Special Teams Issues Highlight Dysfunction Plaguing the Washington Redskins

What was it that doomed the Redskins Sunday night in Dallas? Was it the much maligned defense that ranked last in yards allowed per game heading into Sunday? Was it the offense that had yet to put together a complete four quarters of solid play? No, what ultimately doomed the Redskins Sunday night was the oft overlooked special teams.

Click here to read the full analysis.

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For the Washington Redskins it is Hardly Mission Accomplished

How satisfied can the Redskins really be with a win over Oakland? They may have gotten their first win, but this team still has a long way to go. Click here for the full story.

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Time for the Washington Redskins to Stop Talking About How Good They Are and Prove It

We have heard a lot of talk about the Redskins and how good they are, but we have yet to see it on the field. Click here for a story on why it is time for the Redskins to put up, or shut up.

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Operation Patience Part 2: Why Benching RG3 for Kirk Cousins is a Really Bad Idea

An 0-2 start for the Redskins has some people calling for Kirk Cousins. Click here to find out why that would be a really bad idea.

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Washington Redskins: Three Things RG3 Must Do in Week 1

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/washington-redskins-three-things-rg3-must-week-1-221900474--nfl.html

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Washington Redskins Offer Some Surprises With Their Final 53

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/washington-redskins-offer-surprises-final-53-173900203--nfl.html

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Washington Redskins: Five players who need a big performance Thursday

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/washington-redskins-five-players-big-performance-thursday-174900334.html

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Do the Washington Redskins Need Tanard Jackson?

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/washington-redskins-tanard-jackson-182000679.html

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Robert Griffin III and Tom Brady: Two Quarterbacks, Only One Controversy

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/robert-griffin-iii-tom-brady-two-quarterbacks-only-192200433.html

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Injuries to Washington Redskins' Rookies Starting to Mount

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/injuries-washington-redskins-rookies-starting-mount-164400621.html

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Five Burning Questions for the Washington Redskins

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/five-burning-questions-washington-redskins-211400385.html

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Should the Washington Redskins Keep Three Quarterbacks?

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/washington-redskins-keep-three-quarterbacks-174600415.html

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Time for RG3 and the Redskins to just stop talking

The most talked about knee in America continues to draw comments from every corner of the Redskins organization. This time, former Redskins’ quarterback Joe Theismann decided he needed to voice his opinion on whether he felt Robert Griffin III would be ready for the opener against Philadelphia.

“If you ask Robert, he says he’s right on schedule,” Theismann said. “I fully expect him to be dressed on Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles when the Redskins open their season. I would be very, very surprised if he’s not.”

Why, oh why do people continue adding fuel to this fire?

When Griffin went down on that fateful night in January, Daniel Snyder, Mike Shanahan, and Bruce Allen all saw their football futures flash before their eyes. So much had been put on their young quarterback, the thought of having to start over without their budding superstar would have been an unbelievable blow to the team and franchise.

Whether or not Shanahan should have kept Griffin in that game against the Seahawks has been exhaustively debated. At this point, you’ve chosen which side of the fence you stand on. What I think we can all agree on is that everyone needs to be extremely cautious when it comes to the Griffin’s recovery.

Yet, every single person close to Griffin runs to the media as fast as they can and declares how far ahead of schedule he is.

Dr. James Andrews got the parade started when he took off his bauble hat and declared that Griffin seemed “superhuman”. Then Griffin got in on the act himself with his All in for Week 1 Adidas campaign. Shanahan even said that Griffin would “set a record for coming back”.

STOP!

By constantly hyping Griffin’s recovery, the team is setting expectations that Griffin may not be able to meet. The question of whether Griffin will be ready for the season has shifted to whether Griffin will be ready for training camp. This is crazy.

The problem with constantly talking about how great Griffin looks and how fast the knee is healing is that it puts pressure on Griffin over something he has no control over. Granted, there are things he can do to help his recovery, but at the end of the day the body will heal at its own pace.

From the several projected recovery times I’ve seen, his recovery could take anywhere from six months to a year. It is great that Griffin seems to be recovering so well, but there is still a chance he will not be ready for the opener.

Is there any reason to try and rush Griffin back for camp? No. That’s not to say that camp is not important, but it is simply not worth risking any sort of setback only six months removed from the injury.

