The Hangover

[12thMan]

My favorite scene from The Hangover is when the guys are asleep in their Vegas hotel suite following a night of debauchery. The room was a complete shambles, a white chicken was wondering about, a baby was found in the closet, and when one of them goes to relieve himself, much to his surprise, he finds a roaring tiger in the bathroom.

Through the first three games of the season the Washington Redskins have resembled the trailer for The Hangover. Much like the comedy the Redskins started out rather normally, but have since devolved into a series of unexplained, bizarre, and head scratching events that are all interconnected. To be clear, it's not the Redskins record that's so disconcerting and bothersome. Let's face it, NFL teams start out 1-2 all the time, recover and later find themselves in the hunt for a playoff bid. In fact, it could still happen to the Redskins. But following the performances over the past two weeks, such a scenerio seems less and less likely with each game that passes. This team continues to be plagued by penalties by veterans who should know better, poor tackling, bad clock management, and of late, a once stout defense giving up long and time consuming drives to offenses that usually struggle. These mental errors, accumulated little by little, will drain even the most talented and well intentioned team.

Last week I wrote about the Redskins being close. Close to being a better than average football team. Quite frankly, close to being a playoff contender. It seemed reasonable to me that a team that last year finished 8-8, returned most of it's starters, and a head coach with another year under his belt didn't need to make any major adjustments. On top of that the team upgraded in a few areas, including All-Pro DT Albert Haynesworth. While the talent is still there, the teams organizational structure, long term strategy, and lack of motivation displayed yesterday have even left the franchise's most ardent defenders with their hands in the air.

Yesterday's lost to the Detroit Lions has turned into one big hangover for Redskins nation, except no one's laughing. The proverbial shit officially hit the fan yesterday. This wasn't just another loss to another subpar opponent. This was their tiger in the bathroom. Or in the Redskins case, the Lions.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Last week I wrote about the Redskins being close. Close to being a better than average football team. Quite frankly, close to being a playoff contender. It seemed reasonable to me that a team that last year finished 8-8, returned most of it's starters, and a head coach with another year under his belt didn't need to make any major adjustments. On top of that the team upgraded in a few areas, including All-Pro DT Albert Haynesworth. While the talent is still there, the teams organizational structure, long term strategy, and lack of motivation displayed yesterday have even left the franchise's most ardent defenders with their hands in the air.

Yesterday's lost to the Detroit Lions has turned into one big hangover for Redskins nation, except no one's laughing. The proverbial shit officially hit the fan yesterday. This wasn't just another loss to another subpar opponent. This was their tiger in the bathroom. Or in the Redskins case, the Lions.

Based on the evidence from the first two games, you were probably right in concluding the Redskins were close. Now they've unquestionably taken a step back. How big? We'll probably need to see the Tampa game to decide.

It could be "the season is over!" type bad or it could be "what the hell happened in that game?!" type bad. But we'll need to see more to know for sure.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Good post 12th man. It's so unbelievably nice to read posts that are well-written and thoughtful.

[53Fan]

Very well written post 12thMan. I also thought we were close to being a competitive team. The crazy thing is, I still do. During most hangovers there appears to be no end in sight to the feeling of BLAH. But slowly but surely you pull out of it and realize what the problem was and how to avoid it. It's not the end of the world. You learn to make adjustments.

I think we're a little quick to declare what is going to happen. Everyone has an opinion based on what we've seen but that is assuming we will keep playing the same way and make the same mistakes. As Gtripp said, we'll know more after Tampa Bay. Really good post man.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by 53Fan

Very well written post 12thMan. I also thought we were close to being a competitive team. The crazy thing is, I still do. During most hangovers there appears to be no end in sight to the feeling of BLAH. But slowly but surely you pull out of it and realize what the problem was and how to avoid it. It's not the end of the world. You learn to make adjustments.

I think we're a little quick to declare what is going to happen. Everyone has an opinion based on what we've seen but that is assuming we will keep playing the same way and make the same mistakes. As Gtripp said, we'll know more after Tampa Bay. Really good post man.

Exactly. That's kinda the point I wanted to bring out without saying. Every hangover eventually ends. It just sucks when you're going through it.

[GTripp0012]

Okay, so we're 5 weeks into our semester and this is the first rainy, chilly, "hoodie" weather we've had up in west Michigan.

And, naturally, it's the first time since April that I want to break out my Redskins hoodie, which I cannot do because THEY LOST TO THE LIONS.

Hangover indeed.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Okay, so we're 5 weeks into our semester and this is the first rainy, chilly, "hoodie" weather we've had up in west Michigan.

And, naturally, it's the first time since April that I want to break out my Redskins hoodie, which I cannot do because THEY LOST TO THE LIONS.

Hangover indeed.

OMG! I didn't even think of a poor Skins fan living in Lions territory and having to put up with this. WOW that is rock bottom.

[tryfuhl]

Originally Posted by mredskins

OMG! I didn't even think of a poor Skins fan living in Lions territory and having to put up with this. WOW that is rock bottom.

