Cowboys Edge Redskins

Dallas had a few people hurt or injured (yes there is a difference, you can play hurt, you can’t play injured).  Everything was set up for the Redskins to go to Dallas and blow out the Cowboys.  The Cowboys didn’t have a chance to win that game Monday night.  And then reality set in.  Even with my man Miles Austin hurt and Romo playing with what was essentially a bulletproof vest on, Dallas managed to get six FGs and edge the Redskins 18-16.  If am a Cowboys fans, I am happy with that win, because you did it with a few key injuries.  If I am a Redskins fan, I am very disappointed in that performance because you had a very winnable game in your reach on National TV and you lay an egg.  But hey, most people had the Redskins going 3-13, so being 2-1 right now ain’t too bad.

Washington’s Defense looked very good Monday night.  And to be honest with you, I think that game was a Classic.  I had to watch it twice.  Tony Romo did what he had to do, when he had to do it.  I’ve said it time and time again, Tony Romo is a good QB.  But most people want him to be a great QB.  Maybe greatness isn’t in him, but being good can win you a Super Bowl.  Don’t believe me, just ask Drew Brees or Trent Dilfer.   And the young WR in Dallas hasn’t even scratched the surface of his talent potential.  Dez Bryant is a Prime Time Player.  Just imagine what that young man is going to do once he figures out how to play his position.  He’s going to look like Calvin Johnson.  Bryant made a play when the Cowboys needed him to make one.  On 3^rd and 20 with the game in the balance.  I could make the argument that Jim Haslett is a jackass for going all out Blitz with no Safety help knowing that a long pass was coming.  I mean the Redskins were hitting Romo, but they weren’t getting sacks.  So why go for an all out Blitz in that position?  Sorry Coach Haslett very bad call.  I just hope that the Redskins can bounce back.

See this is a short work week.  Washington has to go to St. Louis to take on the Rams, a team that has been a thorn in the Redskins’ ass for the past few years.   Just like the Lions, the Rams have a way of exposing all of the good teams’ weaknesses.  Washington’s glaring hole is at CB.  Say what you will about Carlos Rogers, but I have not seen him get beat in Press Coverage.  In my opinion, Rogers is one of the best Press Cover CBs in the NFL.  With him on the Redskins, DeAngelo Hall can play the other team’s #1 and #2 WRs on and off the entire game.  That in essence, frees up Hall to be the ball hawk that he is. Rogers gives you flexibility.  I’ll bet that the Redskins are kicking themselves for letting Rogers get away.  He definitely would have made a difference.  But I am not going to take away from Dallas’ win.  It is what it is.

Dallas has a nice young talented team that still has some growing to do.  Imagine if Miles Austin, Brady James and Mike Jenkins were all healthy.  The game may not have been that close.  Even with the young WRs frustrating the hell out of Romo, he still got enough out of them to get the win.  Romo earned more of my respect Monday night.  People say that he’s not a leader.  Sure as hell looked like he was Monday night, directing the young players and coaching all night.  People say that he's not tough.  Sure as hell looked like it Monday night playing with cracked ribs and a punctured, and possible, collapsed lung.  Some people say that he chokes at clutch time.  Sure as hell looked like he was clutch Monday night moving the ball on Dallas’ last two possessions and getting points when the Cowboys needed them.  Tony Romo is the reason why Dallas won Monday night and his teammates and all of the Cowboys fans should be proud of him.  Hell, to a man, I am and I have no shame admitting it.

I will give credit when credit is due.  Romo won the game and might have just saved the Cowboys’ season.  As for Washington, the will have their hands full against a very talented, but young Rams team.  But when it’s all said and done   In a very ugly contest I expect Washington to win but a FG.  I just hope our Offense can put more points on the board.

This week’s game ball goes to Tony Romo for a gutty performance. 

Redskins Squeak By Cardinal

Washington narrowly escaped Sunday with a win over the Cardinal 22-21.  The game could have gone the other way after a slow, and sloppy start.  Grossman had two first half INTs that could have blown the game wide open.  But, just like last week, the Redskins Defense turned it up a notch and almost completely shutdown the Cardinals’ Offense.  Are we starting to see the beginning of a trend?  Are the Redskins Defense better than advertised?  I had them finishing in the top half of the NFL, but they look more like a Top 10 Defense.  If they continue to play like this who knows…

Kevin Kolb, was anointed the second coming of Peyton Manning when he was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2^nd Round of the 2007 NFL Draft.  This is the same year that it was apparent that the Eagles would finally use a high draft pick on a target for Donovan McNabb.  Ask of Andy Reid why they took Kolb in the 2^nd Round, his response, “Kevin was the best player on the board.”  My response was something like “Are you f—king serious!!”  Kolb comes in and throws for 300 yards in two games and now Donovan must leave Philly.  Kolb gets his opportunity last season, he then he gets hurt and Michael Vick comes in and takes his job.  Kolb gets traded to Arizona and gets his opportunity to finally lead a franchise.  And so far he looks like he fits in. I wasn’t a Kolb fan because of how, when and why he as drafted, but he is actually a decent QB.  But like any other QB, if he gets not time in the pocket, he has no chance of success.  And the Redskins Defense proved that again Sunday.