After all the superhuman talk, how will fans react if he is held out of camp? How will Griffin react? This is a quarterback who tried to hide the fact he was hurt in the playoffs, who has been declaring he is ‘all in’ for Week 1. Now everyone is telling him that he is superhuman and ahead of schedule. If Dr. Andrews thinks Griffin is not ready to play for camp or if, Heaven forbid, he is not ready for the start of the season, then what?

The Redskins have painted themselves into a corner.

At the beginning of the offseason they needed to decide as an organization to play this close to the vest. Sure, the media would get their glimpses at OTAs and ask their questions, but ultimately, if the team kept expectations low, so much the better.

If Griffin is not ready to play by training camp or by the season opener, the team risks angering their young star who suddenly is not living up to the pressure and expectations put on him by their own glowing praise.

Please, just stop talking.

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Should RG3 play in training camp or the preseason?

All the football talk in DC seems to be focused on Robert Griffin III, not surprisingly. Fans got their first look at Griffin on the field since last season during the Redskins’ OTAs.

He looked great.

He sprinted, threw the football, ran drills, and it did not appear that the knee was bothering him at all. Though he was working with the other injured players and was not taking snaps with the first team offense, one could not help but be impressed with how good he looks only five months removed from suffering the injury.

It’s that kind of optimism that scares me.

When asked if he would be practicing with the team at the start of training camp, Griffin told reporters “Without a doubt”. You can already see the coming storm.

While Griffin may be optimistic, it is up to Mike Shanahan and Dr. James Andrews to figure out if training camp is a good idea regardless of what Griffin may think or say.

Training camp is very important, especially for a player in only his second year in the league. He will practice in a non-contact jersey as all quarterbacks do and no one on defense will even think about tackling him. If he is healthy, he would definitely benefit from practicing. Most likely, he will be fine, but he also would not be the first quarterback to suffer an injury in camp.

The preseason is another story. While no one will be allowed near him in camp, everyone will be gunning for him in the preseason. Few players ever approach a situation with the intention of injuring a player, but that does not mean defenses won’t be trying to hit Griffin as hard as they can. There will be opposing players competing for jobs on the field. What better way to make an impression than smashing one of the most electrifying quarterbacks into the ground?

I’m not advocating locking him in armored truck until opening day, but the Redskins must be careful with Griffin even if feels healthy in time for camp. If Dr. Andrews thinks he needs more time, sit him.

If he is cleared to play, I think you still have to sit him for the preseason. The Redskins went to great lengths to re-sign 21 of their 22 starters from last season. Griffin does not need to get used to a new offense, new coaching staff, new center, new receivers, etc. At most, he should play only a handful of series and then should be taken off the field. I don’t know that the Redskins would gain anything by putting him at risk in a meaningless game situation.

The point is, let’s tamper down the optimism. Griffin looks great, but despite what he says the Redskins still need to determine for themselves just how much to push him in camp and in the preseason. It makes sense to play him with the first team offense at camp, but not so much during the preseason. Even if he is healthy and cleared to play, that does not mean he needs to go 100% until the start of the season. There is still need for caution.

Griffin looks to be on track to start the season opener vs. Philadelphia, but only if both he and the team continue to handle his recovery responsibly.

Redskins bolster roster with 2013 draft

The Redskins may have sat out of the first round of the draft, but they still managed to bring in big time talent and address multiple needs. Heading into Thursday, the Redskins needed to bolster the secondary and bring in depth at tight end, running back, and linebacker.

That’s exactly what they did.

The most glaring need was the secondary and they brought in CB David Amerson, S Phillip Thomas, and S Bacarri Rambo. All three are playmakers who create turnovers and all three have starting potential, including Rambo who was taken in the sixth round. He was an absolute steal in the sixth, falling because of two failed drug tests while at Georgia. With the issues the Redskins have had in the past with Fred Davis and Trent Williams, picking Rambo is extremely risky, but as he fell so far it made a lot of sense and I personally love the pick.

In Jordan Reed, the Redskins picked up tight end depth. Davis is only signed for a year and there are real questions as to whether Logan Paulsen or Niles Paul can develop into a legitimate receiving threats. Reed at the very least ensures that the Redskins will not be quite as thin should they lose Davis to injury or suspension.

