelle Pryor did have Josh Norman on the mind, as he was able to accumulate only five receptions for 46 yards, although one of those receptions was a touchdown. As has been very apparent all season, this is not a defense currently that will lead to a Super Bowl berth, but there is plenty of time and room for improvement.
The Redskins next game is this Sunday at 1:00 as they make the cross-county trip to Baltimore to face off against the Ravens.
This game provided Washington fans with something unseen on the season until today: red zone offense. The Redskins capitalized on four of their five red zone opportunities, all for touchdowns, including two from Kirk Cousins to Jordan Reed in the first quarter.
Another anomaly? A Redskins running back rushed for more than a hundred yards in the game: the first time that has happened this season. Matt Jones gained 117 yards and a touchdown on 22 attempts. This was the second week in a row that the offense saw true balance, with 26 rushing attempts to compliment 27 passing attempts.
As can be expected, the defense still has work to do. While this was the first week the defense held the opposing offense without a 100-yard receiver, running back Isaiah Crowell was able to pick up 112 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, while backup running back Duke Johnson Jr. accumulated 53 yards on nine carries.
Any distaste that would have come from allowing Cleveland a comfortable day rushing was erased as the result of the Redskins forcing three Browns turnovers, an interception and two fumbles. Whether he was worried or not, it appears that Browns quarterback-turned-wide receiver Terrelle Pryor did have Josh Norman on the mind, as he was able to accumulate only five receptions for 46 yards, although one of those receptions was a touchdown. As has been very apparent all season, this is not a defense currently that will lead to a Super Bowl berth, but there is plenty of time and room for improvement.
The Redskins next game is this Sunday at 1:00 as they make the cross-county trip to Baltimore to face off against the Ravens.
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Death and Taxes
Tomorrow, the Redskins face off against the Cleveland Browns, looking to establish a win streak against one of the league's consistently weaker teams.
What the Redskins have shown this season is that there are no "gimme" games. The offense's red zone weakness coupled with the production out of the defense in the first three games has made every contest more unpredictable than expected.
So what can be expected? Expect to see a lot of starters and role players on the sidelines in sweats. Center Kory Lichtensteiger, safety DeAngelo Hall, cornerbacks Bashaud Breeland and Dashaun Phillips, guard Shawn Luavo and wide receiver Josh Doctson are ruled out for Sunday's game, with Lichtensteiger and Hall on the injured reserve for much longer. Hall's season is likely over with an ACL tear.
Without Breeland, Phillips and Hall, the Redskins secondary is noticeably weaker than it already was, which is almost an accomplishment. So to risk sounding like Andre 3K, what's weaker than weak? A secondary with Josh Norman and a revolving door of players coach Jay Gruen couldn't even pick out of a police line up.
Doctson's injury may be a blessing in disguise for the maligned rookie. He was a held out of the Giants game after a flare up in his achilles injury that has held him back since August. With his expectations for the year so high, it's not unfair at all to say that the former TCU phenom may be shut down for the next few weeks. It seems that he was rushed into playing week one despite the actual status of his injury. The injury has hampered his rookie production, with his only input of note being a 57-yard reception against the Cowboys in week 2. Shutting him down may not be the worst move. Not only will it give his injury time to heal, but the break from expectations to perform on an injury will help restore any confidence lost.
While no win in the NFL is guaranteed to any team, the Redskins always look to serve as a painfully personified reminder of this fact. It'd be nice to think that the Redskins can beat a team who's current number one wide receiver is a converted quarterback, but anything can happen.
What the Redskins have shown this season is that there are no "gimme" games. The offense's red zone weakness coupled with the production out of the defense in the first three games has made every contest more unpredictable than expected.
So what can be expected? Expect to see a lot of starters and role players on the sidelines in sweats. Center Kory Lichtensteiger, safety DeAngelo Hall, cornerbacks Bashaud Breeland and Dashaun Phillips, guard Shawn Luavo and wide receiver Josh Doctson are ruled out for Sunday's game, with Lichtensteiger and Hall on the injured reserve for much longer. Hall's season is likely over with an ACL tear.
Without Breeland, Phillips and Hall, the Redskins secondary is noticeably weaker than it already was, which is almost an accomplishment. So to risk sounding like Andre 3K, what's weaker than weak? A secondary with Josh Norman and a revolving door of players coach Jay Gruen couldn't even pick out of a police line up.
