Lions Gather No Moss

Can't catch me

Takeaway drill: once again sticking to the gameplan pays off, penalties and turnovers hold the Redskins back but the stronger team wins. The defense again arrives to rescue the offense and some big individual performances take the day.

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Monday walkthrough: indoors in Detroit the Redskins get a Halloween scare from the inferior Lions before putting the home team away 25-17, move to 6-2 in their largest margin of victory this season. A slow start put the Redskins at a disadvantage, the team took the long view and trusted the defense to carry the day. Santana Moss and Clinton Portis are awesome.

The Redskins took the ball to start the first quarter and went to Santana Moss three times in a row to get things started. Shredding would be the operative turn as the Redskins score positive yardage on the first six plays before Jason Campbell carries on a busted pass play for no yards. A receiver screen to Santana inside the five and suddenly the Lions were playing real goal line defense. The Redskins cannot punch it in and settle for a field goal. One false start later and the attempt is pushed back to a 25 yarder, Redskins score first to go up 3-0. The Lions got the ball back and cannot do much, punt. Washington's second possession continued the first as the Redskins moved easily, Shaun Alexander stepping in for Clinton Portis. On the fourth play of the drive at midfield Jason Campbell was gang tackled and finally committed his first turnover, fumbling the ball away. The Lions keep the Redskins off balance and take the ball in for a touchdown to pull ahead 7-3. The Redskins got the ball back and one play before the end of the quarter with the Lions leading 7-3. (Quarterly reports: Washington Post)

The Redskins continued their possession to start the second quarter, Shaun Alexander came out and Clinton Portis came back in, a false start and no room to run and the Redskins are punting. The Lions put together a good drive, all on quarterback Dan Orlovsky's arm, move 44 yards before Jason Hason kicks a 43 yard field goal to send the Lions up by a touchdown 10-3. Washington gets the ball back for the fourth time at their 30 yard line, march 52 yards before Jon Jansen commits a ticky tack facemask, the penalty put the Shaun Suisham out of range and his 50 yard attempt misses wide right. Detroit gets the ball for the fourth time with 3:24 left in the half and look more like the Lions as they burn less than a minute off the clock moving no yards, punt the ball back to the Redskins who have 2:22 left in the half to make something happen. A five yard Clinton Portis run, an 18 yard catch by Chris Cooley, a nine yard sack of Jason Campbell then a first down catch by Chris Cooley is negated by Jon Jansen's second penalty, a hold. James Thrash made it up with a 29 yard catch, then another Chris Cooley commits an offensive pass interference to take back his own first down catch. An offsides penalty by the Lions gives the Redskins some yards back but does not give time back as the Redskins start the final progression with seventeen seconds left. Chris Cooley atones for the interference with a first down catch but there are only ten seconds left. One more eleven yard catch by Santana Moss and Shaun Suisham sets up and kicks a 47 yard field goal to narrow the Lions lead to 10-6 at the end of the half. (Quarterly report: Washington Post)

The Lions got the ball to start the third quarter, the Lions could not get much going including a false start that saved a sack and the Lions punt. The Redskins get the ball for the sixth time and start with Clinton Portis tripping over Randy Thomas but the team recovers with a 31 yard pass to Antwaan Randle El who cuts it back for another ten. Clinton runs short twice and Chris Cooley drops a first down catch and the Redskins settle for a 45 yard Shaun Suisham field goal to cut the Lions lead to one, 10-9 Detroit. The Lions get the ball for the second time in the half, sixth overall, Fred Smoot just misses deflecting a pass to Shaun McDonald for a first down and the rest was three and out for a punt. LaRon Landry commits a flagrant block in the back on the return to pin the Redskins back at their own four on the seventh drive. A key 17 yard catch by Chris Cooley, two solid runs by Clinton Portis, a 15 yard facemask on Detroit linebacker Ryan Nece, all work to set up Jason Campbell to Santana Moss down the right sideline for 50 yards and a touchdown to put the Redskins up 16-10. Detroit returner Brandon Middleton fumbled the return but it went out of bounds and the Lions retained possession but three and outed, featuring a near interception by Carlos Rogers in front of Calvin Johnson. Washington got the ball back, both teams called timeouts, Santana caught a 16 yard pass then three and out for the Redskins. Ryan Plackemeier's punt puts the Lions at their own eleven yard line, they manage one ten yard play before the end of the third quarter with the Redskins leading 16-10. (Quarterly reports: Washington Post)

