Tripping on the Redskins

695 won

Takeaway drill: an impotent thud, mathematics aside there will be no playoffs for this team, at least none deserving. Baltimore's defense is swarming and opportunistic and the rookie quarterback is pretty damn good, time for this team to find a mirror and look deep into it.

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Monday walkthrough: on a frigid night in prime time the Redskins start bad, get pushed around and take the short ride home losing 24-10 to the Baltimore Ravens. The Redskins are now 7-6 and all but out of the playoffs, and that is really not their biggest concern.

The Redskins took the ball to open the first quarter, Jason Campbell gets to Chris Cooley for a first down, then on the next play Jason is hit as he releases, the ball floats and immortal Ravens safety Ed Reed makes a play on the ball and intercepts it, Washington's first possession ends after three plays. To start Baltimore's first possession rookie quarterback Joe Flacco goes long to Derrick Mason, Washington holds the next two plays, on third ten with a three wide set Joe Flacco gives to rookie tailback Ray Rice and he bursts through for 21 yards. On the next play converted full back Le'Ron McClain goes in easily for the touchdown and the Ravens score first, 7-0. Washington's second possesion starts with twelve minutes left in the quarter with Clinton Portis for four yards, an incomplete and a hurry on third and the drive is over, to add insult to injury Ryan Plackemeier's punt is partially blocked and the Ravens take over for the second time at midfield. Despite the gift the Ravens cannot move, three and out and the Redskins get the ball for the third time. The first play is a hard fought ten yard run by Clinton Portis, he falls and the ball comes out, Ed Reed scoops up the ball and runs it in for a touchdown and the Ravens are sudddenly up 14-0 with nine and a half minutes left in the first quarter. Washington goes a possession up on Baltimore and gets the ball for the fourth time. After two nothing runs Jason Campbell connects with rookie receiver Devin Thomas for a first down, Mike Sellers hurdles a guy like he does every week, there is a delay of game on Washington then a Redskins timeout. After an illegal shift penalty Jason takes a 13 yard sack to bring up fourth and 27, good times. Baltimore's third possession starts with a well executed fumble out of bounds to Willis McGahee, Baltimore helpfully has to take a timeout, they punt after a weak drive and the Redskins get the ball for the fifth time, Clinton cannot handle a Jason Campbell burner then Clinton carries for a first down. Another Clinton Portis carry for two yards ends the quarter with the Ravens leading 14-0.

The Redskins continue their fourth possession into the second quarter with an incomplete pass, Jason's pass is batted and the Redskins are punting. Baltimore's fourth possession starts with a block in the back penalty on Baltimore, at this point we are thankful for small favors, the Ravens punt and the Redskins get the ball back for the sixth time, it is a seventeen yard catch by Antwaan Randle El. A helpful defensive holding on Ray Lewis detaining Chris Cooley moves the chains, nothing doing and the Redskins are setting up to kick a 48 yard field goal and it is WAY wide right, the Ravens get the ball for the fifth time, three and out and get Guinness, the Redskins defense holds. Washington's seventh possession starts with a Santana Moss ten yard catch and the running game appears to be done for the night, that possession ends weakly and the Ravens get the ball back for the sixth time and Todd Heap catches a long one in front of LaRon Landry and HB Blades. After that it is nothing doing and Baltimore punts, now it is Washington's eighth possession. Consecutive false start penalties, one on Chris Cooley and one on Santana Moss, then Mike Sellers gets the first down but Stephon Heyer holds, then Santana Moss goes right on a receiver screen. Whew. Clinton Portis goes for a first down on a screen but after confusion and poor game management Washington punts. Baltimore gets the ball back for the seventh time with one minute left in the half, nothing happens and the half ends with the Ravens leading 14-0.

The Ravens start the third quarter with the ball for the eighth time, after much ado about the unbalanced line the Ravens three and out. Washington's ninth possession starts and ends on three plays, it is Baltmore's ball for the ninth time, after moving the chains once the Ravens set up for fourth and one, Todd Heap catches a wide open pass for a first down. London Fletcher helps push a fourth down and Matt Stover sets up for a 32 yard field goal, it is good and the Ravens extend their lead to 17-0. Washington's tenth possession starts with what would nominally be a sense of urgency, Clinton Portis is not in the game and Ladell Betts carries for a yard then Mike Sellers catches a tough one for six yards, Devin Thomas cannot catch an ill advised pass and the Redskins are punting. The Ravens ninth drive starts with a completion for a loss of eight, thank you HB Blades, two plays later LaRon Landry intercepts the rookie, how has Joe Flacco looked so good for so long? Washington's eleventh possesion starts at the Baltimore 30 and Jason Campbell carries on a busted play for nine yards and that is where the third quarter ends with the Ravens leading 17-0.

