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Destino

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  1. Destino
    The home team fans are at home, these games no longer matter, and it’s probably better for the team to lose than it is to win.  It must be December in Washington.  Welcome to week 15!
     
    Redskins Inactive: 
    Colt McCoy  
    Trey Quinn 
    Quinton Dunbar  
    Josh Harvey-Clemons  
    Ross Pierschbacher  
    Brandon Scherff  
    Caleb Wilson  
     
    Eagles Inactive: 
    Nate Sudfeld  
    Nelson Agholor 
    Jordan Howard  
    Shareef Miller 
    Lane Johnson  
    Sua Opeta  
    Derek Barnet
     
    There are two camps for Redskins fans at this time of year.  Those that want to tank and those that want to win.  If this describes you, I want you to know something important. You’re wrong.  You should probably feel bad about it too, but that’s your business.  The right way to go about this, is simply to embrace the doublethink.  
     
    Before and after the game it’s perfectly reasonable to acknowledge that losing has its advantages.  It does and it is undeniable.  Afterall we could be talking about the difference between Chase Young being in a Redskins uniform, or not.  What we need for that to happen is simple.  Redskins lose out.  Giants beat the Dolphins and Redskins.  Dolphins beat the Bengals.  All of these things are perfectly reasonable outcomes.  We’re that close to having an elite pass rusher.   
     
    Before that happens, we have a game to play.  It is in this moment that we should embrace the other side of our demented doublethink.  While the game is being played, especially against a division opponent, fans should want their team to do well.  Assuming they have a soul and any decency.  There is just no way that I can root for the Eagles to beat the Redskins during a game.  If you are the type of fan that does this, I hope you find someone that can fix what has broken inside of you.   
     
    Pregame Prediction:  Redskins 23 – Eagles 30  
    More interesting game we are missing because we are still watching the Redskins:  Packers – Bears  
    Things I am snacking on:  Brownie.   
    Number of colons used:  Six.  (so far)  
     
    Check back for updates.  I’m going to wander around the room for a while and stretch my legs to get away from a certain well-known ESPN Eagle fan’s boring conversations that my ear phones aren’t blocking out entirely.
     
    1st Quarter Redskins 7 - 3 Eagles
    "The Closer" Haskins showed up for work early today and hit his former college teammate for a touchdown.  He really took the life out of this crowd in *checks notes* Fedex Field. 
     
    2nd Quarter Redskins 14 - 10 Eagles
    This quarter was defined by penalties.  The Redskins made the mistake of lightly hitting an Eagles tight end on the shoulder, and then another by tackling the Eagles QB around the waist.  Refs clearly didn't appreciate the Redskins playing football.
     
    This is the best half of football of Haskins pro career.  The Redskins passing offense as a whole has looked impressive, which... well it just shouldn't be.  Right?  Feels like a trap.  As soon as we start to feel good about it, BOOM they'll tear our hearts out. 
     
    I'll say this much though, Redskins receivers have been running around wide open throughout this first half.  The Redskins should have scored more than 14.
     
    Halftime:  If you had a choice between standing in a relatively long line for ice cream and cookies or nachos and hot dogs which would you choose?  I would go with ice cream.  Unfortunately I didn't realize there were two separate lines, and so I ended up with nachos and disappointment.  Also, I should probably mention Urban Meyer is here.  I bet he got the ice cream.   
     
    3rd Quarter Redskins 14 - 17 Eagles
    Wentz made a good throw, giving his team the lead, and it reminded me that Wentz was once a pretty good QB.  Hasn't looked like it often today.  The Eagles really haven't had a lot of open players for Wentz to throw to, but there is more to it than that.  Wentz looks slow. 
     
    Haskins has out played him through three quarters, and we haven't even reached Haskins best quarter. 
     
    4th Quarter Redskins 27 - 37 Eagles
    Some drunk Redskins fans sitting in front of the press box have recognized a Eagles fan that appears often on CNN and have started knocking on the glass to wave their hands and smile at him now the the Redskins have the lead.  These fans have apparently never learned not to tempt fate.
     
    Redskins defense played fairly well all game but picked the worst possible time to give up a long drive for a touchdown.  The Eagles offense came off the field with a four point lead and less than a minute left in the game.  The fumble return for a touchdown on the aborted hail marry attempt just added insult to injury.  Redskins come up short, for the eleventh time this season. 
     
    End of game thoughts.  Haskins actually looked like a real NFL QB for an entire NFL game.  Not just a drive here or there, but for an entire game Haskins looked like he belonged.  He looked like one of the reasons the Redskins might win the game.  He's shown flashes in the past but nothing like this.  A very encouraging sign for fans that believe he can be a part of the future here. 
     