In typical Mike Shanahan fashion, the Redskins also took two running backs in the later rounds. Chris Thompson was taken in the fourth round and Jawan Jamison in the sevent. The Redskins needed a change of pace running back behind Alfred Morris and Evan Royster was unable to take advantage of his opportunities last season with Roy Helu out due to injury. With Helu’s health a constant concern, the Redskins needed to find another option. Shanahan is known for finding talented running backs in the later rounds such as Morris and Terrell Davis, both of whom were sixth round picks. The fact that Shanahan took Chris Thompson in the fifth round should tell you how confident he is in Thompson’s abilities.

The only real questionable pick for me is outside linebacker Brandon Jenkins. Jenkins relied too much on his quickness in college, but his 40 times were slow. At the combine he clocked in at 4.7 seconds, which is not bad, but at his pro day he ran over five seconds twice. Of course 40 times should be taken with a grain of salt, they don’t always translate to football skills. Still, I see Jenkins' ceiling as a depth player at the very best.

With the $18 million cap penalty, the draft was critical for the Redskins to improve their roster. I think it is clear they did so. I do not see any immediate starters among these picks, but that is not to say they will not contribute at all this season and I believe this team is clearly better in the long run based on this draft.

Even without a first round draft pick, the 2013 draft was a successful one for the Redskins.

Redskins stay patient in free agency

Free agency opened Tuesday afternoon and so far, the Redskins have stayed relatively quiet choosing instead to focus on re-signing and re-structuring the contracts of players already on the roster rather than signing big name free agents with high price tags.

While the Redskins have largely been forced to stand pat due to the $18 million cap penalty imposed by the NFL, their patience may be the clearest sign yet that this organization has turned a corner.

The Redskins’ have thus far signed only two free agents: offensive tackles Tony Pashos and Jeremy Trueblood. They have also re-signed Logan Paulsen, Darrel Young, Rob Jackson, Kory Lichtensteiger, Nick Sundberg, Sav Rocca, and Kedric Golston. None of these are real earth-shattering moves, but they are very low-risk and, most importantly, fairly cheap.

The Redskins were forced to restructure several contracts in order to keep many of their key players and still get below the cap. They did not, however, follow the Vinny Cerrato model of restructuring. Previously, the team would push the total amount owed to a player back, meaning the player would still earn the full amount of their contracts but the bulk would be earned in the latter years. Essentially, it was the Redskins way of kicking the can down the road. Since the team could not afford said players, pushing the money back year after year only exacerbated the situation. The Redskins found themselves with a terrible team they could not afford to pay.

This year, the team had a very different philosophy. Instead of pushing the money back, they have instead convinced players to accept pay cuts.

As of now, Adam Carriker, Santana Moss, and Brandon Meriweather have all agreed to restructure their contracts and take pay cuts. It is amazing what players are willing to do to play on a good team. This would have been a much tougher sell had the Redskins gone 6-10 last season.

The Redskins also had to make a very frank assessment of their roster to see who will be part of the team’s future and move on from players who will not. The team will not re-sign Brandon Banks or Jammal Brown whose contracts just expired. They also cut DeAngelo Hall whose contract was set to count $8 million against the cap.

While these moves all appear to be smart and necessary that is not to say the Redskins are not feeling the sting of their suddenly tight purse strings.

Team leader and Pro Bowler Lorenzo Alexander will not be returning next season. The Redskins were forced to low-ball their offer to him and he instead chose to sign in Arizona. The departure of Hall also leaves the team with a single starting cornerback on the roster, Josh Wilson, and no money to sign a replacement. The draft pool for defensive backs appears to be fairly deep, but as the team is equally as thin at safety and without a first round pick, you cannot reasonably believe the Redskins will be able to revamp the backfield through the draft alone.

With several holes left to fill and few draft picks, I believe the Redskins are not done with restructuring contracts. Trent Williams seems the most likely candidate as he has been with the team since 2010 and, according to Fox Sports, is the highest paid player on the team.

