Can't Get Over Themselves

Losing it getting it back and then losing it now it might be gone

Takeaway drill: game mismanagement, check; wasted challenges, check; offensive butterfingers, check; second half adjustments, check; dominating both sides of the ball, check; one bad decision that probably cost the game, check.

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Monday walkthrough: the Redskins lose 19-13 to the Buccaneers, commit many mistakes in a game they should have won handily if not at the last minute. This is a game that exemplified what is right and what is wrong with the 2007 Redskins. Four lost fumbles, two interceptions by Jason Campbell but also held the Buccaneers to no first downs and 15 total yards in the second half while scoring ten point and holding the ball for 25 of the second half's 30 minutes as the defense dominated, Tampa Bay could only muster one touchdown and four field goals.

The first quarter had a promising start with Cornelius Griffin hitting Tampa Bay quarterback Jeff Garcia hard, Jeff was clearly hurt but played on and the Buccaneers could only manage 20 yards before punting. Immediately on the Redskins' first play from scrimmage Phillip Buchanon dislodged the ball from Santana Moss giving Tampa Bay the ball at the Redskins 19. Three plays later Earnest Graham doing his best Earnest Byner impression scored.

No sooner had the Redskins gotten the ball back than Clinton Portis fumbled but with Bruce Gradkowski in at quarterback for Jeff Garcia the Buccaneers were only able to manage a field goal. The Redskins and Buccaneers then punted to end the quarter with Tampa Bay leading 10-0.

The Redskins started with the ball to open the second quarter and after two straight incompletes on 3rd and 10 from the Redskins 20 defensive end Greg White got around Chris Samuels and knocked the ball away as Jason Campbell was winding up to throw. The Buccaneers had the ball on the Redskins' 18 yard line but the defense held and Tampa Bay could only muster three points. The Redskins were still walking under ladders on the next possession when Clinton Portis fumbled the ball back to Tampa Bay but once again the defense held the Buccaneers to a field goal. The Redskins then managed a field goal on a short drive, both teams punted then the Buccaneers, on good field position from a three and out Redskins drive deep in their territory, managed a field goal to end the half, 19-3 Buccaneers at halftime.

The Redskins opened the third quarter in the no huddle offense and it paid off with a 39 yard Jason Campbell touchdown pass to Chris Cooley who made a nice juke move on his way to the end zone. The Buccaneers three and outed, then the Redskins drove all the way down to the Tampa Bay 4 yard line. Jason Campbell elected to give it to Clinton Portis on 4th and the length of the football and the team was stuffed and turned the ball over. The Buccaneers then three and outed, handing the ball to the Redskins at the end of the quarter, 19-10 Buccaneers.

The fourth quarter continued the Redskins' drive which ended in a field goal. Jeff Garcia came back into the game for Tampa Bay but could not manage a drive and the Buccaneers three and outed for the third consecutive drive. With 9:31 left in regulation and trailing six points the Redskins drove down to the Tampa Bay 32 where Ronde Barber (Wahoowa!) jumped a Santana Moss route and intercepted the ball. But the Buccaneers three and outed for the fourth time in a row, giving the ball back to the Redskins down six with 3:05 left in the game. As the failed 4th down conversion in the third quarter haunted them the Redskins went down the field 77 yards on nearly all passes before Brian Kelly intercepted a pass intended for Santana. Jeff Garcia knelt the clock down and it was game over, Buccaneers win 19-13.

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Soapbox: it comes down to one playcall. Trailing 19-10 with 2:10 to play in the third quarter and facing a 4th and one from the Buccaneers 4 yard line the Redskins opt to go for it and set up the touchdown rather than take the field goal and the points. Washington did not get the first down and turned the ball over.

As a result the Redskins became increasingly desperate on their fourth quarter drives, both of which ended in interceptions at field position, the Tampa Bay 32 and Tampa Bay 16 respectively, wherefrom the Redskins could have kicked field goals.

So if the Redskins play it conservatively and do not make the wrong decision to go for it trailing by only nine with a full quarter to go and instead kick the field goal they are trailing by six.

Then on the first drive in the fourth quarter instead of trying to force it for a score they are kicking a field goal to reduce the deficit to three.

And then on the second and final drive of the fourth quarter instead of trying to force it the Redskins are kicking a field goal to tie the game at the end of regulation, putting the ball back in Tampa Bay's hands on a day when the Redskins defense was dominating.

Bad decision Joe, when we were talking about being too conservative we were not talking about leaving points on the field, we were talking about the lack of creativity and the obvious playcalls.
When you are in a shootout with the Cowboys you have to loosen up the playcalling, you can't keep trading Dallas touchdowns for Washington field goals. But today, this was not the scenario for going for it on fourth. Should have taken the field goal.