    The Giants did their part to fall back in the draft, by absolutely dismantling the mighty Dolphins.  May the Giants be victorious, at least one more time this season.  We just need to lose to the Giants and have the Dolphins beat the Bengals, and the Redskins will be sitting alone at 3 wins.  Chase Young could happen.

     
     
     
  2. Destino
    We’re still doing this?  Absolutely!  Despite all the compelling reasons to just let everyone go home and enjoy and extended offseason, this is not an option.  The games must be played, and therefore we the long-suffering fans will feel compelled to watch.  Even games no reasonable football fan would choose to watch like, for example, today’s Redskins Jets game.   

    Today’s convergence of sadness features the 30th ranked scoring offense (Jets 14.4 ppg) versus the 32nd (Redskins 12.0 ppg).  The first team to 15 wins!  With no playoff aspirations the compelling story lines for this game are largely limited to watching young players (hopefully) develop.  Dwayne Haskins gets his first home start and Derrius Guice is back from injury.   
     
    My, reasonable, goals for today’s game:  
    1- Score a touchdown 
    2- Score more than 17 points.   
    3- Haskins throws for 200 yards or more with no interceptions  
    4- Guice runs the ball at least 10 times and finishes at 3.5 yards per carry and healthy.  
     
    Hoping for a win at this point feels like setting myself up for disappointment, so I’m happy to settle for an entertaining loss.  
     
    Special thanks to @pez for some excellent Guinness beef stew.  If you absolutely have to stand in a frozen parking lot at 9am, the best place to do it is at the Extremeskins Tailgate with Pez and @Huly.  Great fans, great people. 
     
    The Redskins have declared for the following players as inactive: 
    Paul Richardson  
    Colt McCoy 
    Deshazor Everett 
    Chris Thompson  
    Ross Pierschbacher 
    Vernon Davis  
    Tim Settle  
     
    The Jets declared the following players as inactive  
    Nate Hairston  
    Darryl Roberts  
    Paul Worrilow 
    Matthias Farley  
    CJ Mosley  
    Jordan Willis  
    Leo Koloamatangi 
     
    1st Quarter - Redskins 0 - 6 Jets
    If you wanted to sit in the cold and watch a football game with some Jets fans at FedEx, but were worried that there were not enough seats available, I have good news.  There’s plenty of space available, so come on down and prove you’re a real fan by sitting though this in person.
     
    Jets dominated the 1st quarter even though they only scored 6 points.  The reason being that Washington managed only 13 yards of offense and a single first down.  
     
    Question: Is it still a check down pass if the QB never looks at anyone else?
     
    2nd Quarter - Redskins 3 - 20 Jets
    The Jets have achieved an insurmountable 13 point lead early in the 2nd quarter.  All hope is lost.

    Is there a more perfect example of the Redskins offense than their first scoring drive in the 2nd quarter?  Interception gives the Redskins the ball on the Jets 16 yard line.  They proceed to march 10 yards backwards before kicking a field goal from the Jets 26.  It's perfect.  Two or three more field goals we can call it a day. 

    The Jets score again and if feels like they are are just piling on at this point.  Three touchdowns in the first half for them, just three points for the redskins.  Our streak of no touchdowns has now extended to 15 quarters. 
     
    3rd Quarter - Redskins 3 - 20 Jets
    There is a spider slowly descending from the ceiling in the press box and it's the most interesting thing that's happened during the third quarter of this game. 
     
    I have decided to allow the spider to live, provided it does not touch me.  I'm off to get some more caffeine. 

    4th Quarter - Redskins 17 - 34 Jets
    The first wave of Redskins fans, the few that are here, started streaming towards the exits after that 4th Jets touchdown.  As if the Jets didn't have this game wrapped up in the 2nd quarter. 
     
    Jet have now more than doubled their average points per game and have matched their season high of 34 points (and they missed two field goals in this game). 
     
    TOUCHDOWN REDSKINS!  THE DROUGHT IT OVER!  Guice took a short pass from Haskins  all the way to the house.  2 point conversion is successful on a pass from Haskins to Quinn. 
     
    The Redskins score another touchdown!  This feels like an embarrassment of riches, even if we are still certain to lose this game. 
     
    End of Game.
     
    Let's review those reasonable goals I mentioned earlier:
     
    1- Success.
    2- Close enough, I'm counting it
    3- Haskins did throw for over 200, but unfortunately did have an interception. 
    4- Guice was not given the opportunity to run the ball ten times today.  He did however score on a 45 yard TD pass and finish the game healthy.  I'll take it.
     
    Even though the Redskins lost, it was good to see the offense show some faint signs of life and end the streak of games without a TD.  The team looked competitive for much of the second half, and perhaps they could have made this a fun game if they carried that same energy throughout.  It was good to see Guice and Mclaurin show out today.  I think both of them have a future with this team that I look forward to seeing. 

