Experiencing the flip side, six times in a row
With 2006 a dim memory and the Redskins riding high at 2-0, tied with the Dallas Cowboys for the NFC Beast lead, and two games ahead of both the Eagles and Giants. Curly R's Redskins 2007 Season in Review continues.
Part One: 2006 Season, 2007 Offseason
Part Two: 2007 Training Camp, Preseason
Part Three: 2-0 Hot Start
Part Four: 3-3 Sawtooth
Part Five: 0-4 Slump, Tragedy
Part Six: Tonight
Part Seven: Wednesday Morning
Part Eight: Wednesday Afternoon
Part Nine: Thursday Morning
Part Ten: Thursday Afternoon
Other Curly R Redskins Seasons in Review: 2006
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There was news in the week between games two and three. In the aftermath of his team's loss to the Redskins on Monday night, Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb made some ill advised comments about black quarterbacks being held to a higher level of scrutiny than white quarterbacks, Michael Wilbon wrote anequally ill advised column accusing Eagles fans of racism and today's black quarterbacks of not appreciating the struggles of those that went before them. And Redskins fans learned that receiver Brandon Lloyd, already with zero catches in two games, spends his free time playing Halo and not worrying about football.
Game three: The New York Giants came winless to Washington to play game three, the Giants seemed like a struggling team, there were injuries, players out of shape and a defense not in sync. Washington, clad in throwback uniforms designed by Vince Lombardi but that Vince never actually got to see on the field, gave New York a get well card as the Giants won the game 24-17, continuing the Redskins' propensity to surrender leads, Washington gave up a two touchdown halftime lead. Santana Moss and Jason Campbell hooked up on another bomb but in the second half poor decision making on the field, poor ball security (three fumbles by Jason Campbell), poor playcalling from the sideline, a defense stunned by Plaxico Burress who was supposed to be hurt and another bizarre end of half sequence doomed them.
This time it was the end of the game, trailing by seven points with 58 seconds in regulation, Jason Campbell had hooked up with Antwaan Randle El for twenty yards to get to the Giants one, Washington had four chances to get one yard for the tie. With Clinton Portis on the sideline, benched after dropping a third quarter pass and helping botch a handoff in the fourth, Washington was forced to spike the ball, too quickly, on first down, having used up all their timeouts, on second down Jason Campbell threw behind fullback Mike Sellers on a swing pass and then bizarrely Joe Gibbs called the same play twice in a row to Ladell Betts who was stopped for no gain on third down then hit for a loss on fourth down, game over and the Redskins sapped all that confidence as they fell to 2-1 facing a bye week.
(Curly R preview / gamewrap | Washington Post recap | NFL box score / photos)
Bye week: heading into the bye week the Giants game lingered and like an old diaper began to smell. Head coach Joe Gibbs protested too much about how in control the coaching staff was at the end when the Redskins had one minute and four downs to go one yard to the end zone, spiking the ball at the wrong time, calling a pass out of a run package, not keeping Jason calm on the field then calling the same running play twice to the team's second best ball carrier. Questions emerged about the number of coaches, layers of communication and whether Joe Gibbs himself was actually calling the plays at the end and not offensive coordinator Al Saunders. It only got worse later in the week as the team continued to try and clarify and amplify a fishy story about injuries and communication. It is a problem with a simple prescription.
Game three: The New York Giants came winless to Washington to play game three, the Giants seemed like a struggling team, there were injuries, players out of shape and a defense not in sync. Washington, clad in throwback uniforms designed by Vince Lombardi but that Vince never actually got to see on the field, gave New York a get well card as the Giants won the game 24-17, continuing the Redskins' propensity to surrender leads, Washington gave up a two touchdown halftime lead. Santana Moss and Jason Campbell hooked up on another bomb but in the second half poor decision making on the field, poor ball security (three fumbles by Jason Campbell), poor playcalling from the sideline, a defense stunned by Plaxico Burress who was supposed to be hurt and another bizarre end of half sequence doomed them.
This time it was the end of the game, trailing by seven points with 58 seconds in regulation, Jason Campbell had hooked up with Antwaan Randle El for twenty yards to get to the Giants one, Washington had four chances to get one yard for the tie. With Clinton Portis on the sideline, benched after dropping a third quarter pass and helping botch a handoff in the fourth, Washington was forced to spike the ball, too quickly, on first down, having used up all their timeouts, on second down Jason Campbell threw behind fullback Mike Sellers on a swing pass and then bizarrely Joe Gibbs called the same play twice in a row to Ladell Betts who was stopped for no gain on third down then hit for a loss on fourth down, game over and the Redskins sapped all that confidence as they fell to 2-1 facing a bye week.