Doctson's injury may be a blessing in disguise for the maligned rookie. He was a held out of the Giants game after a flare up in his achilles injury that has held him back since August. With his expectations for the year so high, it's not unfair at all to say that the former TCU phenom may be shut down for the next few weeks. It seems that he was rushed into playing week one despite the actual status of his injury. The injury has hampered his rookie production, with his only input of note being a 57-yard reception against the Cowboys in week 2. Shutting him down may not be the worst move. Not only will it give his injury time to heal, but the break from expectations to perform on an injury will help restore any confidence lost.
While no win in the NFL is guaranteed to any team, the Redskins always look to serve as a painfully personified reminder of this fact. It'd be nice to think that the Redskins can beat a team who's current number one wide receiver is a converted quarterback, but anything can happen.
Sunday, September 25, 2016
And Now for Something Completely Different
It is Sunday, September 25, and the Washington Redskins have won a game in the 2016-2017 NFL season.
The Redskins handed the New York Football Giants their first loss of this young NFL season in rather dramatic fashion, 29-27. Oh yeah, by the way.
Was the game perfect? No. Will the level of play shown today win a Super Bowl? No. But every win is a step in the right direction. Avoiding the pit of an 0-3 start is a big step, considering only 3 teams since 1990 have been able to find their way out of that pit. The game saw the return of the heated Josh Norman-Odell Beckham Jr. rivalry and while Beckham had seven receptions for 121 yards, Norman and the Redskins came out victorious...so draw?
This may finally be the Redskins offense that was expected after last season. Kirk Cousins overcame his red zone scoring frustrations by deciding that the red zone was overrated anyway. His two touchdown passes came from 44 and 55 yards out respectively and reminded fans and critics alike that sometimes you have to unleash the dragon. The play calling was the most balanced that it has been this season, with 30 rushing attempts to compliment 36 pass attempts. among those pass attempts came this fourth down trickery from punter Tress Way.
What ultimately killed the Giants may have just been an inability to avoid mistakes, mistakes in the forms of 11 penalties for 128 yards and three turnovers. Included among these penalties was center Weston Richburg, who was ejected from the game.
The Redskins next game is against the Cleveland Browns on a week from today at 1:00 p.m. The Browns are coming off of an overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins.
The Redskins handed the New York Football Giants their first loss of this young NFL season in rather dramatic fashion, 29-27. Oh yeah, by the way.
Was the game perfect? No. Will the level of play shown today win a Super Bowl? No. But every win is a step in the right direction. Avoiding the pit of an 0-3 start is a big step, considering only 3 teams since 1990 have been able to find their way out of that pit. The game saw the return of the heated Josh Norman-Odell Beckham Jr. rivalry and while Beckham had seven receptions for 121 yards, Norman and the Redskins came out victorious...so draw?
This may finally be the Redskins offense that was expected after last season. Kirk Cousins overcame his red zone scoring frustrations by deciding that the red zone was overrated anyway. His two touchdown passes came from 44 and 55 yards out respectively and reminded fans and critics alike that sometimes you have to unleash the dragon. The play calling was the most balanced that it has been this season, with 30 rushing attempts to compliment 36 pass attempts. among those pass attempts came this fourth down trickery from punter Tress Way.
What ultimately killed the Giants may have just been an inability to avoid mistakes, mistakes in the forms of 11 penalties for 128 yards and three turnovers. Included among these penalties was center Weston Richburg, who was ejected from the game.
The Redskins next game is against the Cleveland Browns on a week from today at 1:00 p.m. The Browns are coming off of an overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Giant hurdles
The Giants. The New York Football Giants. Three Super Bowl wins since the turn of the century for a team that has empty press conferences and a quarterback that looks like this. A team who's most famous fan is animated.
Those are just facts. Well, maybe not the last part.
Anyway, that team in 2-0, while the Redskins are 0-2. That doesn't provide a lot of leverage for jokes or belief in the Redskins' chances on Sunday. Oh well.
