Greetings humanoids from the desert where today Kirk Cousins & the Redskins look to avenge a disgusting loss from two years ago. Some of you may remember when the Cards were still in the NFC East, which was a glorious time as it was them who were always guarandamnteed to finish last in the Division. Times have changed though, & not only are they no longer in the East, they also no longer play at Sun Devil. Sun Devil was always a cool looking stadium on the tv & breathtaking in person as it was carved into the rock. Now, they have one of the best domed stadiums in the League. Everything here is clean, staff is exceptionally polite, the landscaping around the stadium is immaculate. And their tailgating setup is the absolute best I've seen at any stadium. I've said it before & I'll say it again now: When Dan builds his new stadium I really hope it incorporates some of the things they have here.

 

 

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENT OF INACTIVES

 

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Washington Redskins have announced the following inactives and lineup changes for today’s game against the Arizona Cardinals:

 

The Redskins declared the following players as inactive: 

o   No. 2 QB Nate Sudfeld

o   No. 19 WR Rashad Ross

o   No. 31 RB Matt Jones

o   No. 35 CB Dashaun Phillips

o   No. 69 DL A.J. Francis

o   No. 72 DE Anthony Lanier II

o   No. 86 TE Jordan Reed

 

No. 85 Vernon Davis is expected to start in place of Reed at tight end.

 

 What I'm Watching For

 

With Jordan Reed out today, the first instinct is to watch for Vernon Davis to have great day. However, the Cards Defense has been shutting down TEs. Therefore I'm looking for Crowder to continue to ascend by picking up Reeds targets & possibly have a career day.  I'm also looking for the offense to hit that damn fade route again this week simply because they finally hit it last week against Dallas. That alone is why I fully expect to see it again. On Defense, I'm looking to see if Barry moves Norman into the Slot depending on the WR. And on Special Teams all I want to see is Hopkins simply not miss. That's not to much to ask for but given his last two games...

 

It it takes forever to get there but the roof is open today.

 

 Quick Notes

 

As you can see above, the roof is open today. It's 70 degrees here in Glendale. Beautiful weather for football. It reminds me of of September game at FedEx. Tons & I mean TONS of Redskins fans here today. There were so many last night at the Rally that the Tilted Kilt was at capacity about an hour before the event even began. The Burgundy & Gold is well represented here in the desert at FedEx West.

 

Redskins Rally at Tilted Kilt

 

 FIRST QUARTER

 

Redskins win the coin toss & defer. Cards start off feeding the Beast, David Johnson. Even with small gains n yardage, the Cards have managed to move to midfield. For the Defense, Nacho is making tackles, though Cravens failed at a pass defense for Johnson. Kerrigan deflects a pass intended for Floyd. Next play, Johnson gashes the Defense up the middle, thankfully fumbles (caused by Nacho) but Cards recover. Cards in the Red Zone. RJF tips a pass. Scotty Mac, sitting two seats down from me is saying we had had two missed turnovers on this drive. After a stop by Kerrigan, Johnson finds the end zone for the games first touchdown. Kick is good, Cards go 15 plays in 8 minutes for 75 yards & the score.

 

 

Skins offense takes the field & the crowd gets LOUD in cheering for them. Just like FedEx. Kirk to Garçon for 9 followed by a stupid false start penalty on Carrier. Followed by a false start on Lauvao. A certain GM is shaking his head. He's not alone. Kirk incomplete to DJax & then sacked for a loss of 10. 4th & 21. UGLY first attempted drive. Defense stops the Cards quick & Cards are forced to punt so the Offense gets to try to get their ish together now. Carrier in at TE & im trying to figure out how he jumped over Vernon Davis at TE. Rob Kelley up the middle for a nice gain. Kirk feeds two passes to Garçon & the Offense is starting to get in a groove. Annnnnd Kirk gets a pass deflected & nearly picked off. Press Box let's out a sigh of relief. Kirk incomplete to Crowder & Skins forced to pun. Cards called for holding during the punt. And the Cards are called for a penalty. It's 2nd & 10 on their 8. Defense turns it up & smothers Johnson after a 1 yard gain. 

 

 

 SECOND QUARTER

 

Defensively, Cravens pretty much ended the Cards drive. The kid is simply fun to watch. Redskins run game has evidently decided to show up now. Thompson with a speedy Westbrook like gain on the right side & the Kelly up the middle. Followed by a pitch to Fat Rob for 4. And then Lauvao is called for a fals start. AGAIN. This drive stalls out & Hopkins in to kick. It's good & its 7-3 Cards. 