(Curly R preview / gamewrap | Washington Post recap | NFL box score / photos)
Bye week: heading into the bye week the Giants game lingered and like an old diaper began to smell. Head coach Joe Gibbs protested too much about how in control the coaching staff was at the end when the Redskins had one minute and four downs to go one yard to the end zone, spiking the ball at the wrong time, calling a pass out of a run package, not keeping Jason calm on the field then calling the same running play twice to the team's second best ball carrier. Questions emerged about the number of coaches, layers of communication and whether Joe Gibbs himself was actually calling the plays at the end and not offensive coordinator Al Saunders. It only got worse later in the week as the team continued to try and clarify and amplify a fishy story about injuries and communication. It is a problem with a simple prescription.
The Redskins piping crowd noise over the PA is first reported, it starts as a single comment on a bulletin board, then hits the echo chamber and pretty soon is on Sirius NFL Radio and ESPN. Sadly the rumor is verified later in the season. Dan Snyder finally gave an interview, to former WRC NBC-4 sports anchor George Michael, the interview only served to showe how out of touch both men are. Other general thoughts and goings on at the bye, including more conspiracy and speculation on the Redskins moving back to DC and thoughts on LaVar Arrington's separation from the Redskins.
As the bye week rolled on the Redskins signed yet another receiver, sixteen year veteran and boomerang Redskin Keenan McCardell. Keenan would finish 2007, his last in the NFL, with 22 catches, that is twenty more than Brandon Lloyd caught. In more bad news for Brandon, Antwaan Randle El completed his ascendance to the X receiver, the position that was supposed to be Brandon's. To add injury to insult, Brandon Lloyd is quote kicked in the shin unquote during a bye week practice.
Game four: The Detroit Lions came to town to play game four 0-20 lifetime in Washington and left 0-21 as the Redskins administered 34-3 beatdown, the first half was lowlighted by Clinton Portis getting dinged and muffing another handoff and highlighted by fullback Mike Sellers carrying the entire Detroit defense into the end zone to put Washington up by two scores.
Things were looking down in the second half when Jason Campbell fumbled and Joe Gibbs blew a challenge on it, Clinton Portis fumbled in the fourth quarter, despite Washington's offense haltings, the defense was spectacular, Gregg Williams never called a single blitz, the Lions spent the day on their side of the field, the team racked up six sacks of Lions quarterback Jon Kitna, cornerback Carlos Rogers grabbed an interception and ran it back 61 yards for a touchdown, Sean Taylor pulled in a fourth quarter interception and laid a signature hit for the ages on Lions safety Eric Frampton on a 62 yard James Thrash punt, it was like Eric was a bag of dirt. The Redskins had bounced back to form and were 3-1.
(Curly R preview / gamewrap | Washington Post recap | NFL box score / photos)Collectively the Redskins fanbase was blinking hard to be sure they were awake, Carlos Rogers had pulled in an interception and Brandon Lloyd had caught a ball? Injuries began to accumulate, as is often the case with veteran teams. Santana Moss had missed the Lions game with a groin injury, and Antwaan Randle El, up through three games the NFL's leading receiver in yards per catch, had pulled a hamstring in the Lions game from overuse, linebacker Marcus Washington also had a hammy, defensive end Phillip Daniels separated his shoulder gruesomely on camera and Fred Smoot was still trying to get the number of that truck from running into teammate Sean Taylor. Jason Campbell was named NFC Player of the Week for his performance in the Lions game, at the same time Redskins fans learned that Jason stalked Brett Favre in the offseason (op. cit.).
Game five: The Redskins traveled to Lambeau Field for a mid-October game five in light and steady rain against the Packers, Green Bay was 4-1 and the Redskins were getting notice as a possible league contender. Injuries were a factor for Washington but drops on both sides of the ball were bigger as Washington blew a halftime lead for the second time, the Redskins lost a winnable game 17-14, Brett Favre played sandlot football and Sean Taylor literally could not handle all the interception opportunities.
Back and forth this game was, Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El each had big pass drops and playing deep center field Sean Taylor had two interception drops in the first half, butterfingers came back in the second half as Santana dropped a big pass and then was stripped on a reverse, Packers cornerback Charles Woodson scooped up the ball and ran it 57 yards for a touchdown. Washington entered the fourth quarter trailing by three, Clinton Portis fumbled the ball away, Brandon Lloyd dropped a pass (surprise right) and another mystifying call to Ladell Betts on fourth and one was stopped easily. In the last gasp portion of the game Sean Taylor pulled in his second interception, helping Brett Favre set the record for most interceptions thrown... evar. Jason Campbell bolluxed up the next drive, Washington got the ball back one last time, two penalty clock runoffs at the very end punctuated an incredibly frustrating, mistake and miscue laden game as the Redskins fell to 3-2.
(Curly R preview / gamewrap | Washington Post recap | NFL box score / photos)
Game five: The Redskins traveled to Lambeau Field for a mid-October game five in light and steady rain against the Packers, Green Bay was 4-1 and the Redskins were getting notice as a possible league contender. Injuries were a factor for Washington but drops on both sides of the ball were bigger as Washington blew a halftime lead for the second time, the Redskins lost a winnable game 17-14, Brett Favre played sandlot football and Sean Taylor literally could not handle all the interception opportunities.