Three weeks, three teams, three all-star receivers; this is how the Redskins have started their season. Before the thought of Bashaud Breeland covering Odell Beckham Jr. has you reaching for the nearest container of bleach, much like Odell's barber, consider that football is a game played by humans. Humans are the dominant species on planet earth. Humans, as a species, achieved this mark due to having a profound mental ability to recognize and adapt to challenges. Joe Barry is the defensive coordinator for the Redskins. Joe Barry is a human being or, since he coaches a team named after Native Americans, possibly a convincing skin-walker. Assuming that Joe Barry is a human who can recognize and adapt to challenges, he'll notice that his defense's exploitation is avoidable. He doesn't even have to abandon his beloved cover-three zone.
While Josh Norman is among the NFL's elite in zone coverage, the rest of the Redskins are not, allowing teams to use their #1 receiver to find holes where Norman is not. Norman can stay in zone coverage where he is best, while still trailing the #1 receiver pre-snap. This either forces the recover to stay in Norman's zone, or go across the field, which takes time. Considering the history between Beckham and Norman, it may be for the benefit of the Redskins, minus Josh Norman's brain tissue, to keep Beckham in Norman's zone.
In good news, the Giants are coming off of a forgettable offensive output against a Saints defense that was 31st in the league in 2015. Their passing game was similar to the Redskins, with Eli Manning throwing for 368 yards but without a touchdown to show for it. In fact, the only touchdown the G-Men scored was off of a blocked field goal in the second quarter. The rushing game was pedestrian, accomplishing on 64 yards on 32 attempts. Defensively the Giants are allowing an average of only 16 points and 308 yards per game so far this season, but against the Cowboys and the Saints, not exactly offensive juggernauts.
This game is another chance for the Redskins to redeem themselves in the division, maybe the third times the charm. The offense has shown flashes of 2015, minus the red-zone woes. The defense should look to adjust and avoid further getting exposed by the all-pro, all-hair team.
Those are just facts. Well, maybe not the last part.
Anyway, that team in 2-0, while the Redskins are 0-2. That doesn't provide a lot of leverage for jokes or belief in the Redskins' chances on Sunday. Oh well.
Three weeks, three teams, three all-star receivers; this is how the Redskins have started their season. Before the thought of Bashaud Breeland covering Odell Beckham Jr. has you reaching for the nearest container of bleach, much like Odell's barber, consider that football is a game played by humans. Humans are the dominant species on planet earth. Humans, as a species, achieved this mark due to having a profound mental ability to recognize and adapt to challenges. Joe Barry is the defensive coordinator for the Redskins. Joe Barry is a human being or, since he coaches a team named after Native Americans, possibly a convincing skin-walker. Assuming that Joe Barry is a human who can recognize and adapt to challenges, he'll notice that his defense's exploitation is avoidable. He doesn't even have to abandon his beloved cover-three zone.
While Josh Norman is among the NFL's elite in zone coverage, the rest of the Redskins are not, allowing teams to use their #1 receiver to find holes where Norman is not. Norman can stay in zone coverage where he is best, while still trailing the #1 receiver pre-snap. This either forces the recover to stay in Norman's zone, or go across the field, which takes time. Considering the history between Beckham and Norman, it may be for the benefit of the Redskins, minus Josh Norman's brain tissue, to keep Beckham in Norman's zone.
In good news, the Giants are coming off of a forgettable offensive output against a Saints defense that was 31st in the league in 2015. Their passing game was similar to the Redskins, with Eli Manning throwing for 368 yards but without a touchdown to show for it. In fact, the only touchdown the G-Men scored was off of a blocked field goal in the second quarter. The rushing game was pedestrian, accomplishing on 64 yards on 32 attempts. Defensively the Giants are allowing an average of only 16 points and 308 yards per game so far this season, but against the Cowboys and the Saints, not exactly offensive juggernauts.
This game is another chance for the Redskins to redeem themselves in the division, maybe the third times the charm. The offense has shown flashes of 2015, minus the red-zone woes. The defense should look to adjust and avoid further getting exposed by the all-pro, all-hair team.
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Now this is Familiar
That wasn't pretty. That was not a Redskins team that will win a division title.
The Dallas Cowboys were coming off of an embarrassing last minute loss to the Giants with a rookie quarterback and an underperforming Dez Bryant. This had all the makings of a winnable game. Instead, the defense got exposed for the second week in a row and the offense stalled in the red zone again and the Redskins sit at 0-2.