The fourth quarter starts with the Redskins in scoring position, Ladell Betts looks good but replacement left takle Justin Geisinger fails to block Terrell Suggs on the next play and the Redskins are forced to try a 43 yard field goal, it is good despite our belief system and the Redskins get on the board, 17-3 Baltimore. The Ravens get the ball for the tenth time, on second and four in Baltimore territory LaRon Landry wraps up Willis McGahee and linebacker Rocky McIntosh hits the ball, it comes out and DeAngelo Hall scoops it up, it is Redskins football. Washington gets the ball for the twelfth time, Ladell Betts catches the ball and goes 23 yards, where is Clinton Portis? Three plays later and the Ravens defense is like a steel beam and the Redskins are going for it on fourth down, fourth and goal from the five and Jason Campbell finds Antwaan Randle El right over the goal line for the touchdown, Redskins are back in the game 17-10. Baltimore runs easily for a first down on their eleventh drive, Willis McGahee appears to fumble but Jim Zorn challenges it and wins for a change. Run run run rinse repeat and the Joe Flacco is throwing to Derrick Mason for a touchdown and the hope dies, 24-10 Ravens. Washington's thirteenth drive starts with a Pyrrhic sense of urgency and a Pete Kendall false start. Flailing their way to fourth down Santana Moss moves the chains with two minutes left but down by two touchdowns, if there was a relevant coda to this game it was Jason Campbell committing a false start right before throwing an interception to Ed Reed on a pass intended for Chris Cooley. Baltimore gets the ball for the twelfth and final time, they run it a couple times and honorably turn it over on down, the Redskins get the ball for the thirteenth and final time and Jason Campbell throws it 50 yards in the air but there is a penalty, tripping on Stephon Heyer, Malcolm Kelly cannot pull in a desperation pass and with two seconds left in the game Jason Campbell throws short to Ladell Betts who runs a bit and then is tackled ending the game, Baltimore wins 24-10, crushing Washington's playoff hopes and good night to all.

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Soapbox:

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Chattering class:

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Omnibus: uniform watch, the Redskins had to defer to the home team and look what happened, they wound up with the home configuration, white jerseys and burgundy pants.

Early graphics from the Sunday Night Football: Washington's scoring dropped by half in November over September through October. Then a handy one showing that the Redskins punting game has the shortest average in the league. Awsum.

On third and ten of the Ravens second drive Jason Taylor was pursuing Joe Flacco and seemed not to have a burst and give up on the play. That trade is working out for us huh?

More interesting stats: Jim Zorn is is 0-4 on challenges, that includes the challenge on Clinton Portis' first quarter fumble. Coach Zorn moves to 1-4 with the challenge of the spot of Willis McGahee's non fumble in the fourth quarter.

Game management issues: after the delay of game against Washington in the first quarter the Redskins then had to take a timeout. Note to Redskins coaching staff, a delay of game is a timeout.

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti drinks Bud Light. What, no National Bohemian?

Clinton Portis was not in the game for the Redskins sixth and seventh possessions in the second quarter, he looked really freaking cold.

Notable: six minutes left first half, we see Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps in the stands, Al Michaels and John Madden talk about what a Ravens fan Michael is, he even watched film with the Ravens yesterday. And this is helpful to the Ravens how?

In the Redskins eighth possession at the end of the second quarter Clinton Portis took a screen left for a first down, what is notable there is is that Clinton took it back inside past the chains instead of going out of bounds for the first down. Sense of urgency?

Andrea Kremer came on the broadcast in that eighth possession to tell us Jon Jansen was out with a sprained knee, we did not hear the extent of the injury.

Washington ran almost twice as many plays in the first half as Baltimore. Also, as time expired in the half the camera cut to Jim Zorn convulsing his left hand up and down in his pocket, there was something not right about that, Baltimore being the home of John Waters and all.

Jim Zorn started the second half with a wooly hat on, I think this is the first time I have seen the Zorn coif with a hat.

Al Michael helpfully reminded us that this was Washngton's first game in Baltimore in 30 years.

Fuck crabcakes.

Chris Samuels went out with a triceps injury to start the fourth quarter, with backup tackle Stephon Heyer in the game for Jon Jansen backup center Justin Geisinger came in for Chris... and immediately gave up a sack of Jason Campbell to Terrell Suggs, it forced the Redskins to kick a field goal. Washington already was down seventeen points and the field goal was shades of too little too late.

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Pocket Zorn: what you got in there coach, a pet monkey? Shivering on the sidelines with your hand in your pocket is not leadership, Jim Zorn falls to 7-6 as head coach, 7-6 career. Game management takes the stage this week, overshadowing questionable play calling.

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.

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Ed Reed leaping over Jason Campbell: Getty Images from here.