With the exception of Larry Fitzgerald straight cooking DeAngelo Hall, the Redskins did a good job of taking away the big plays from the Cardinals.  Make no mistake about it, the Cardinals are stacked with talent on Offense.  Kevin Kolb, Beanie Wells, Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston, Early Doucet and Todd Heap are all on Offense.  There is a chance that I am only looking at names, but if you have never seen the Cardinals play you wouldn’t understand why they thought that Anquan Boldin was expendable.  They haven’t missed a beat since losing Boldin to the Baltimore Ravens.  And Washington had their hands full trying to slow down that Offense, but they did a wonderful job.  Kolb still threw for 250 yards and 2 TDs, but they kept Beanie wells under 100 yards.  Larry Fitzgerald had 100 yards, but is that really a surprise.  The dude is just flat out good, and getting better.  But with that said, the Redskins’ Defense forced two turnovers, one coming in the final 2 minutes of the game that sealed the victory for them.  This is exactly what I expected when the Redskins switched to the 3-4 Defense with Jim Haslett at the Defensive Coordinator position.  It is like the perfect marriage.  Good Defensive coordinator with the correct personnel to run their system.  How good can this team be?

Washington hasn’t had a dominant team in the NFL since the 1991 season, in which they went 14-2.  No, I don’t think that the Redskins are going to finish the Regular Season with 14 wins, but I do expect them to win between 7 and 9 games.  Maybe not Super Bowl, but definitely Playoffs.  With games like this past Sunday you can’t help but to raise your expectation just a little bit.  I am happy that the Redskins are 2-0, but they still have quite a few tough games coming up, starting with this coming Week 3 matchup with their most bitter rival, the Dallas Cowboys.  Let the trash talking begin.

This week’s game ball goes to the Washington Redskins’ entire Defense for stops on the Cardinals’ last two drives.

Redskins Chop Giants Down To Size

Who was that team in Burgundy and Gold on Sunday?  I haven’t seen a team like that in about 20 years.  The Redskins still couldn’t move the ball on the ground, but they sure as hell could move it through the air.  The Giants had some injuries, but hey, who hasn’t??!!  The Redskins got a big day from Rex Grossman, Fred Davis and Santana Moss as they hand the Giants an Opening Day loss, 28-14.  I am guardedly optimistic, but truth be told, the Redskins looked really good against a fierce division opponent.

No matter how you slice it, the Redskins looked good against the Giants.  For most people, the shocker would be how well the Redskins’ Offense played.  But for me, the shocker was on Defense.  There was a stat that came out a few years back that 76% of the teams that have an INT returned for a TD in a game, has won that game.  That caught my eye as I am a huge fan of good Defenses, not matter who the team is.  And I did predict that the Redskins will finish in the top half (top 16 or better) this season.  But, if they continue to play like they did Sunday, they will finish in the top 10.  The Redskins only gave up 75 yards on the ground and had an INT returned for a TD.  I was happy that the 76% Rule held true Sunday as the Rookie Ryan Kerrigan, not only tipped, but picked of an errant Eli Manning pass and returned 9 yards for a TD.  I don’t know if was winded from the long 9 yard run or from celebrating.  (Just messing with you Ryan, great play.)   Manning threw for 268 yards, but didn’t throw for a TD and was sacked 4 times.  And on top of it all, the Redskins blocked a FG attempt.  Now I know that the FG didn’t have a chance in hell, but hey, that’s not going to show up in the stats.  Overall it was a great Defensive performance and I hope that it only gets better from here.  And I hope that the same thing holds true on Offense.

Fred Davis, former Mackey Award Winner at USC, had the kind of day that I expected him to have when I used to watch him in college.  I just didn’t think he’d ever have that day wearing a Redskins uniform while Chris Cooley was still on the roster.  Davis had 105 receiving yards on 5 catches.  No, he didn’t get into the endzone, but that will come.  Santana Moss has 76 yards on 6 catches.  He too didn’t get into the endzone, but he’ll have his day too.  But the man of the hour was Rex Grossman.  Grossman completed 21 of 34 passing attempts, passed for 305 yards and 2 TDs.  I’ve been a fan of his since he was at Florida playing for the Ol’ Ball Coach (Steve Spurrier) and throwing to Jacquez Green and Jabar Gafney.  Needless to say, I was disappointed in him when he decided to be the second coming of Brett Favre in Chicago.  I knew that he could play better.  Sunday was just a glimpse of what I thought Grossman was.  No I am not saying that he is Super Bowl bound this year, but it is not out of the realm of possibilities.  Right now the Redskins are 1-0 and I will enjoy it until Tuesday and so should Rex.

This weeks game ball goes to Ryan Kerrigan for that huge game-changing play.