Kirk Cousins had a 364-yard passing day, but with only one touchdown and a red zone interception to show for it. He was errant, overthrowing passes in the red zone and overthrowing a wide open DeSean Jackson on a go route, to which an announcer responded "I didn't even known that was possible." That comment came just minutes after the broadcasting crew posed the question of when Kirk will be considered among the NFL's elite quarterbacks. Cousins was able to find rookie Josh Doctson for a 57 yard reception, his only catch of the game. Again the Redskins heavily favored the passing game, with 46 attempts, compared to only 17 rushing attempts, 13 of those going to Matt Jones. Jones was better than last week and scored the Redskins' first touchdown of the game.
Defensively, the Redskins zone and specifically Bashaud Breeland, again, were picked apart all game. For the second week in a row the Redskins chose not to have Josh Norman tail the opposing team's number one receiver and for the second week in a row it backfired, to the tune of Dez Bryant's seven receptions for 102 yards. Bryant had not had a 100-yard receiving game, since Tony Romo was injured in the 2015 season and was coming off a one reception game against the Giants last week. Cole Beasley also torched the defense for five receptions and 75 yards. Norman played well, with four tackles and a forced fumble on running back Ezekiel Elliot. While the defense will surely improve once adjustments have been made to the coverage schemes and Brashaud Breeland is no longer getting exposed by elite receivers, there is still a lot left to be desired.
The Redskins' next game is on Sunday at 1:00 p.m., against the 2-0 New York football Giants.
The Dallas Cowboys were coming off of an embarrassing last minute loss to the Giants with a rookie quarterback and an underperforming Dez Bryant. This had all the makings of a winnable game. Instead, the defense got exposed for the second week in a row and the offense stalled in the red zone again and the Redskins sit at 0-2.
Kirk Cousins had a 364-yard passing day, but with only one touchdown and a red zone interception to show for it. He was errant, overthrowing passes in the red zone and overthrowing a wide open DeSean Jackson on a go route, to which an announcer responded "I didn't even known that was possible." That comment came just minutes after the broadcasting crew posed the question of when Kirk will be considered among the NFL's elite quarterbacks. Cousins was able to find rookie Josh Doctson for a 57 yard reception, his only catch of the game. Again the Redskins heavily favored the passing game, with 46 attempts, compared to only 17 rushing attempts, 13 of those going to Matt Jones. Jones was better than last week and scored the Redskins' first touchdown of the game.
Defensively, the Redskins zone and specifically Bashaud Breeland, again, were picked apart all game. For the second week in a row the Redskins chose not to have Josh Norman tail the opposing team's number one receiver and for the second week in a row it backfired, to the tune of Dez Bryant's seven receptions for 102 yards. Bryant had not had a 100-yard receiving game, since Tony Romo was injured in the 2015 season and was coming off a one reception game against the Giants last week. Cole Beasley also torched the defense for five receptions and 75 yards. Norman played well, with four tackles and a forced fumble on running back Ezekiel Elliot. While the defense will surely improve once adjustments have been made to the coverage schemes and Brashaud Breeland is no longer getting exposed by elite receivers, there is still a lot left to be desired.
The Redskins' next game is on Sunday at 1:00 p.m., against the 2-0 New York football Giants.
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Never mind
It wasn't close and it wasn't pretty, there's no way around that.
Last night the Steelers proved why they're considered Super Bowl contenders even without their offense at full force and a defense considered weak en route to a 38-16 victory. Ben Rothlisberger went 27/37 passing with 300 yards and 3 touchdowns, compiling a quarterback rating of 112.4. DeAngelo Williams provided 26 carries for 143 yards and 2 touchdowns, while every fantasy league's #1 pick, Antonio Brown, had 8 receptions for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Redskin's defense went with the odd choice of sticking to their zone defense coverage, which allowed Antonio Brown to exploit his matchup against cornerback Bashaud Breeland. During the rare plays where Brown was lined up against Norman, he didn't have a single reception and Norman had two passes defended. Breeland is no joke as a cornerback, but was overwhelmed by Brown all night. As it does to most team, Pittsburgh's offense exposed the Redskins' defense, but this was the first game of a long season and will likely be the best offense Washington faces all year.
