Redskins-Packers, Best and Worst

[SirClintonPortis]

Aikman loves Norv.

Actually, I found it rather enlightening that all of them came out with a record that showed mediocrity or suckitude, and yet we as fans still approach games against the Lions and Rams with an elitist attitude. We have an ok team, but it's not going to be a world beater by any stretch.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by SirClintonPortis

Aikman loves Norv.

Actually, I found it rather enlightening that all of them came out with a record that showed mediocrity or suckitude, and yet we as fans still approach games against the Lions and Rams with an elitist attitude. We have an ok team, but it's not going to be a world beater by any stretch.

Fair enough. But we don't have to be world beaters the way most teams are playing this year. If we can make to the bye week one or two games above .500, I definitely see us making the playoffs. After that, it's a whole new ball game.

[artmonkforhallofamein07]

Those are great pics.

[SirClintonPortis]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Fair enough. But we don't have to be world beaters the way most teams are playing this year. If we can make to the bye week one or two games above .500, I definitely see us making the playoffs. After that, it's a whole new ball game.

Making the playoffs is not a great accomplishment. There are still chump teams in the wild card and divisional rounds who get pounded into oblivion.

We are not a Super Bowl team. There is no reason to be hyper-optimistic about a non-Super Bowl team. We were a Mason Crosby kick from whining and crying today. These gifts are not always going to come, especially as the season drags on.

I'm just happy that this coaching staff is not "deer-in-headlights" and is willing to adjust from week to week so that they have a chance to win. It means that there's hope that we'll be going to the big dance in the near future, provided that we get some good drafts and other acquisitions in. But the team is in a transition and still has kinks to work out, and it's blatantly apparent.

[MTK]

Coming off a 4-12 disaster, making the playoffs would be a pretty nice start to the Shanahan era.

Besides, the NFC is wide open this year and our best ball is yet to be played. You never know.

[SouperMeister]

Worst - The officials ignoring obvious pass interference and holding by Green Bay's defense for the first 55 minutes, especially picking up the flag when Cooley was interfered with, killing a drive. "Honorable" mention - Carlos Rogers with yet another dropped INT in crunch time.

Best - The defense keeping the Skins within striking distance, then the offense making plays in the 4th quarter to complete the comeback. LaRon Landry playing at a Pro Bowl level - name another safety who has played as well this year? Polamalu's great, but does he strike fear of getting trucked the way Landry has all season?

[aceinthehouse]

We're winning because...
1)Playing smart (not committing stupid penalties like personal fouls,late hits out of bounds and stuff at critical moments of the game) which leads me to #2
2)Good coaching
3)We are playing inspired football,hitting people very hard and making big stops at critical moments of the game
4)Kicking game is much better....Yes,Gano has his misses,but he's hitting the key kicks with the exception of the Houston game,which he did MAKE...just missed it 2nd time around and it was 52 yards to boot...no gimme (I love Graham Gano!!)
5)Return game is SOOOO much better now. Nice seeing a guy break one long instead of moving side to side and fumbling like Randel el. Thus,this is absolutely huge for field position. It's also nice to think...Could he return this all the way? (everytime he touches the ball) Love Banks!
6)We have a QB that makes play,throws down the field and doesn't play scared and shows true leadership....Kinda nice,isn't it?

[JWsleep]

Originally Posted by SirClintonPortis

Making the playoffs is not a great accomplishment. There are still chump teams in the wild card and divisional rounds who get pounded into oblivion.

We are not a Super Bowl team. There is no reason to be hyper-optimistic about a non-Super Bowl team. We were a Mason Crosby kick from whining and crying today. These gifts are not always going to come, especially as the season drags on.

I'm just happy that this coaching staff is not "deer-in-headlights" and is willing to adjust from week to week so that they have a chance to win. It means that there's hope that we'll be going to the big dance in the near future, provided that we get some good drafts and other acquisitions in. But the team is in a transition and still has kinks to work out, and it's blatantly apparent.

Great post. Well put, sir!

[LavaRnChad]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

We are the media's whipping boy, plain and simple. They love to hate us, and the other teams in the division easily get more, and better, coverage.

Has anyone been hearing how the Giants are #1 in the division? I've heard it several times now. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think they are 2nd (div record 0-0) and we are 1st (div record 2-0). If anything, they are merely tied for 1st.

IMO, there isn't a media bias against us. Some even think ESPN is our enemy in some small way. They don't hate us, we haven't done anything worth talking about for 20 years. Yes we are leading our division now, but it's a long season and we haven't exactly shown dominance. Trust me, that bias crap is our own little myth.

[PortimusPrime]

Originally Posted by LavaRnChad

IMO, there isn't a media bias against us. Some even think ESPN is our enemy in some small way. They don't hate us, we haven't done anything worth talking about for 20 years. Yes we are leading our division now, but it's a long season and we haven't exactly shown dominance. Trust me, that bias crap is our own little myth.