There is also the question of Fred Davis. As of today (Thursday), he remains unsigned. That is good for the Redskins because if he had been given a blockbuster deal, he would have taken it. Teams will be spooked by his drug suspension and injury concerns, but he will still seek a large deal and that could put him out of reach. Adam Schefter reported today that Davis was choosing between Washington and Cleveland. If the Redskins get into a bidding war with the Browns, they will lose. Even so, it might not be a bad thing at this point. A starting cornerback may be more important than another starting tight end.

Despite the turmoil and the lack of cap room this season, the Redskins seem to have handled the situation well (now that they have begun dealing with the penalty rather than threatening fruitless appeals). With several holes left to fill and with the draft coming up, the Redskins will still seek whatever cap room they can find to try and patch together their roster for next season.

While I understand and applaud most of the moves the team has made thus far, I do not have high hopes for the 2013 season. As the cap penalty and free agency began to play out, we really began to understand just how deep the penalty cut. The defense had some glaring holes last season and chances are it is probably going to look worse in 2013. I do not see how the secondary can be better with late-round draft picks and bargain-basement players. The return of Meriweather will help, but you cannot rely on him to remain healthy and you still need another starting safety and a cornerback.

The Redskins may again have to rely very heavily on their offense and, with Robert Griffin III still recovering, I am not sure how well the offense will be able to shoulder the load.

Don’t despair though fans, if you take a long-term perspective, things are looking up. The Redskins will have that $18 million back for 2014 and will be able to make a splash then. The core that Mike Shanahan has built through the draft will still be largely intact, there hopefully will be no doubts surrounding Griffin’s health headed into the season, and the Redskins will have approximately $18 million extra in cap space to work with.

I’m not declaring 2013 a throw-away season because it is not; they have potential to compete as they did last year. If you are talking championship though, the Redskins can stay the course and really be in good shape for 2014.

All it will take is a little patience.

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Redskins consider suing NFL

The Washington Post reported last weekend that the Washington Redskins were considering suing the NFL in an attempt to have their $18 million cap penalty overturned. As part of the lawsuit, they would file a motion to block the March 12 start of free agency.

The Redskins hinted that they were not done fighting the cap penalty, but this seems drastic. The cap penalty assessed to the team is a blatant act of collusion and completely unfair, but so far the courts have disagreed. I am not sure the legal arguments of the situation, but I don’t know how 30 organizations can have an “unwritten rule” regarding the types of contracts teams can offer players without it being labeled as collusion. Still, the Redskins have lost every legal challenge to the NFL’s ruling thus far.

It may be unfair, but the Redskins need to swallow their pride and accept it. Suing the NFL and disrupting free agency is just a bad idea.

The Redskins do not operate independent of the NFL and the other teams or in a vacuum. The team should want to have good relations with the league, the owners, the players, and their agents. Basically, if you make life tough for everyone else, they’ll make life tough for you.

Remember the late Al Davis? He wasn’t always considered a pariah. He sued the NFL in 1980 so he could move the Raiders to Los Angeles. The Redskins need to avoid having a similar type of relationship with the rest of the league, especially with the team facing numerous potential problems in the coming years.

The Redskins are under attack over their team name. Thus far, the NFL has not voiced a strong opinion either way, but that could easily change if the Redskins choose to go forward with this lawsuit. They may feel sudden pressure to rebrand themselves despite how committed to the name the organization currently is.  The condition of the field at FedEx is a disgrace; do not expect any help from the league in improving those conditions.

Mike Shanahan was able to orchestrate a trade last season with St. Louis in order to draft Robert Griffin III. The Cleveland Browns were reportedly willing to give up just as much, but the Rams instead choose to deal the pick to the Redskins. I do not see the Redskins being able to make these type of deals in the future if they choose to pursue their lawsuit.  Teams will be much less inclined to work out trades, agents will try to steer players away from DC, and whatever vain hope Daniel Snyder may have had about bringing the Super Bowl to FedEx would be completely extinguished.

Perhaps more troubling than the logistical nightmare of suing the NFL is the fact that the Redskins have not taken any measures thus far to free up cap space. They remain approximately $3 million over the salary cap with holes on the roster to fill and numerous free agents left to sign including Fred Davis. The Redskins need to prepare for the next season, but they’ve seemingly put everything on hold. The last thing the Redskins should want is for their pending free agents to hit the open market.  If the team does not make room for the players they need to sign, then they will simply sign somewhere else. The Redskins risk making things worse for themselves if they are not prepared to absorb the cap penalty.