Oh man I caught so much shit after the game, which is expected, but when it comes from THE FUCKING LIONS it's that much worse.

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Okay, so we're 5 weeks into our semester and this is the first rainy, chilly, "hoodie" weather we've had up in west Michigan.

And, naturally, it's the first time since April that I want to break out my Redskins hoodie, which I cannot do because THEY LOST TO THE LIONS.

Hangover indeed.

When I was a kid I always wore my Washington Redskins sweatshirt to school after a loss. I figured that it really proved something if you wore the colors after a loss and I always told myself that it would be that much better once the team reached the mountain top because I had been there in the valley. I'm 27 so these were middle school days and the true nadir of Redskins football ('93-'95). Unfortunately I'm still waiting for the mountaintop.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

When I was a kid I always wore my Washington Redskins sweatshirt to school after a loss. I figured that it really proved something if you wore the colors after a loss and I always told myself that it would be that much better once the team reached the mountain top because I had been there in the valley. I'm 27 so these were middle school days and the true nadir of Redskins football ('93-'95). Unfortunately I'm still waiting for the mountaintop.

I usually wear it every Monday, but I just don't feel like making a statement today.

Where it would normally slip under the level of general consciousness, the last thing I want to do today is remind everyone around me that yes, I saw that disaster as well.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I usually wear it every Monday, but I just don't feel like making a statement today.

Where it would normally slip under the level of general consciousness, the last thing I want to do today is remind everyone around me that yes, I saw that disaster as well.

One of the few "thank you lords" for me from that game was that the only area that got to see it, was basically washington right. we weren't the national game getting cut away from because it was so bad, like dallas did last year. I guess some areas up north saw it. but basically we in skins land got treated to our own little nightmare.

As for reactions today, i tend to go the self-deprecating route up here in baltimore, and today when others here start I just shrug and said "go ahead and take your shots". Most have just made a jab and moved on.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

One of the few "thank you lords" for me from that game was that the only area that got to see it, was basically washington right. we weren't the national game getting cut away from because it was so bad, like dallas did last year. I guess some areas up north saw it. but basically we in skins land got treated to our own little nightmare.

As for reactions today, i tend to go the self-deprecating route up here in baltimore, and today when others here start I just shrug and said "go ahead and take your shots". Most have just made a jab and moved on.

It was blacked out in the Lansing, Saginaw, and Ann Arbor/Detroit markets, but anyone at my university who stayed around for the weekend had the game televised locally. I live about 150 miles northwest of Detroit. If they went home...they probably didn't see it.

I haven't taken anything today, mostly because the people who know I'm a Redskins fan were texting the crap out of my phone during the game. One of the many reasons that by the time the game reached it's merciful end, I was more apathetic than angered.

[Skinsfanatic]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Okay, so we're 5 weeks into our semester and this is the first rainy, chilly, "hoodie" weather we've had up in west Michigan.

And, naturally, it's the first time since April that I want to break out my Redskins hoodie, which I cannot do because THEY LOST TO THE LIONS.

Hangover indeed.

You can ALWAYS wear the hoodie. Always.

[JWsleep]

Well, that light may be the light at the end of the tunnel, or it might be a train.

We'll see, no doubt. But right about now, it's hard to stay optimistic. That being said, my undying irrational love of the Redskins tells me that we're going to turn it around, slowly but surely, and we'll be in the mix down the road. I have no evidence for this. I have no plausible argument I can offer in support. But that's my story and I'm sticking to it, even after losing to the 0-19 Lions.

It's always darkest before the dawn. Can it get much darker in here? I really hope not.

[RobH4413]

It's always disappointing to not be excited to watch football highlights, and this week certainly is no exception.

We are the laughing stock of the league right now, and the future does not look bright. I'm normally a raging optimist on this site, but this week, it seems insane to think anything but negativity.

I vowed last year to never pay for another Redskins game again, and I still hold true to this. I refuse to give Dan Snyder my money for the product he is selling, and the way he is conducting this organization. I feel like such a cliche Redskins fan, but I don't know what else to do.

Fedex is a bitch to get to, the prices are outrageous, its a bigger bitch to leave, and chances are your going to see an abysmal performance. I paid 100$ last year for nose bleeds to the Pittsburgh game, and as terrible towels hit me in the face from either side I still stayed strong with my support for this team. I really feel we were the team that deserved to be blacked out this week...

Hockey season starts soon, and I'm more than happy to give my money towards Teddy's Capitals. It's an easy metro ride to get to, you can scalp a decent ticket for 40 bucks, and pre & post game is a breeze at one of the many bars Chinatown has to offer.

Sometimes it takes stumbling around after a night of drinking to reach an epiphany, especially one that is right in front of your eyes. I'll still be a Redskins fan for life, but this season is especially painful... so for the rest of this season, I'll be investing both financially and emotionally in DC's only team that competes every year. Lets go Caps baby!

oh... and the Wiz kids might be putting up a squad as well.