While 16 points is by no means anything to celebrate, there were flashes of brilliance, though few and far in between. The Redskins were able to bet into the redzone six times, but were held to three field goals, one touchdown and an interception. While rookie Josh Doctson was able to play, he only had one reception for nine yards in a game where Kirk Cousins attempted 43 passes. To accompany these passes came only 12 running plays and seven carries for the recovering Matt Jones. The Redskins aren't the type of tea that can plan on throwing the ball all game every game. Granted Kirk Cousins had an impressive season in 2015, but one good season doesn't make it a smart move to put the full pressure of an offense on a second-year starter.
A season opening loss is by no means the end of hope, and while a loss of this magnitude is disheartening, it's a long season. The next game is an afternoon affair against the Dallas Cowboys who are coming off a less-than-stellar 2015 and a week one loss of their own. This game should prove to be much more representative of the Redskins' capabilities and standing within the NFC East.
Last night the Steelers proved why they're considered Super Bowl contenders even without their offense at full force and a defense considered weak en route to a 38-16 victory. Ben Rothlisberger went 27/37 passing with 300 yards and 3 touchdowns, compiling a quarterback rating of 112.4. DeAngelo Williams provided 26 carries for 143 yards and 2 touchdowns, while every fantasy league's #1 pick, Antonio Brown, had 8 receptions for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Redskin's defense went with the odd choice of sticking to their zone defense coverage, which allowed Antonio Brown to exploit his matchup against cornerback Bashaud Breeland. During the rare plays where Brown was lined up against Norman, he didn't have a single reception and Norman had two passes defended. Breeland is no joke as a cornerback, but was overwhelmed by Brown all night. As it does to most team, Pittsburgh's offense exposed the Redskins' defense, but this was the first game of a long season and will likely be the best offense Washington faces all year.
While 16 points is by no means anything to celebrate, there were flashes of brilliance, though few and far in between. The Redskins were able to bet into the redzone six times, but were held to three field goals, one touchdown and an interception. While rookie Josh Doctson was able to play, he only had one reception for nine yards in a game where Kirk Cousins attempted 43 passes. To accompany these passes came only 12 running plays and seven carries for the recovering Matt Jones. The Redskins aren't the type of tea that can plan on throwing the ball all game every game. Granted Kirk Cousins had an impressive season in 2015, but one good season doesn't make it a smart move to put the full pressure of an offense on a second-year starter.
A season opening loss is by no means the end of hope, and while a loss of this magnitude is disheartening, it's a long season. The next game is an afternoon affair against the Dallas Cowboys who are coming off a less-than-stellar 2015 and a week one loss of their own. This game should prove to be much more representative of the Redskins' capabilities and standing within the NFC East.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
A Chance for Glory
Football is a sport rivaled only by baseball in the sheer amount of cliches used by even the most casual of fans. The sport is full of "gym rats," "hustle guys," and "reals pro's pro's," as wordplay makes it much easier to describe something than actually thinking of a logical and accurate description.
One of the most commonly thrown around cliches is referring to an important game as a "must-win," as if there are games that really don't matter.
For the Redskins, Monday's game fits all the common criteria for a "must-win." The team is coming off an impressive season last year, and has a chance to prove themselves against a consensus Super Bowl pick early in the season. A win could prove that unlike 2012, last season was not a fluke. The unfortunate aspect of the Redskins situation is that this is the first game of the season. It's not preferable to start the season with the pressure so high.
Team injury reports have become so purposefully vague that they're essentially cliches. Because of cases like Tom Brady being labeled at questionable/probable almost every week of his career, the NFL decided to remove "probable" as one of the terms to define weekly player injury. For the Redskins, injuries could prove to be crucial to the game, even before the first snap.
Both WR Josh Doctson and RB Matt Jones are listed as "questionable," with Jones having the more optimistic outlook, as Doctson has been out since August with an achilles injury. Without Jones and Doctson, Kirk Cousins is going to have a much harder time taking advantage of a weak Pittsburgh secondary.
Cliche or not, this is an important game early in the season for Washington. Not only is it important to start the season with a win, but division wise the Eagles and Giants both won their openers.