The first reports of this lawsuit began surfacing about a week ago and since then nothing has happened. It could be that the Redskins are hoping the threat of a lawsuit will be enough to force some kind of settlement from the league and they do not intend to actually go to court. If they do, they should first consider the long-term ramifications of such a move. Saving $18 million now could cost them a lot in the future.

How Should Shanahan have Handled RG3?

The Redskins’ season came to an inglorious end Sunday night with a 24-14 loss to Seattle. Redskins’ fans hope their future did not end that night along with the season.

 

In the fourth quarter, Robert Griffin III bent down to pick up a low snap, his leg caught in the turf, and his knee buckled beneath him. As Griffin lay on the ground writhing in agony, the worst fears of the Redskins’ faithful became realized.

 

The question on everyone’s mind this week is whether Griffin should have stayed in the game. In the first quarter, Griffin threw the ball as he scrambled towards the sidelines and seemed to pull up after the throw. He began to visibly limp after that play and struggled for the remainder of the game.

 

Many people have been critical of Shanahan’s decision to keep him in the game, but before you bash him, remember that hindsight is 20/20. It is easy to say now that Griffin should have been pulled, but you cannot ignore the circumstances during the game.

 

It is completely unfair to say that Griffin should have been pulled when he began limping in the first quarter. Immediately after reinjuring his leg, Griffin threw his second touchdown pass of the day. While he clearly was playing injured, he had played injured the last two games. There was no way for Shanahan to know just how ineffective he would be. Had the doctors or trainers gone to Shanahan and told him Griffin needed to come out, then of course, he should have pulled him, but that does not seem to be the case.

 

True, the offense struggled immensely through the second quarter. The Redskins managed only 16 yards in two drives. That’s not good, but it’s also probably not enough to determine that Kirk Cousins gave them a better chance to win. Also, keep in mind the situation. The Redskins were ahead 14-13. While it seems obvious now that pulling Griffin was the right move for his future, it would have been a tough sell not just to Griffin, but also to the media and the fans.

 

Imagine if Griffin had been pulled at halftime and the Redskins had lost. Wouldn’t the clamor over what Shanahan was thinking be just as loud as it is now? Yes, the coach gets paid to make tough decisions even if they are unpopular, but are two drives really enough to go on?

 

My point is not that Shanahan should have kept Griffin in, it’s that you could make a valid argument either way. That’s not to say Shanahan handled this well, however.

 

There are many different versions of what happened on the sideline; who said what, who examined Griffin, who decided he was ok to go in, etc. As soon as Griffin limped off the field in the first quarter, the trainers should have been there. It doesn’t matter whether he wanted to talk to them or not, he needed to be examined. The most important things for the doctors to find is how serious the injury was, whether Griffin was able to continue playing, and how likely it was that he could make it worse. If the doctors came to Shanahan on the sideline and said Griffin needed to come out, then it doesn’t matter if Griffin wanted to keep playing or not. The fact that Griffin re-aggravated his knee on a play in which he wasn’t even touched, then hurt himself even worse later in the game, makes me think Griffin was not examined on the sideline as thoroughly as he should have been.  Clearly there was a chance he could reaggravate his injury because he did just that. Was he unlucky or was he hurt to the point that by continuing to play he was putting himself at serious risk for a disastrous injury?

 

The most egregious mistake the Redskins made was not adjusting their play calling in light of Griffin’s struggles. The team has hailed their two rookie phenoms all season long, but for some reason when one was injured, they took the ball completely out of the other’s hands.

Alfred Morris had only 16 carries and eight of them came in the first quarter. If Shanahan thought Griffin gave them the best chance to win I’m willing to accept that, but it was undeniable that the the injury rendered him less effective. This was a situation in which the team needed to turn to Morris. The Redskins did not trail until the fourth quarter, there was no reason to abandon the run. Morris had 33 carries against the Cowboys, he’s capable of shouldering the load.