     
     

     
     
     
     
     
  3. Destino
    Good afternoon Redskins fans!  I have once again been invited to sit in the relative comfort of the press box and shout my thoughts into the void via this blog.  As you watch the game today and see the rain  pour relentlessly from the heavens, know that I am safe and dry.  Know also that @Spaceman Spiff is out there somewhere, cold and unappreciated, rolling around in the muck trying to capture that perfect picture.  Maybe say a little prayer for his health (or laugh, whatever, I’m not judging you).  Also, be sure not to miss the pictures he posts on this site after each game.     
     
    Before we get into today's Redskins game, I want give some thanks for more positive occurrences in DC sports.  Congrats to the Washington Mystics for winning their first championship.  Congrats go out to the Washington Nationals as well for reaching the world series.  These two teams (along with the Caps) are working hard to change the sports related mood around this town, and we're all happier for it. 
     
    Lets move now into less cheerful topics, namely your Washington Redskins!  Yow know things are going bad, and I mean really dang bad, when your team has gone through three quarterbacks and two coaches and your not even half way through the season.  Today's fresh hell comes in the form of a specter of the our recent past coming to smirk at our misfortune.  Im talking of course of Kyle.  Kyle's spent the week assuring everyone that he isn’t holding a grudge, while very obviously holding a grudge.  “Everything else.”  You know what I’m talking about. 
     
    If all he brought to town were his hurt feelings we wouldn’t have a problem.  Sadly, he’s arrived with an undefeated football team that the NFL says we have to play this week.  This feels entirely unfair. 
     
    My generic key to the game:  Run the ball and stop the run.  The team (spoiler alert: 49ers) that does this today will win.   
     
    Redskins Inactives  
    QB Colt McCoy  
    S Deshazor Everett  
    CB Josh Norman  
    RB Chris THompson  
    LB Josh Harvey-Clemons 
    G Wes Martin  
    TE Vernon Davis  
     
    49ers inactives  
    QB CJ Beathard 
    WR Deebo Samuel  
    CB Ahkello Witherspoon  
    FB Kyle Juszczyk 
    T Mike McGLinchey 
    T Joe Staley 
    DL DJ Jones 
     
    1st Quarter Update
    Redskins 0 – 0 49ers
     
    Callahan wasn’t playing around when he said he wanted to run the ball.  That first drive was all runs, and looked great... right up until they tried to pass the ball.  Hopkins missed the relatively short fied goal, because of course he did.     

    Maybe Quinn isn’t a good choice to be returning punts?  Consider it.    
     
    That second Redskins drive looked more like what we’ve come to expect from this offense.  Run for negative yards, pass dropped, and an unsuccessful screen pass.  A quintessential Redskins three and out. 

    Passing yards this quarter:  Redskins 3. 49ers 9.  Are you not entertained?! 
     
    Half Time Update
    Redskins 0 – 0 49ers 
     
    How happy are you to spend your Sunday afternoon watching this game?  Consider that some people paid money, to sit in a poncho, in the rain, to watch this game. 
     
    It’s now time for those half time adjustments that our beloved skins do so well.  It’s unlikely the second half mirrors the first. 
     
    3rd Quarter Update 
    Redskins 0 – 3 49ers  
     
    Good news, this game will not end in a 0-0 tie.  Those half time adjustments have kicked in as expected and the 49ers have found a way onto the scoreboard in this messy throwback game.  The Redskins have decided to spend the second half collecting holding penalties and sadness.  Mercifully, only one quarter remains. 
     
    End of Game Update 
    Redskins 0 – 9 49ers 
     
    Callahan hasn’t spent much time as the head coach of the Washington Redskins, but he’s already proven that his team can waste 2nd half timeouts like a veteran.  It makes little sense to adopt a strategy that shortens the game when your team is losing, and it makes even less sense when your team is short on time outs.  I’m not really sure what the thinking as late in this game.    
     
    Next week Kirk Cousins!   
     
     
  4. Destino
    Four games in, four losses in the books, and we’re set to play our third quarterback of the season.  Safe to say things have not gone as planned.  Certainly not as hoped.  Walking around the parking lots today, between various fan tailgates, the question fans seemed to be discussing the most was not the outcome of today’s game.  Virtually everyone assumes the Redskins will lose, the only notable exception was an odd Dolphins fan @Spaceman Spiff ran into who, oddly, predicted a 44-0 victory for the Dolphins. 
     
    The question fans were buzzing about is if today is ‘the day’ Dan and Bruce finally send Jay Gruden off towards his future endeavors.  That he will not be back next season seems as inevitable as the outcome of today’s game, but will just any loss be enough for Dan to push the red button or will it take something special?  Not the sort of thing fans wish to be talking about just five weeks into the season.