One of the most commonly thrown around cliches is referring to an important game as a "must-win," as if there are games that really don't matter.
For the Redskins, Monday's game fits all the common criteria for a "must-win." The team is coming off an impressive season last year, and has a chance to prove themselves against a consensus Super Bowl pick early in the season. A win could prove that unlike 2012, last season was not a fluke. The unfortunate aspect of the Redskins situation is that this is the first game of the season. It's not preferable to start the season with the pressure so high.
Team injury reports have become so purposefully vague that they're essentially cliches. Because of cases like Tom Brady being labeled at questionable/probable almost every week of his career, the NFL decided to remove "probable" as one of the terms to define weekly player injury. For the Redskins, injuries could prove to be crucial to the game, even before the first snap.
Both WR Josh Doctson and RB Matt Jones are listed as "questionable," with Jones having the more optimistic outlook, as Doctson has been out since August with an achilles injury. Without Jones and Doctson, Kirk Cousins is going to have a much harder time taking advantage of a weak Pittsburgh secondary.
Cliche or not, this is an important game early in the season for Washington. Not only is it important to start the season with a win, but division wise the Eagles and Giants both won their openers.
Friday, September 9, 2016
Into the Void
Just as the thought of sitting through one more week of baseball and summer Sportscenter's round-the-clock coverage of Tim Tebow's living room threatened to erase any remaining will to live, football is back to fill the void in your life like nothing else can.
The Redskins' season begins on Monday night at home against the favorite out of the AFC: the Pittsburgh Steelers. While maybe this isn't he ideal team to start off the season against, like say the Cowboys would be, Pittsburgh is no cause for alarm.
Contrary to franchise history, the Steelers of 2016 look to win through quite possibly the NFL's best offense and a serviceable defense. The Steelers are also without Martavis Bryant and Le'Veon Bell, because apparently Pittsburgh weed is just too good to learn from your first suspension. With those two immediate factors out of the game, expect the offense to be slightly more pedestrian. this will lead to an even more interesting Antonio Brown-Josh Norman matchup.
Offensively, look for Kirk Cousins to embrace Pittsburgh's weak secondary with arms wide open. Anything that the Redskins can do to exploit this backfield, while also easing a recovering Matt Jones into his workload for the season will lead to success, not only in this game, but for the rest of the year. To assume that Pittsburgh's defense can be overlooked is because of a weak secondary is a dangerous game. The line really relies on whether or not the Redskins can get a healthy Josh Doctson on the field.
This matchup has all the makings of a high scoring game. Even with the suspensions, Pittsburgh's offense is electric and with Ben Rothlisberger at the helm, the passing game is more dangerous than a night out with Aquib Talib. Conversely, with a healthy Doctson, the Steelers don't really have a sure-fire way to shut down the Redskins passing game.
The Redskins' season begins on Monday night at home against the favorite out of the AFC: the Pittsburgh Steelers. While maybe this isn't he ideal team to start off the season against, like say the Cowboys would be, Pittsburgh is no cause for alarm.
Contrary to franchise history, the Steelers of 2016 look to win through quite possibly the NFL's best offense and a serviceable defense. The Steelers are also without Martavis Bryant and Le'Veon Bell, because apparently Pittsburgh weed is just too good to learn from your first suspension. With those two immediate factors out of the game, expect the offense to be slightly more pedestrian. this will lead to an even more interesting Antonio Brown-Josh Norman matchup.
Offensively, look for Kirk Cousins to embrace Pittsburgh's weak secondary with arms wide open. Anything that the Redskins can do to exploit this backfield, while also easing a recovering Matt Jones into his workload for the season will lead to success, not only in this game, but for the rest of the year. To assume that Pittsburgh's defense can be overlooked is because of a weak secondary is a dangerous game. The line really relies on whether or not the Redskins can get a healthy Josh Doctson on the field.
This matchup has all the makings of a high scoring game. Even with the suspensions, Pittsburgh's offense is electric and with Ben Rothlisberger at the helm, the passing game is more dangerous than a night out with Aquib Talib. Conversely, with a healthy Doctson, the Steelers don't really have a sure-fire way to shut down the Redskins passing game.