Detroit still has the ball to start the fourth quarter, three Lions penalties in four plays and it is third and seventeen for the Lions. The ninth Redskins possession never happened as Santana Moss catches Nick Harris' punt at the Washington 20, shakes off a confused Devin Thomas and takes the ball 80 yards for a touchdown, the Redskins miss the two point conversion and lead 22-10. The Lions get the ball for the ninth time and move easily as the Redskins are simply trying not to give up the big play, give up a big play as Calvin Johnson takes a Dan Orlovsky pass 17 yards for a touchdown to make the score 22-17 Redskins. LaRon Landry commits a facemask penalty on that play, which is assessed on the kickoff resulting in a touchback. The Redskins tenth drive starts with a 20 yard catch by Santana Moss, he went off the field after that play, Chris Cooley caught a seven yarder and it took Clinton Portis two plays to secure the first down. Four minutes left in the game, and it is Clinton to the right for four. Next play Clinton takes the ball off left tackle for 31 yards and goes down on the play. He gets up and limps off, is replaced by Shaun Alexander who goes nowhere on two plays. Clinton Portis comes back in the game and Jason Campbell fumbles for the second time, it is recovered by right tackle Jon Jansen. Shaun Suisham kicks a 42 yard field goal to make the game 25-17 Redskins. Detroit gets the ball back down eight with 1:51 left in the game, receiver Brandon Middleton drops a sure catch, an eight yard catch by Shaun McDonald, a first down catch by Calvin Johnson, a six yard catch by Mike Furrey, an incomplete, a terrific pass deflection by Fred Smoot, a solid hit by London Fletcher on Calvin Johnson to deny the first down and it is Redskins ball, one play in victory formation and the game is over, Redskins win 25-17. (Quarterly reports: Washington Post)

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Soapbox: it did not start well, the Lions had not scored any first quarter points and been way outscored in the first quarter, the Redskins got stopped at the goal and then let the Lions come down the field for seven, shades of the Rams game.

Penalties were a problem in the first half of this game, not only were there too many but they also came at bad times. This is unacceptable, three penalties by Jon Jansen though those were pretty much offset by the fumble recovery in the fourth quarter.

With Chris Samuels out Stephon Heyer started at left tackle for the first time and was tuh tuh terrible, Detroit right defensive end DeWayne White simply pwnd Stephon, going for sacks in the second, third and fourth quarters, the third quarter sack was negated by a Lions penalty and the fourth quarter sack caused Jason's second fumble of the game and season. Photographer Toni Sandys at the Washington Post captured Stephon getting what for from coach Jim Zorn after a DeWayne sack, that photo is from the fourth quarter. With Jim Zorn getting in Clinton Portis' grill in the first quarter after putting Shaun Alexander in and then pounding the podium in rage at a reporter in the post game press conference, the freak out on Stephon went without much notice. Stephon was the promoted right tackle at the start of the season and now with Stephon is having a hard time as a top reserve, he needs some coaching.

Clinton Portis had another great game but seemed to be running short or tentatively in the second half, maybe Detroit was clogging the interior running lanes.

What can't you say about Jason Campbell? Yes the two funbles were bad, still no interceptions and it is clear he is making his reads and throwing with a lot of poise. Occasionally we still see Jason missing an open receiver, more often than not he is making the right call.

All in all the kind of game you can get fake frustrated about in winning, in the post game press conference coach Jim Zorn reminded us that the team went 3-1 in their first four games and 3-1 in their second four games.

Today the team missed Shawn Springs, Chris Samuels and Chris Horton, and still the Redskins dominated statistically. Yes it is true that some time this kind of performance is going to bite the Redskins in the ass, it is also true that being good and not scoring a lot generally means you can get better and score more. The Redskins still have room to grow in 2008 and that is good, no one looking at the playoffs should be peaking right now.

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Chattering class: at the Washington Post columnist Jason La Canfora goes to some length to discuss and demonstrate the rapid development of Jason Campbell and the consistency of both Jason Campbell and Santana Moss. Mike Wise writes that despite outward appearances of discomfort and disagreement the Redskins are jelling. Sally Jenkins' topic is Jim Zorn's frustrations with casual mistakes. Blogger Jason La Canfora at the Washington Post runs his Monday Morning H-back.

As usual Les Carpenter gets the now mandatory front page A1 piece, sitting alongside the story of Barack Obama's eight point lead in the traditionally conservative Commonwealth of Virginia and senate Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell's struggle to win his reelection in very conservative Kentucky.

Over at the Washington Times shit disturber Ryan O'Halloran does his Monday Morning Quarterback.

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Omnibus: Chris Samuels was a late scratch and did not play, it ends his streak of 73 consecutive games started. Stephon Heyer started at left tackle. Chris Horton also was inactive with an ankle sprain. Newly signed safety Mike Green was in on two plays early on the Lions firt drive.

After not getting a touchdown on the opening drive the broadcast cut to Jim Zorn cursing damn! with a body convulsion, that is about the most emotion we have seen yet from coach Zorn. As we now know by the time the game was over we would get to see a whole lot more.