I think a lot of people believe this partly because whenever we win it isn't reported that we won but that the other team lost. I would go as far as to say there is a bias against us but there certainly are certain columnists that aren't exactly Skins' fans.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by SirClintonPortis

Making the playoffs is not a great accomplishment. There are still chump teams in the wild card and divisional rounds who get pounded into oblivion.

We are not a Super Bowl team. There is no reason to be hyper-optimistic about a non-Super Bowl team. We were a Mason Crosby kick from whining and crying today. These gifts are not always going to come, especially as the season drags on.

I'm just happy that this coaching staff is not "deer-in-headlights" and is willing to adjust from week to week so that they have a chance to win. It means that there's hope that we'll be going to the big dance in the near future, provided that we get some good drafts and other acquisitions in. But the team is in a transition and still has kinks to work out, and it's blatantly apparent.

I beg to differ. Particularly about losing if Mason Crosby hits the field goal, because the what if game goes both ways. If Santana grabs that catch in the end zone and another on 3rd & 8, we're not even discussing the Crosby field goal. Last year and the year before, those balls weren't bouncing our way, this year they are.

Another thing, the Packers converted only 2 of 13 3rd conversions. Two. That's not luck, and it's no small feat considering we were playing the Packers, a team no one gave us a fighting chance to win against; Yards surrendered be damned, that's great defense in my book. By your Super Bowl logic, well, how many teams are really playing Super Bowl football right now, whatever that is? And don't you have to reach the Super Bowl, or at least the playoffs, before you acually know it's Super Bowl football?

[SmootSmack]

I'm not saying this is us, but three years ago there was a 3-2 team that went on to earn a wild card berth and a few weeks later went on to beat the league's first ever 18-0 team in the Super Bowl

Or in 2008, when another 3-2 team went on to earn a wild card berth, got on a hot run in the playoffs and came a Holmes' toe away from being the first ever 9-7 team to win the Super Bowl.

Once you're in the playoffs it's a whole different game. There's no shame in making the playoffs

[SirClintonPortis]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I'm not saying this is us, but three years ago there was a 3-2 team that went on to earn a wild card berth and a few weeks later went on to beat the league's first ever 18-0 team in the Super Bowl

Or in 2008, when another 3-2 team went on to earn a wild card berth, got on a hot run in the playoffs and came a Holmes' toe away from being the first ever 9-7 team to win the Super Bowl.

Once you're in the playoffs it's a whole different game. There's no shame in making the playoffs

Elite D-line
Plaxico
Sheli waking up
Spags
Tyree lucksack
Do we have any of the above?

Elite QB
Defense suddenly tightened up
Fitz and Boldin
Do we have any of the above?

We have a bunch of guys who have already hit their ceilings, and their ceilings are not very high. Expecting guys like Rabach, Hicks, and Lichtensteiger to suddenly perform at a Pro Bowl level is beyond outlandish.
Aside from Armstrong and Moss, our WRs are just ok fillers.
Our D-line has no one worth holding penalties except for Haynesworth and Rak, and Haynesworth is inconsistent.
Dhall is not going to be a shutdown corner, ever.
Carlos Rogers will not catch many game ending ints, ever.

[SirClintonPortis]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

I beg to differ. Particularly about losing if Mason Crosby hits the field goal, because the what if game goes both ways. If Santana grabs that catch in the end zone and another on 3rd & 8, we're not even discussing the Crosby field goal. Last year and the year before, those balls weren't bouncing our way, this year they are.

Another thing, the Packers converted only 2 of 13 3rd conversions. Two. That's not luck, and it's no small feat considering we were playing the Packers, a team no one gave us a fighting chance to win against; Yards surrendered be damned, that's great defense in my book. By your Super Bowl logic, well, how many teams are really playing Super Bowl football right now, whatever that is? And don't you have to reach the Super Bowl, or at least the playoffs, before you acually know it's Super Bowl football?

Rabach and hicks are a Pro Bowl material. Golston is immovable. We've got two shutdown corners. Haynesworth is an EXCELLENT NT. Got ya. We're elite.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I'm not saying this is us, but three years ago there was a 3-2 team that went on to earn a wild card berth and a few weeks later went on to beat the league's first ever 18-0 team in the Super Bowl

Or in 2008, when another 3-2 team went on to earn a wild card berth, got on a hot run in the playoffs and came a Holmes' toe away from being the first ever 9-7 team to win the Super Bowl.

Once you're in the playoffs it's a whole different game. There's no shame in making the playoffs

100% agreed. We get into the playoffs and anything can happen. Veteran players and SB winning coaching tends to help in the playoffs. Right I think we're still playing like an 7-9 team but we're winning games we shouldn't. As long as we continue to get better, and I think we have every week so far, we have a good shot. The key is that we can't look at 3-2 and think it is indicative of how we're playing as a whole. Right now we've played at best to 2-3 and probably more like 1-4.