 

Josh Norman just stuffed the hell outta Johnson for a loss of 5. Damn that was fun to watch. The Defense stepped up this drive & stops the Cards  before they can cross mid field. Redskins will start this drive at the 48. Time to put 7 on that board.  Instead they start with ANOTHER false start this one on Scherff. Skins finally convert a third down. They're now 1-4 on third down conversions. Here we go, Skins back in the Red Zone. Time to get 7 & take the lead. Ryan Grant getting into the mix now. Two passes & he's at the 1. Fat Rob drops a pass wide open in the end zone. Offense also called for an illegal shift & is backed up 5 yards. Kirk to Davis who picks up 5 & is back to the 1. Fat Rob up the middle for no gain. 

 

 TWO MINUTE WARNING

 

Spencer Long is questionable for a return with a shoulder injury. Kick is good & it's Redskins down 7-6 to the Cards with 1:52 left in the half. Norman with a beautiful breakup on a pass to Floyd in the corner endzone right below us. Redskins down 10-6. 

 

 HALFTIME THOUGHTS

 

The Defense has surprisingly stepped up & limited any big plays except for the shot downfield to Fitzgerald & a 22 yard chunk to Johnson inside the two minute warning. The bigger issue so far is the damn offense. First the can't get it going then every time they do, they get stupid holding penalties that negate any positive momentum they get going. They've had some questionable personnel decisions like Carrier at TE to start over Davis, & Grant in over Maurice Harris who had seemed to jump Grant in the lineup the last two games. 

 

 

 

 

 THIRD QUARTER 

 

Looks like they found the Offense during the half. A deep shot to DJax & a few plays later Kirk on a keeper into the end zone from the 1 for the go ahead TD. 13-10 Redskins. Spencer Long now out with a concussion. And it seems we left the Defense in the locker room at the half. They haven't been able to stop anything this drive except for a touchdown pass in the corner endzone that Dunbar broke up. And the Murphy sacks Palmer into an early grave. VICIOUS HIT. Me likey.  Cards miss a 50+ field goal attempt & it's Redskins ball at the 43. Annnd Kirk gets hit, fumbles, Cards recover for 20 yards & only Thompson saves it from being a touchdown. Jeebus. Palmer has a thing for his right corner end zone. Every time he throws one there we break it up.  Palmer to Floyd over the middle for the touchdown. So much for having a lead. 17-13 Cards. After nearly 3 quarters, gets his first catch for a gain of 2. At this point, Garçon is still the feature WR this game having gone 6 of 8 for 75 yards. Crowder FINALLY hits the end zone where my FF team says it's about time & its 20-17 Redskins. Dear sweet little baby Jesus please let this D hold. Ok so Palmer overthrows Floyd & Breeland was a step away from the pick 2nd down. Cards gain 7. 3rd & 3. Palmer to Fitz over the middle for the First Down. End of the 3rd.

 

 FOURTH QUARTER

 

1st & 10 at theit 35. Cards ball. Here we go...Cards pass for 3. 2nd & 7.... pass incomplete FLAG holding on their TE, 2nd & 17....1st & 10....1st & 10....1st & 10....2nd & 5....Will Blackmon is down....And Johnson bull rushes into the end zone on a pass from Palmer for 25 yards & the TD. 24-20 Cards  with 11:09 left on the clock. At least the Steelers are whuppin some Giants ass right now.  Skins come out running it for 10 yards then Cousins has to throw it away. Finally back to Crowder as the Cards D has even preoccupied with trying to defend Garçon. Fat Rob stopped for a loss of 3. There's a Harris sighting. Watch this kid as he can ball. Cousins incomplete to Crowder which would have been short of First Down anyways. Hopkins nails a 53 yarder. & its 24-23 Cards.  6:01 left to go. Defense held them to a 4th &1 & Cards went for it, Johnson gashes the **** outta the D &his sto

pped rom scoring by Norman. 2:11 left on the clock....Norman then called for holding gives the Cards. 1st down at the 42. ...2nd & 10 at the 42... The roof is still open & it's getting considerably darker in here. And the Cards score a TD. 31-23 Cards.

 

 TWO MINUTE WARNING

 

Skins are now forced to not only score a TD but a 2 point conversion as well just to tie it & head to overtime. Kirk to Garçon who is keyed in on immediately. Gain of 3. Back to Crowder, incomplete but AZ called for a 15 yard roughing the passer penalty for a free First Down. Kirk incomplete to Crowder again on the sideline. Same play complete to Grant, flag is out, Hands to the face called on AZ, another free First Down.   Kirk to Davis over the middle for 18. Complete to Davis again. Incomplete to DJax...Kirk to Crowder INTERCEPTED with 41 ticks left on the clock. And with a Tampa win, as of now Paloffs are next year.

 

 

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