Jason Campbell opened the game ten for ten passing. The first incompletion was down the sideline to Santana Moss, as was the next, both were catchable balls.

Tailback Shaun Alexander made his first appearance on the Redskins second drive.

Jason Campbell finally committed a turnover, fumbling the ball on a sack at midfield. Still no interceptions.

The first quarter holding call on Leigh Torrence was not replayed but was key, it kept what would be a scoring drive for Detroit alive. Those points by the Lions were the first ever in the first quarter this season.

As the Lions got the ball for the second time the broadcast cut to Jim Zorn yelling at Clinton Portis, color analyst Brian Billick surmised Clinton was not excited about Shaun Alexander being in the game. It did not bode well for team performance.

Both of Jon Jansen's penalties in the first half, the facemask and the hold, both pulled back first critical first downs. Most unfortunate.

In the first half the Redskins had the ball for 22 of the 30 minutes of game time, had a 250-95 advantage in total yards. One turnover, the Jason Campbell fumble and six penalties for 48 yards kept the Redskins down as they trailed by four at the half. Leigh Torrence's hold helped the Lions score their touchdown, Stephon Heyer's false start turned a third and five into a third and ten, the Redskins had to punt, Jon Jansen's facemask turned a third and one that Shaun Alexander ran for three on into a punt, Jon Jansen's hold negated a 19 yard first down catch by Chris Cooley, Chris Cooley's offensive pass interference negated his own first down, all in the first half, UNACCEPTABLE!

After Santana Moss caught the 50 yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to put the Redskins up 15-10, it is notable that Jim Zorn did not go for two which would have put the team up by an even touchdown. Coach Zorn was not chasing the points. Later in the fourth quarter after Santana Moss' punt return touchdown the Redskins did go for two and missed. Fourth quarter is where you start whipping out the conversion card, good work by coach Zorn.

The incomplete pass from Dan Orlovsky to Calvin Johnson in the third quarter after the Redskins scored, the pass went through Carlos Rogers' hands, hit his helmet, deflected back to him and he still missed it. Time for coach Zorn to run the defensive back INT drill again?

Third quarter sideline shot of Jim Zorn: still not happy.

On the fourth quarter Santana Moss punt return for a touchdown, two observations: first, Antwaan Randle El likely would not have made that play, and second, Devin Thomas is a dumbass, it was as if he tried to tackle Santana as he collided with his backfield teammate.

Late fourth quarter sideline shot of Jim Zorn: much happier.

This game: Clinton Portis' fifth consecutive game over 120 yards rushing. In the game broadcast and this Washington Post post game FYI it was stated that Clinton becomes only the second player since OJ Simpson to do this five games in a row twice. If that is the case I cannot find it, the closest Clinton came was in 2003 with the Broncos, seven total games at 120 yards or more but only four games in a row. If I missed something someone out there please tell me.

Jon Jansen atoned for his two damaging first half penalties by recovering Jason Campbell's second fumble in the fourth quarter.

Calvin Johnson finished the game with four catches for 57 yards, the third game in a row where Carlos Rogers has had top cover duties and limited the opponents' top receiver. He is really having a solid season.

Shaun Suisham, a native of Wallaceburg Ontario, right across Lake St. Clair from Detroit, had three bus loads of family and friends come from north of the border for the game (op. cit.).

Today the Redskins beat the spread, -7.5. This was also Washington's largest margin of victory of the season.

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Zorn can be its own reward: Jim Zorn gets through a frustrating game with a win, moves to 6-2 career as head coach. For much of the game coach Zorn prowled the sidelines with a grumpy look on his face, we witnessed him chew out Clinton Portis for sulking after Shaun Alexander went in and saw him yell at Stephon Heyer for letting through yet another DeWayne White sack. After the game coach Zorn freaked out on a reporter, accusing the reporter, who turned out to be Ryan O'Halloran at the Washington Times, of rolling his eyes at the coach. Jim Zorn said he was quote getting ticked off unquote and slammed his fist on the podium to be sure Ryan got coach Zorn's point. It was quite uncomfortable.

Shooter:

Coltrolled:

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

Other recaps: Rob Birgfeld at DCist,


Next up, the Pittsburgh Steelers come to Redskins Stadium on Monday Night Football. Last Thursday Steelers second leading receiver Santonio Holmes was involved in a pot bust when police found marijuana in his car at a traffic stop after practice (yes I know that is Hines Ward, I could not turn down that photo).



Santana Moss on his 80 yard punt return touchdown: Paul Sancya / AP photo from here. Hines Ward composite image by me, Hines Ward uncredited image from here, marijuana bud from here.