Back and forth this game was, Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El each had big pass drops and playing deep center field Sean Taylor had two interception drops in the first half, butterfingers came back in the second half as Santana dropped a big pass and then was stripped on a reverse, Packers cornerback Charles Woodson scooped up the ball and ran it 57 yards for a touchdown. Washington entered the fourth quarter trailing by three, Clinton Portis fumbled the ball away, Brandon Lloyd dropped a pass (surprise right) and another mystifying call to Ladell Betts on fourth and one was stopped easily. In the last gasp portion of the game Sean Taylor pulled in his second interception, helping Brett Favre set the record for most interceptions thrown... evar. Jason Campbell bolluxed up the next drive, Washington got the ball back one last time, two penalty clock runoffs at the very end punctuated an incredibly frustrating, mistake and miscue laden game as the Redskins fell to 3-2.
(Curly R preview / gamewrap | Washington Post recap | NFL box score / photos)
Injuries were the main story in the week between, replacement right tackle Todd Wade, center Casey Rabach and backup replacement right tackle Stephon Heyer all suffered either hamstring or groin injuries in the Packers game, the offensive line was not living up to its 2006 performance.
Game six: The high flying Arizona Cardinals came to Washington for game six, 36 year old Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner played with a torn ligament in his non throwing arm, wore a brace on his left forearm and had to make handoffs across his body. In a reverse of the previous week's game the Redskins should have won and lost, the Redskins should have lost this game but won 21-19, this one was all on the defense as the offense could not get out of its own way and the team blew 21-6 lead.
In the first half both Sean Taylor and middle linebacker London Fletcher grabbed interceptions, it was Sean's fifth to lead the NFC and London's featured the bravehearted Kurt Warner, gimp arm and all, vainly attempting to stop London, along with his escorts Shawn Springs and Demetric Evans, as they bowl over the goal line. Both teams suffered from poor playcalling, repeatedly the Redskins defense generated opportunities the offense squandered, Washington was outgained by more than 200 yards but still managed the win to move to 4-2.
(Curly R preview / gamewrap | Washington Post recap | NFL box score / photos)
During the week after the Cardinals game concern that the offense had become too conservative with leads and was relying too heavily on the defense moved into the discourse, head coach Joe Gibbs stepped in and took responsibility and promised to try and do better. The fact that Al Saunders ostensibly calls the plays and not Joe Gibbs was not lost on anyone following the story.
Game seven: Washington traveled to New England for game seven, the Patriots were undefeated and on their way to an undefeated regular season and Washington was a 16.5 point underdog. If there was ever any real hope the Redskins could win this game it disappeared into the ether as Washington suffered a humiliating 52-7 defeat, cornerback Carlos Rogers was hurt in the first quarter and lost for the season and Patriots lineback Mike Vrabel was more productive on offense than the entire Redskins team.
Check that again, a linebacker scored more points on offense than the Redskins. I struggle for words to describe what an epic ass whipping this game was. The Redskins for the fifth consecutive game answered with the opposite outcome from the week before, Washington was 4-3 and completely demoralized.
(Curly R preview / gamewrap | Washington Post recap | NFL box score / photos)
The storyline for the week after this game was whether Bill Belichick and the Patriots were unsportsmanlike in running up the score, it did not escape Redskins fans' or players' notice that with eleven minutes left in the game and up by more than five touchdowns the Patriots ran a Tom Brady quarterback sneak, who then tossed another touchdown two plays later. Much handwringing ensued.
Another interesting story from that week was the comparison of food and tailgating between Baltimore, home of the Ravens, and Washington. To no one's surprise Baltimore turns out to have the better food-sports oriented practices, the better to distract one from the headlong rush to bitterness and death that is living there.
Game eight: October turned to November as the Redskins traveled to New Jersey to play game eight against the 1-7 New York Jets, the Jets head coach Eric Mangini had benched starter Chad Pennington early in the week in favor of second year quarterback Kellen Clemens, though more out of desperation than strategy. The Jets played hard and Washington was mostly uninspired as the Redskins won 23-20 in overtime.
Sloppy special teams, sloppy penalties and a surprise midgame onsides kick by the Redskins, Clinton Portis with a solid 196 yard day and better second half playcalling, there was almost no passing game as Jason Campbell finished with 142 yards passing and only connected with receivers five times total. Once again Brandon Lloyd did not catch a pass, this time it was because he did not make the trip. Washington had run through a sawtooth six games, loss>win>loss>win>loss>win, to hit the midpoint of the schedule at 5-3.
(Curly R preview / gamewrap | Washington Post recap | NFL box score / photos)
Eight straight weeks of football to go.
Curtains Fall: Redskins 2007 Season in Review continues tomorrow with part five, 0-4 and a Tragedy.
Sean Taylor's empty parking space: uncredited AP photo from here.
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