Nota bene that Rich Tandler has already weighed in on this issue and will quarrel with this sentiment based on the theory that things may not have turned out that way. Lee Gibbons at The Redskin Report also puts the loss on the turnovers, not the playcall. I'd quibble with that based on the fact that the turnovers had already happened and Joe Gibbs should have been playing to recover and three points would have made better sense at that juncture in the game. Without them the ensuing Redskins drives got increasingly desperate.

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Chattering class: after declaring the day before the game that it was win or season over Tom Boswell at the Washington Post thinks this one might be biggest nightmare yet, bigger than knocking Shaun Alexander out of the playoff game against the Seahawks and still losing, bigger than hanging with the Cowboys and losing. He also generally agrees with me that the failed 4th and one in the third quarter was the sand in the lotion.

Les Carpenter gets his obligatory front page A1 piece, I don't ever remember the Redskins being on the front page every week. His story is sandwiched between pieces on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the District of Columbia and giant crowds welcoming ousted PM Nawaz Sharif back to Pakistan.

Mike Wise says Joe Gibbs gambled on 4th down...and lost and marvels that a team can recover from losing four fumbles and still be that close (the INTs were later in the game). Like last week against the Cowboys when it is that close you have to win it. Period.

Ryan O'Halloran at the Washington Times calls them Team Just About, it fits and here are his team grades, post game keys. Dan Daly at the same outlet says the Redskins snoozed through their emotional alarms until the second half.

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Omnibus: seriously guys, six turnovers? The Redskins' first five possessions went like this: fumble fumble punt fumble fumble.

The team got all the bugaboos out up front. The second drive went like this: flase start penalty on Santana Moss, Jason Campbell timeout forced by not getting the play in, then Clinton Portis fumble. Then in the second quarter the team wasted a challenge and therefore also a timeout on a play that was an obvious Jason Campbell fumble. It is this shit that drives football fans crazy.

Antwaan Randle El left the game in the first quarter with a hamstring flareup and did not return (op. cit.). He was replaced on punt returns with Keenan McCardell who was awful in returns but excellent catching passes.

And speaking of catching passes it was refreshing to see that with Antwaan out and Santana not as effective as normal that Keenan and Reche Caldwell got involved. Keenan had six catches and Reche had five, his first five of the season after leading the Patriots in receptions last season.

The team managed 100 rushing yards despite looking weak all day, Clinton had a couple of flashes but the longest runs came from Ladell Betts late in the game.

Jason was calm and in control, the guy is evolving into a great passer before our eyes. He passed for 300 yards for the second straight week, a feat he had yet to accomplish.

Stephon Heyer played well at right tackle despite coming off the stomach flu (op. cit.). I think this guy is a keeper, he needs some work but he is someone that can help this line get younger and better and is affordable (for now).

Andre Carter got a sack to make an even 100 for his career.

There were no roster surprises as Mike Sellers, Todd Wade and James Thrash all sat.

Nine of the Redskins 11 games have been decided by one score or less and the Redskins are 4-5 in those games. Only mirror image games against the Patriots and Lions are the exceptions.

The media eats well at Buccaneers Stadium.

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Area 51: the box score shows LaRon Landry leading the team with 5 tackles but anecdotally I did not see a standout individual effort by him, the entire defense played spectacularly with Reed Doughty doing a pretty good Sean Taylor impersonation. Sean Taylor was inactive again with his twisted knee and word today is that he was shot last night in his home in Miami and that he is in serious condition. Breaking news thread on this story here and look for more this week.

Freddie Your Cruise Director: Fred Smoot was credited with no tackles and it seemed as though he had a meh game. Shawn Springs did a great job covering his old Ohio State teammate Joey Galloway but that may have been as much Bruce Gradkowski's inability to get it to him as Shawn's coverage. Loveboat Freddie is in danger of losing this feature unless he steps up his play, talks some smack or screws things up, average players don't get regular features.


Washington Post recap, box score, play by play. NFL recap, box score, full play by play, Gamebook (PDF), photos.


Other recaps: Greg at Hog Heaven, David J. Warner at Redskins AOL Fanhouse, Skin Patrol at Hogs Haven, Stephen Rhodes at Redskins Gab, Bram at Covering the Redskins, Master4Caster at Running Redskins, the Fun Bunch. Rich Tandler on the playoffs, the Redskins red zone woes, Redskins fumbleitis, first quarter, second quarter, third quarter, fourth quarter.


Next up, the Buffalo Bills at Redskins Stadium, this team is trying to find an identity but if the Redskins are to keep the season alive they have to win it, don't worry, Jim Kelly is not starting for the Bills these days, he's just one of my all time faves at QB.



Joe Gibbs: Marc Serota / Getty Images from here. Jim Kelly, uncredited photo from here.