Game 13: Redskins (5-7) vs. Bears (5-7)

vs.

The Washington Redskins host the Chicago Bears on Thursday night, 8pm on NFL Network, local Washington area coverage on channel 20. Incredibly both of these teams are in the playoff hunt.

The week began for the Redskins almost as poorly as the week before, Sean Taylor was buried Monday. Tom Boswell captured the scene best:

It was grief at death and celebration of life rolled into one, all of it served up in an utterly American blend of killing, celebrity, race, theatrics, religion, hundreds of huge athletes and a balcony full of media members scratching their heads at a come-one, come-all funeral with a dress code ranging from football jerseys to stiletto heels.

Eleven days ago Sean Taylor was still with us.

Despite the cruel joke of a Thursday game this of all weeks the Redskins tried to focus on football. Right guard Randy Thomas who went down with a torn tricep in game two may be back for this game. Jason Fabini, you did your duty now have a seat. Personally I hope the return of player out for so long is a stabilizing factor. The team is reeling and Joe Gibbs made one of the worst mistakes, and a classless one as well, that I have ever seen.

As we saw continued last week the running game is wheezing, Clinton Portis has pledged to carry the team, emotionally if not on the field. Clinton and Sean were close friends.

And in the middle of all this, four suspects were indicted in the Sean Taylor murder case. Because that would not have been a distraction.

On top of that the league is drawing attention to the issue of player security. We already one know one player is buying a gun.

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What the hell do you do with Devin Hester? The guy is a threat on every special teams play. I expect the Redskins will try and kick away from him but not too hard. Anecdotally Devin helps the offense as a receiver, he seems to play a Santana Moss kind of role, catch it short and move in traffic.

Note also the Redskins have quite a pretty good return man themselves in one Rock Cartwright. Rock is second in the league with returns over 20 yards. Hey Rock how bout you break off a beeg juan tonight?

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Yes, Jason Campbell is well prepared to play. What we are seeing on the field in his late game performances is the maturing of a player combined with a coaching staff that doesn't really know what it wants to do.

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My take in 60 words or less: these teams are very similar right now. The fans will not attack the Redskins for a lackluster performance in light of events but they will be unhappy if the coaches blow another game.


End note: Adam Archuleta, the one year 40 million dollar bust at safety in 2006, traded to the Bears for a sixth round draft pick, has been benched (op. cit.).


Washington Post preview, Redskins Gameday (PDF). Campbell's Corner is interesting this week, Jason was asked about all his turnovers (13 in the past six games). Redskins projected starters, Bear projected starters. Redskins roster, Bears roster. Redskins injury report, Bears injury report. James Thrash is still out.

Other previews: The Redskin Report (statalicious), Hogs Haven, Hog Heaven, Redskins AOL Fanhouse, Covering the Redskins.


This is a gameday open thread.