It's Not Over!

We will find out what drives the Redskins.

Nothing like a little 2-game losing streak adversity to see if they have broken down or if it was just a pot hole. DC is known for its pot holes and life goes on. Last year they rallied to the playoffs from not only a 2-game losing streak but also losing 3 in a row. Of course, the Redskins were coached by Joe Gibbs, Mr. December, who finished winning the last 4 games.

Thank God, that home record isn’t on the list of playoff tie breakers. Since Dano Snyder bought the team, the Redskins have made the playoff just 3 times – 1999, 2005 and last year. Each time Washington has had a winning record at Fed Ex. To have a winning record at Fed Ex this year, they would have to win the last two home games against the Giants & Philly. Take a split and hope to win three of the four on the road.

It is way too early to look at tie breaker scenarios, which are way too complicated to predict before the season is over. Really, after Head-to-Head and Division record, it is Common Games followed Conference Games and Strength of Victory. Just understand, the Redskins are not out of it by any stretch of the imagination. There are six games left and 4 wins are more than possible.

How many times have you seen a team come out and look like world champions with an opening touchdown drive only to watch the offense disappear for the rest of the game? Of course, the Redskins, offense has been doing a Houdini act for a month now.

Why can’t the offense find any rhythm? If we knew the answer we could be making the big bucks coaching. Gut feeling wants to blame the offensive line. However, that would diminish the dropped first-down passes by Randle El & Devin Thomas or how about the continual short passes to Santana Moss that finally lead to an interception that ended a 3rd quarter drive in Dallas territory?

The Redskins should not have to play perfect offensive football to win a big game. They have all of the tools needed: better than average quarterback, an offensive line that has allowed Clinton Portis to rush for over a 1,000 yards with six games still left, outstanding wide receiver Moss and excellent tight-end Chris Cooley and an underrated (and under used) fullback in Mike Sellers.

We have not discussed the Defense. Anytime the Defense holds Dallas to 14 points, it should be a victory. However, pressure on a hurt quarterback would have helped.

Going into Sunday the four 1st-year coaches who have their squads making playoff runs – Baltimore’s John Harbaugh, Atlanta’s Mike Smith, Miami’s Tony Sparano along with the Redskins’ Jim Zorn – only Sparano won and they have the luck of playing Oakland, the NFL’s most dysfunctional team. Has the rest of the league figured the rookies out?

More importantly has Pittsburgh & the Cowboys given the rest of the NFL the blue print on beating Coach Zorn offense?