Too Many Cooks: Redskins 2006 Season in Review Part Two

Redskins bloggers fighting over a story

Following a playoff season in 2005, the Washington Redskins had high expectations for 2006. Super Bowl high. Those expectations were unmet as the team finished a miserable 5-11, good for last place in a division that placed its three other teams in the playoffs. This is the story of how it happened...

The Curly R continues the first annual Redskins Season in Review, a three-part series looking at the chronology of the Redskins 2006 season and into 2007.

Part 1: 2005 Postseason, 2006 Offseason & 2006 Training Camp
Part 2: 2006 Regular Season Games 1-13
Part 3: 2006 Regular Season Games 14-16 & 2007 Offseason Outlook

Other Curly R Redskins Seasons in Review: 2007

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After playoffs in 2005, an exciting offseason and desperate/odd personnel moves in camp, the Redskins brought their Super Bowl expectations into the spotlight on the Monday Night Football season opener...

2006 Regular Season
Game 1: Vikings at Redskins, September 11, 2006. On a clear Monday night, the fifth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the Redskins are beaten at home, 19-16 by former Redskin Brad Johnson and the Vikings. Minnesota is 9-for-17 on third down, Mike Rumph is beaten like a drum and John Hall misses a 48-yard field goal to send the game into overtime. Sean Taylor continues his 2005 ways with a 15-yard facemask penalty. Redskins 0-1.
(preview / 5 Questions / recap / box / gamewrap).

Game 2: Redskins at Cowboys, September 17, 2006. Sunday night, prime time national audience, Redskins lose 27-10 in Dallas. The tradition of a weak Redskins' secondary begins in earnest. Mark Brunell's passes are all short and the run blocking is weak for Ladell Betts. Rock Cartwright returns a kick 100 yards and it is Kenny Wright's turn to take a lashing in coverage. Sean Taylor collides with Terrell Owens, breaks Owens' finger. Redskins 0-2, and the media begins circling.
(preview / 5 Questions / recap / box / gamewrap)

Game 3: Redskins at Texans, September 24, 2006. A trip to Houston and the Redskins win 31-15. Although the win may look convincing, the Texans' Andre Johnson catches 11 passes for 152 yards, including a 56-yarder, the third time in three games Gregg Williams' defense allows a catch of 40 yards or more. Ladell Betts runs for 116 yards, Mark Brunell sets an NFL record with 22 straight completions and the Redskins commit 12 penalties for 126 yards. Redskins 1-2.
(preview / 5 Questions / recap / box / gamewrap)

Game 4: Jaguars at Redskins, October 1, 2006. A high-scoring affair with four lead changes ends with the Redskins winning 36-30 in overtime at Redskins Stadium on a 68-yard sideline route by Santana Moss. The defense sacked Byron Leftwich four times, Clinton Portis went over 100 yards for his first and only time in the season and the teams combined for nearly 800 yards of offense. Redskins 2-2 and it looked like maybe the control passing game would work out.
(preview / 5 Questions / recap / box / gamewrap)

Game 5: Redskins at Giants, October 8, 2006. New York rolls up 411 yards but scores only one touchdown and beats Washington 19-3 in New York. Tiki Barber had a great day with 123 yards and Eli Manning spread the wealth for the Giants. Mark Brunell never looked like he had a handle on the game, was sacked three times and John Hall missed a third quarter field goal. New York moves to 4-14 after their bye week, with three of those wins against Washington. Redskins 2-3 and happy it wasn't 36-0.
(preview / 5 Questions / recap / box / gamewrap)

Game 6: Titans at Redskins, October 15, 2006. Facing an 0-5 team, the Redskins lose 25-22 to boos from the home crowd. The 700-page offense continues to devolve as Washington calls 19 run plays against the bottom-ranked run defense in league. Vince Young throws for only 161 yards, but makes big plays when needed and the Titans control the final 3/4 of the game. IR'ed John Hall's replacement, Nick Novak gets no field goal opportunities. Redskins 2-4 with an identity disappearing into the ether.
(preview / 5 Questions / recap / box / gamerant / gamewrap )

Game 7: Redskins at Colts, October 22, 2006. The Redskins dip into Indianapolis and lose 36-22 to the rested Colts. The first half is a mirage as Philip Daniels and Andre Carter twist Peyton Manning into a pretzel and the Redskins lead 14-13 at the break. The Colts score 23 points in the second half as Peyton throws for 342 yards and four touchdowns, Colts' backs run for over 100 yards and new/old kicker Nick Novak misses two field goals. Redskins 2-5 heading into the bye week.
(preview / 5 Questions / recap / box / gamewrap)