 

This is something that both Shanahans, assuming Kyle returns next season, need to think about going forward. Initial predictions for Griffin’s recovery are somewhere between six months to a year. Some doctors have said he will not be the same dynamic player when he returns and even if he is, the offense needs to change.

Critics of the pistol offense argue that this college-style offense puts Griffin at too much risk. We can now safely put that debate to rest because it absolutely does. Granted, Griffin was not hit on either of the plays he was injured on against Seattle, but the initial knee injury came from a hit in the game against Baltimore as Griffin scrambled from the pocket. Before that, he suffered a concussion against Atlanta.  He is the franchise quarterback. His running abilities are what make him dynamic, but the Redskins should be looking to prevent him from taking hits, not putting him in a situation to get hit more. Clearly, his body cannot take this type of punishment.

 

The responsibility does not fall solely on the coaches’shoulders, Griffin also needs to adjust his game. After his concussion, Griffin declared he would look to slide more and keep himself out of harms way. Obviously, his sliding needs some work.

 

Daniel Snyder also must do something about the field. It was a disgrace. It is embarrassing for fans and for the team when visiting teams come to your stadium to play on painted mud. It could very well have contributed or even caused Griffin’s injury. Seattle’s Chris Clemons tore his ACL during the game and, don’t forget, Adrian Peterson tore his ACL and MCL the year before at FedEx. It is a problem that needs to be addressed.

 

Judging Shanahan’s decision with the benefit of hindsight of course makes it an unfair debate, but an argument can be made defending either point of view. What’s clear, however, is that a change must be made to the offense in order to keep Griffin safer. We live in a world where Jay Cutler’s entire legacy has been tainted because he was injured in the 2011 NFC Championship game and did not look sad enough on the sidelines. Expecting Griffin to take himself out or to let you know when he’s injured is unrealistic. Shanahan needs to come into next season knowing he needs to protect his quarterback not just from opposing defenses, but from himself. Otherwise, Griffin’s career could be cut tragically short and the fans of Washington are going to pin the blame squarely on the coach’s shoulders.

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NFC East Champs Prepare for Wildcard Mathup

In his first professional season, Robert Griffin III has led the Redskins to a division title and hopefully, he’s not done yet.

The Redskins defeated the Cowboys 28-18 Sunday night to win the NFC East for the first time since 1999.  Clearly playing at less than 100%, Griffin went 9 for 18 for only 100 yards, but rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown.  Alfred Morris shouldered much of the load, with a spectacular performance rushing for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns.

The game put an exclamation point on a remarkable seven game winning streak to finish the season.  It also showed just how bright the future is for this young team.

There is a clear difference this year as compared to 2007, when the Redskins last made the playoffs.  While there was legitimate excitement over a return to the postseason, there was nothing really to build around.  The Redskins were led by Jason Campbell, who inspired little confidence, and a rapidly aging Clinton Portis.  There was no young core and little hope for the team to expand on their success.

Now, the Redskins have two budding superstars in Griffin and Morris and two leaders on defense in Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan. Finally, we are seeing a team built through the draft, rather than pieced together by costly, over the hill free agents.

The big question in terms of this season, is whether the Redskins con keep the streak alive.  The Seattle Seahawks will come to FedEx Field this Sunday in the wildcard matchup.  Seattle has eliminated the Redskins the last two times they were in the playoffs.  They are also being led by a rookie QB who is having an incredible season.

Russell Wilson was selected in the third round of the 2012 draft by Seattle.  He was expected to backup the newly acquired Matt Flynn, but Pete Carroll liked what he saw from the young rookie and decided to roll the dice.  Wow, did it pay off.

Wilson has led the Seahawks to an 11-6 record, narrowly losing the NFC West championship to the 11-4-1 San Francisco 49ers.  He threw for 3,118 yards, 26 touchdowns, and only 10 interceptions.  He has also rushed for another 489 yards and four touchdowns.  It would be an even more remarkable rookie season if there weren’t two other guys named Luck and Griffin also having amazing success.

Perhaps most importantly, Wilson has durability.  Griffin on the other hand continues to heal.  A week ago against Philadelphia, Griffin returned and stuck to the pocket.  He still played a very good game, completing 16 of 24 for 198 yards, two touchdowns, and a QB rating of 102.4, but he only rushed for four yards.  He was clearly limited in his mobility.  He played a very different game against Dallas.  Though still limited and lacking the break-away speed we have become accustomed to seeing, he still rushed six times for 63 yards.  He really seemed to struggle passing, however.  He completed only nine passes for 100 yards with a QB rating of 66.9.