Sunday, September 4, 2016
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly and The Redskins
The NFC East, as a division, provides a chaotic allure where each team teeters on the edge of glory and disaster. Nowhere else in pro football is "any given Sunday" as brutally accurate as the division that's produced a different winner every year since 2004.
Where there is parity, there is rivalry and the allure of the NFC East is that this rivalry creates a hatred of a scale unseen anywhere else in American pro sports.
Entering the season, the Washington Redskins, led by part-time gunslinger, part time Tommy Bahama enthusiast Kirk Cousins, are the consensus favorite to win the division as the incumbent champions. Recent history is not on the side of the Redskins, as it usually isn't, seeing as during their last stint as defending division champs in 2013 they finished an abysmal 3-13 and last in the division. But unlike their 2013 predecessors, the 2016 Redskins have a healthy Quarterback and hope. Their offense is highlighted by a strong receiving corps featuring Jamison Crowder, DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, rookie first-round pick Josh Doctson and tight end Jordan Reed. The running game looks promising, yet unproven as 2015 sensation Matt Jones is set as the first back, assuming he is back from his sprained shoulder in time for the season opener.
The big story coming out of the offseason continues to be free agent pickup Josh Norman, who is expected to improve on the league's 8th worst pass defense in 2015. The All-Pro had a shaky start to camp, getting burned in drills by veteran Pierre Garcon, but has shown improvement and a return to form. The ultimate goal of signing Norman was not only to improve pass defense, but to allow some of the leadership pressure to be taken off of veteran safety DeAngelo Hall. With any luck, Norman will be able to use this transitional season to solidify himself not only as Washington's superstar, but a leader too.
What makes this upcoming season promising for the Redskins is that more than ever the division is theirs for the taking. Tony Romo is hurt again, leaving the Cowboys looking between newly signed Mark Sanchez and rookie Dak Prescott. The Eagles are in a similar situation, dealing last year's starter, Sam Bradford, to the Vikings, showing that the team has thrown their support behind unproven FBS legend Carson Wentz. The Giants, while having quarterback stability with boy-band aficionado Eli Manning, are dealing with transition after their coach of 12 seasons, Tom Coughlin stepped down. While his replacement, former Offensive Coordinator Ben McAdoo knows the system, it is unlikely that success will follow a 6-10 team going through a coaching change.
Where there is parity, there is rivalry and the allure of the NFC East is that this rivalry creates a hatred of a scale unseen anywhere else in American pro sports.
Entering the season, the Washington Redskins, led by part-time gunslinger, part time Tommy Bahama enthusiast Kirk Cousins, are the consensus favorite to win the division as the incumbent champions. Recent history is not on the side of the Redskins, as it usually isn't, seeing as during their last stint as defending division champs in 2013 they finished an abysmal 3-13 and last in the division. But unlike their 2013 predecessors, the 2016 Redskins have a healthy Quarterback and hope. Their offense is highlighted by a strong receiving corps featuring Jamison Crowder, DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, rookie first-round pick Josh Doctson and tight end Jordan Reed. The running game looks promising, yet unproven as 2015 sensation Matt Jones is set as the first back, assuming he is back from his sprained shoulder in time for the season opener.
The big story coming out of the offseason continues to be free agent pickup Josh Norman, who is expected to improve on the league's 8th worst pass defense in 2015. The All-Pro had a shaky start to camp, getting burned in drills by veteran Pierre Garcon, but has shown improvement and a return to form. The ultimate goal of signing Norman was not only to improve pass defense, but to allow some of the leadership pressure to be taken off of veteran safety DeAngelo Hall. With any luck, Norman will be able to use this transitional season to solidify himself not only as Washington's superstar, but a leader too.
What makes this upcoming season promising for the Redskins is that more than ever the division is theirs for the taking. Tony Romo is hurt again, leaving the Cowboys looking between newly signed Mark Sanchez and rookie Dak Prescott. The Eagles are in a similar situation, dealing last year's starter, Sam Bradford, to the Vikings, showing that the team has thrown their support behind unproven FBS legend Carson Wentz. The Giants, while having quarterback stability with boy-band aficionado Eli Manning, are dealing with transition after their coach of 12 seasons, Tom Coughlin stepped down. While his replacement, former Offensive Coordinator Ben McAdoo knows the system, it is unlikely that success will follow a 6-10 team going through a coaching change.
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