Bye week: October 23 - November 4, 2006. At 2-5 and looking bad, Redskins bloggers devolve into the pro-Jason Campbell and anti-Mark Brunell camps. Redskins fans learn Adam Archuleta and Andre Carter, representing 60 million dollars' investment, have spent much of the previous two games on the bench. Joe Gibbs repudiates his own training camp regimen and Jason La Canfora runs an enterprise piece on Redskins free agent failures in the Washington Post. Curly R trades questions with the Lions, also on the bye.
(dread bye week post / 5 Questions)

Game 8: Cowboys at Redskins, November 5, 2006. Washington wins one of this NFL season's bizarre games 22-19. After failing to score with seven chances inside the five yard line, Redskins turn it over on downs but nail Julius Jones for a safety. On the next possession trailing 5-0, Bill Parcells gets caught chasing points with a failed two point conversion. Fast forward to a blocked Mike Vanderjagt field goal, a 30 yard return by Sean Taylor and an untimed play and the Redskins win to move to 3-5.
(preview / 5 Questions / recap / box / gamewrap)

Game 9: Redskins at Eagles, November 12, 2006. On a cold and wet day, the Redskins lose in Philadelphia 27-3. The Redskins show nothing while the Eagles find a running game. Nick Novak misses another field goal, Sheldon Brown returns a Mark Brunell INT for six points and Clinton Portis breaks his hand. Brian Westbrook gains over 100 yards and a Reggie Brown bobble bounces into Correll Buckhalter's hands; he takes it in for a score. Redskins 3-6 and looking like the strategy doesn't match the personnel.
(preview / 5 Questions / recap / box / gamewrap / game journal)

Game 10: Redskins at Buccaneers, November 19, 2006. Traveling to Tampa Bay, the Redskins lose 20-17 on poor defense and offensive miscues. Joe Gibbs finally makes the switch to Jason Campbell but the defense doesn't provide support, giving up 350 yards to the 30th-ranked offense in the league. Carnell Williams gets off for only his second 100-yard game of the season and Al Saunders calls a total of 14 runs against the 24th ranked defense. Ladell Betts gives away a critical fumble and Brandon Lloyd lets a sure touchdown pass through his fingers. Redskins 3-7 and falling.
(preview / 5 Questions / recap / box / gamewrap)

Game 11: Panthers at Redskins, November 26, 2006. On the day a damaging Tom Friend piece appears on ESPN, and the week after Joe Gibbs got hopping mad about the Tampa Bay game, the Redskins roll out a solid win, 17-13 in Washington. Jake Delhomme looks frustrated, Carlos Rogers and Shawn Springs make Steve Smith and Keyshawn Johnson look average, Ladell Betts runs 104 yards, Jason Campbell overcomes a faulty helmet radio and Chris Cooley makes a long catch for a score. An inspirational win and the Redskins move to 4-7.
(preview / 5 Questions / recap / box / gamewrap)

Game 12: Falcons at Redskins, December 3, 2006. Washington starts strong, loses 24-14 at home. After being down 14-0 in the first quarter, Atlanta, unable to move the pile one inch on fourth down, scores 24 unanswered points. Atlanta rushes for 253 yards and Alge Crumpler gets behind the defense for a 46-yard catch. The latest defensive collapse overshadows 155 yards by Ladell Betts and 7 catches for 123 yards by Santana Moss. New kicker Shaun Suisham is limted to two PATs. Redskins 4-8 with magic disappearing defense.
(preview / 5 Questions / recap / box / gamewrap)

Game 13: Eagles at Redskins, December 10, 2006. On a hot December day the Redskins lose at home to the Eagles 21-19. The Redskins hold the ball 15 more minutes, run 25 more plays and roll up 150 more yards than the Eagles, but also give up another interception for a touchdown and don't make daring plays when the game is on the line. Jeff Garcia shares the wealth, Ladell Betts runs for 171 yards, his third consecutive game over 100 and new kicker Shaun Suisham is 4-for-4. Redskins 4-9 and eliminated from the playoffs.
(preview / 5 Questions / recap / box / gamewrap / game journal)


The Curly R 2006 Season in Review concludes tomorrow with part 3.



One or Two Too Many Cooks: hand-colored etching by David Bigelow