There's alot of negative energy in here surrounding the playoffs well....

[memphisskin]

Originally Posted by sandtrapjack

Summed up very nicely.

I'm sorry about the loss yesterday to Buffalo, but the Sean Taylor tragedy just took too much time from the team. They did not have the prep time as they would a normal week. And even that time in the film room or meetings or on the practice field could not have been "quality" time with everyones thoughts on what happened to ST.

Sadly I cannot justify picking Washington to win versus Chicago this week. For all the reasons BrunellMVP mentioned here. But also because it is a very short preparation week (Thursday game) that you can eliminate one day due to Sean's funeral.

Normally players in the NFL get Monday off following a Sunday game, but this is a short prep week for a Thursday game. Everyone will be in Miami on Monday. And that will leave them 2 days to prep for the Bears. Thank god it is a home game, or you could take another day away for travel, which would have only allowed one day to prepare for the game.

A. The players did have to deal with a tremendous tragedy, but they did not miss any practice time because of it. Sean passed on Tuesday, which is the player's off day, and unfortunately NFL players do not get bereavement leave. I agree that they were admittedly distracted this week, however unfortunately this is not even a new phenomena for '07.

ESPN - Memphis' campus closed after lineman shot to death - College Football

The lack of preparation time would mean something if they hadn't moved the ball so well for the majority of the game. They were emotionally spent after the week they had. I wished they would have taken out their pain on the Bills, but as Doc Walker said today the same things that have plagued them all season bit them yesterday. That is, short yardage and red zone situations.

We are 5-7 because when we need someone to step and make a play we don't have anyone we can depend on to do it. I think the one thing missing from the Skins in Gibbs 2.0 is accountability.

B. The team will only get one practice day in before the Bears game, but at this point in the season don't the players pretty much know what's going on anyway? Sure, the coaches will miss some time preparing the game plan, but what you hope is that the memorial service allows the Skins to begin to move forward. The reality is that Sean is gone and we've got four games left to make something of our season. I would say that its not going to happen, but then again I didn't think there was a chance we'd lose four straight when we made it to 5-3. So its possible, I'd give it a low possibility of happening just because of how things have broken for us thus far, but stranger things have happened.

[sandtrapjack]

Originally Posted by memphisskin

A. The players did have to deal with a tremendous tragedy, but they did not miss any practice time because of it. Sean passed on Tuesday, which is the player's off day, and unfortunately NFL players do not get bereavement leave. I agree that they were admittedly distracted this week, however unfortunately this is not even a new phenomena for '07.

ESPN - Memphis' campus closed after lineman shot to death - College Football

The lack of preparation time would mean something if they hadn't moved the ball so well for the majority of the game. They were emotionally spent after the week they had. I wished they would have taken out their pain on the Bills, but as Doc Walker said today the same things that have plagued them all season bit them yesterday. That is, short yardage and red zone situations.

We are 5-7 because when we need someone to step and make a play we don't have anyone we can depend on to do it. I think the one thing missing from the Skins in Gibbs 2.0 is accountability.

B. The team will only get one practice day in before the Bears game, but at this point in the season don't the players pretty much know what's going on anyway? Sure, the coaches will miss some time preparing the game plan, but what you hope is that the memorial service allows the Skins to begin to move forward. The reality is that Sean is gone and we've got four games left to make something of our season. I would say that its not going to happen, but then again I didn't think there was a chance we'd lose four straight when we made it to 5-3. So its possible, I'd give it a low possibility of happening just because of how things have broken for us thus far, but stranger things have happened.

So does your reasoning indicate that this game was yet just ANOTHER game in a long history of Gibbs 2.0 games where Washington had a halftime lead only to lose at the end of the game?

[memphisskin]

Originally Posted by sandtrapjack

So does your reasoning indicate that this game was yet just ANOTHER game in a long history of Gibbs 2.0 games where Washington had a halftime lead only to lose at the end of the game?

Sadly yes. I wish it wasn't true, but instead of winning games Gibbs seems to search for ways not to lose. Two totally different mentalities.

[RobH4413]

Originally Posted by memphisskin

Sadly yes. I wish it wasn't true, but instead of winning games Gibbs seems to search for ways not to lose. Two totally different mentalities.

It happens to much to be a coincidence. Running the ball that last time when we couldn't run the ball all game was abysmal. That play you've got to pass. It's a no-brainer.

Our ground game was non existent, and all we needed was one more first down. We should have run play action, and taken a shot to Cooley or just hit CP in the flat. Did JG not trust JC? Shoot, even a screen pass to counter a blitz would have worked. It was an terrible call.

Also, You've got to give the Buffalo's young QB credit for completing that long pass to set up the game winning FG. Great throw, great catch. So frustrating. I heard so many people exiting the stadium saying things like "Never again, I'm never going to another game". Cracked me up.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by RobH4413

It happens to much to be a coincidence. Running the ball that last time when we couldn't run the ball all game was abysmal. That play you've got to pass. It's a no-brainer.

Our ground game was non existent, and all we needed was one more first down. We should have run play action, and taken a shot to Cooley or just hit CP in the flat. Did JG not trust JC? Shoot, even a screen pass to counter a blitz would have worked. It was an terrible call.

Also, You've got to give the Buffalo's young QB credit for completing that long pass to set up the game winning FG. Great throw, great catch. So frustrating. I heard so many people exiting the stadium saying things like "Never again, I'm never going to another game". Cracked me up.

Sadly, we did throw a screen to Portis to get the first down on the 3rd down prior.