Loss puts Redskins’ backs aginst the Wall
The experts say that no statistic is more important than turnover percentage. The statisticans say that no stat is less predictable than percentage of fumbles recovered.
But the talking heads and the analysts can agree on one thing about the Redskins’ latest loss: whether you blame the bad luck of being unable to recover any of five fumbles on the day, or whether you just look at the turnover differential as a major flaw in the Redskin’s game, there is no doubt that the outcome of this game was decided by turnovers.
Jason Campbell was intercepted twice in the final 4 minutes of the game, and the Redskins lost the turnover battle 6-0. The big story of the game came in the first 20 minutes. Out of the first 5 Redskin drives, the Redskins lost 4 fumbles. The other drive, they punted, the Tampa Bay returner muffed the kick, but the Redskins failed to recover. Add in the two Campbell picks in the fourth quarter, and thats 6 critical turnovers by the Redskins.
The pass defense played very well, and the run defense got better as the game went on. The Redskins did not allow a first down in the second half. They just put themselves in a hole they could not climb out of.
Pending the Arizona game, the Redskins will likely fall behind another team in the wild card chase. The Redskins December schedule is considerably softer than their November one, and should be able to make the playoffs with 9 wins. The problem here is that the Redskins only have 5 games left, and sit stuck at 5 wins. It’s looking more and more like a 4-1 finish will be necessary for a playoff run.
The Redskins have home games against Buffalo and Chicago the next two weeks, both very winnable games. If the Redskins can run their record to 7-6 over the next two weeks, they might be able to set up a showdown for second place in the NFC East when they travel to the Meadowlands to take on the New York Giants. The Giants were destroyed at home today by the Vikings, who still remain on the Redskins’ schedule.
Of course, the way the Redskins have been finding ways to lose recently, two wins at home against the Bills and Bears are very far from a sure thing. In fact, Joe Gibbs and his staff should plan for two straight struggles.
The Redskins have their work cut out for them. Win in week 13, or start thinking about the draft.
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9 Responses to “Loss puts Redskins’ backs aginst the Wall”
November 25th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
As a Buc fan, I’m terrified to play the Redskins. I’d rather play against Tom Brady on Ybor Gold then to see the mighty Redskins and their offensive line move our precious Buc D-Line around at will. I’m sure you’ll be back down for a wild card game this year. Just leave #17 behind please. God Bless Doug Williams!!
November 25th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
The Bucs won this game with a hyped up, in-your-face defense and a mistake free, possession offense. Gee, that sounds like a Redskins game plan. The difference was: the Bucs executed and the ‘Skins didn’t.
Congratulations on a well-deserved win, Scott, and thanks for the kind words.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:05 am
Definately, the Bucs got lucky to recover all five fumbles in the game. The last time something like that happened, the Pats upset the Chargers in the divisional playoff round last season.
But the blame for fumbling definately falls on the Redskin players. 4 of the 5 fumbles were dropped by a Washington player.
November 26th, 2007 at 9:34 am
As a die hard ( I am already digging ) Skins fan, I can not believe why I make an effort to torture myself each Sunday and turn on the NFL channel. What happened to the old Gibb’s teams. Sunday was an effort in proving they can win from the worst possible position, a problem you make for yourself. Multiple fumbles, multiple drops, can’t make one yard, come on Joe, lets get the whole team together. Your return is a torture to those of us who remember the 80’s.
November 26th, 2007 at 9:42 am
And not just the fumbles, Greg, but the critical dropped passes were a killer.
If you figure the ‘Skins score at least a field goal on each drive they gave away with a fumble or interception and the ‘Bucs don’t get the points they had gotten off of those drives, and then you figure in the drive killing dropped passes the same way, then you’re looking at a complete reversal of the score.
Good football teams know how to play the game. Great football teams know how to win them.
And smart football players know that the extra inches gained from extravagant, flailing moves are not worth the potential risk of losing the ball. How many times do you remember seeing Riggins go around end with less than two arms wrapped securely around the ball for fear someone would try to strip him? Yes, you can teach that in practice, but it also has to be buried in a player’s subconscious to wrap up at the first sign of even POTENTIAL danger.
One day soon, this team will learn to be a great football team. If anything, so far this season has been a real education, and they can take a lesson from the Bucs and how they played yesterday.
November 26th, 2007 at 10:37 am
http://mvn.com/newswire/2007/11/26/redskins-safety-sean-taylor-shot-life-in-danger/
November 26th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Saw the news on ESPN. It sounds like there should be a good recovery, but his season is definitely out the window. The question is, how much bone and muscle damage has been done and will it permit him to play at/near his previous level or end his career?
There was a book written by an author named Richard Farina called “Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me” about a guy who goes blithely through life, interjecting himself in bad situations and having all varieties of tragedy and loss crashing down around him. He doesn’t even put two-and-two together to realize his own part in his problems. Sounds like Taylor. If he’d stayed in Virginia this wouldn’t have happened.
Saddly, the author died in a motorcycle accident two days after his book was released while he was on a joy ride with a friend. He had met up with the friend at a party celebrating his new book just that night, too. They were going about 90 in a zone made for 30 mph when the crash occured.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
By all the latest information, Taylor is the victim here. He was shot in his home by an armed intruder. He was NOT in a situation where he was somewhere he shouldn’t have been, doing something he shouldn’t have been doing.
Taylor attended the Saturday team meeting at Redskins Park before the team flew to Tampa Bay for Sunday’s game. Since Taylor was inactive, he flew to his home in the Miami area to continue his recuperation.
November 26th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
Poor posting on my part.
Sincere apologies.
I went off of incomplete and very preliminary information.
Please strike this.
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