It was clear very early on that the Redskins’ offensive gameplan against Dallas revolved around running the ball.  Morris carried the ball a whopping 33 times.  Still, Griffin’s regression in terms of passing is a little worrying.  He only attempted 18 passes, but still completed 50%.  Some of his incompletions were uncharacteristically inaccurate.  His mobility may have improved, but his passing did not.  Everyone is entitled to a bad game, even Griffin who really had not had one all season until Sunday.  Perhaps that’s all it was, but when it follows an injury you have to wonder how much the injury may have affected him.

To be fair, Griffin was wearing a brace on his right knee.  His knee may be feeling much better than we think, but those braces can really restrict a player’s movements.  Griffin may be as fast as ever without the brace, but if he must continue to wear it, will it continue to affect his performance?  Pierre Garcon has proven himself to be a key playmaker for this offense.  If you can’t get him the ball, he can’t change the game for you.

After watching the Dallas game, I would expect Seattle to load the box and force Griffin to beat them through the air.  Griffin has had no trouble beating teams deep, but he will need to be healthy.  After another week of rest and healing, hopefully we will see the Griffin we’ve come to expect from week to week.

The Redskins and Seahawks have gone a combined 11-1 since week 11.  They are two of the hottest teams in the NFL heading into these playoffs.  These are the kind of streaks that carry teams deep into the postseason.  Whoever wins this game on Sunday will have a legitimate shot to play in the Super Bowl.

Regardless of how this season may end for the Redskins, it has been a remarkable ride.  Will the Redskins be able to maintain that one game, back against the wall attitude, or is there already a feeling of “mission accomplished” spreading through the locker room?  If the Redskins can approach this game with the same determination and heart they have shown over the past seven games, then they will add yet another chapter to the already remarkable year 2012 has been.

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Redskins Set to Meet Cowboys in Division Championship Matchup

The Redskins will wrap up the regular season next week with a game at home against the arch-rival Dallas Cowboys in a winner-take-all matchup for the NFC East division. It will be the first time the Redskins have ever hosted a head-to-head matchup to determine the division championship in the regular season finale. The loser could be out of the playoffs all together. Oh, and the game has been flexed to prime time.

Are the stakes high enough yet?

Perhaps the most storied rivalry in the NFL will add yet another momentous chapter next week as the two teams meet with the division on the line. The Redskins can turn the page on their recent ineptitude and the Cowboys can end the dream season of rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III, someone who is sure to be a thorn in their side for many years to come. After the beat-down Griffin subjected them to in Jerry World on Thanksgiving, the Cowboys would love nothing more than to ruin Griffin’s Christmas.

Still, regardless of what happens, one must not forget the hill the Redskins had to climb just to get to this point.

Just seven short weeks ago, the Redskins lost 21-13 to the lowly Carolina Panthers. It was the lowest point of the season. The team was playing terribly and Mike Shanahan was talking about evaluating the team for next year. Another season seemed lost.

Were the Redskins mathematically eliminated from the playoffs at 3-6? No, but I mean, they would have to pretty much win every game left on their schedule to have a realistic chance….

Only four other teams in the NFL have won 6 or more straight games this season, and all four of those teams have already punched their tickets to the playoffs. The last time the Redskins won six straight was in 1996 when Norv Turner was the coach. It is not an easy thing to do. Yet, it might not be good enough should the Redskins lose the finale.

As the game has been moved to prime time, the Redskins will know exactly what they are facing by kick off. If Minnesota or Chicago wins next week, then the Redskins will be eliminated with a loss to Dallas.

The Redskins, however, will not concern themselves with all the various scenarios. For them, it’s very simple: win and you’re in.

Dallas too has turned their season around after some early struggles. They began the season 3-5 and many wondered if head coach Jason Garrett’s days were numbered. Since then, they have won five of their last seven including two overtime wins. The Cowboys will not be a pushover.

The way this season has gone, I’m sure the Redskins wouldn’t have it any other way.

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