    It wasn't all negative.  No matter how bad things get for NFL football fans three words of hope will always remain.  The hope of the terrible, and the fear of the good.  Any given Sunday.
     
     
    The Redskins declared the following players as Inactive: 
    Case Keenum  
    Josh Harvey-Clemons 
    Aaron Colvin  
    Ross Pierschbacher  
    Brandon Scherff  
    Veron Davis  
    Jordan Reed 
     
    The Patriots declared the following players as Inactive: 
    Cody Kessler  
    Patrick hung  
    Rex Burkhead  
    Damien Harris  
    Nate Ebner  
    Korey Cunningham  
    Byron Cowart 
     
    1st Qtr: Redskins 7 - Patriots 6
    Maybe it’s all this diet coke talking but I’m feeling pretty good after one quarter of football.  The Redskins are winning and we haven’t even started passing the ball yet.  (I assume Jay and Colt are saving that stuff for later.)  
     
    The Redskins defense scared me a little when they gave up what looked like an all-too-easy scoring drive but they managed to regroup and mostly limit the Patriots offense for the rest of the quarter.   
     
    We only need three more quarters like this one and the game is ours!  Simple, right?
     
    Halftime Redskins 7 – Patriots 12  
    After all the talk about Colt, Jay’s favorite, returning from injury I expected the team to... you know... actually pass the ball.  That certainly didn’t happen.  The only the Redskins offense did in the 2nd qtr worth remembering is turn the ball over twice inside their own 20.  Luckily, it’s half time.  Gruden is sure to put in some adjustments that get these guys back on track.   
     
    The Redskins defense was an entirely different story.  They were placed in impossible situations and held the Pats to just two field goals.  I’m confident they’ll be just as good in the second half.
     
    I smell food.... back later! 

     
    3rd Qtr: Redskins 7 - Patriots 26
    Hand thrown t-shirts are not nearly as fun as those blasted out of canons.  That needed to be said. 
     
    The third quarter was what I think most of us expected going into this game.  The Redskins offense proved to be entirely ineffective while the Patriots had little trouble getting into the endzone.  I don’t know who is in charge of halftime adjustments for the Redskins but they should consider trying playing better in the 2nd half.  If nothing else, it would be a refreshing change of pace. 
     
    On the bright side... I can’t even finish that sentence.  I’m getting another cookie.     
     
    4th Qtr  Redskins 7 – Patriots 33  
    Credit where credit is due.  The guy with the D *fence picture* sign on the sideline has not let the fact that most of the fans have left diminish his energy.  That most of the fans remaining in his little corner of the world are Patriots fans has not slowed him either.  He has continued to implore fans to make noise with his little sign no regardless of circumstance. 
     
    On the field the march towards the inevitable continues.  Patriots added 7 more while the Redskins offense showed us why they are ranked in the bottom of the league.   

    Highlight of the 4th quarter, for me, was watching Sal Paolantonio get so bored with the game that he eventually fled from his seat. 
     
    Final Thoughts
    The game may not have played out exactly as expected from the very beginning but it eventually got there.  Redskins ended up getting blown out by the Patriots in FedEx Field in front of a crowd largely made comprised of Patriots fans.  Turns out that expecting it doesn't make it any more enjoyable to watch.

    Next week, against the dolphins, might be our best chance to win a game all season.  As much as there can be a "must win" in what is sure to be a lost season, next week is it.  Fans are never happy watching a loss, but losing to the Pats is expected.  If this team finds a way to lose next week, things will get ugly. 
  5. Destino
    Good afternoon Redskins nation!  I’m in beautiful Landover, MD with Spaceman Spiff who has been pulled away from Instagram models and tailgating and sent down to the field to do what he does best (roll around in the mud).
     
    Let’s get down to business...  Can we block them?  There are other story lines entering into this game but worrying about them feels largely academic.  The Texans have two terrifying pass rushers and the Redskins intend to block them with optimism and underdog stories.  Alex Smith isn’t a statue but he does take time in making decisions and getting the ball out.  This combination looks disastrous.  The sort of thing that has us all after the game consoling each other with things like “well, it was just a bad matchup" and “we caught them at the worst possible time.” 
     
    Or... we could walk away wondering just how the heck this team managed to pull off another improbable win.  Last week the gave up something like twelve thousand yards of offense to the Bucs, I’ll have to check those numbers to be sure, but only three points.  That’s not supposed to happen.  Maybe we can enjoy an outrageously unlikely result again.  Not probably, not likely, but you know... maybe.  I’m saying there’s a chance.   
     
    I’m here for that chance.  (and you know... the free food and climate controlled free seats) 

    1st Quarter Update
    Redskins are running their bend and break defense, and I’m not sure a little over three quarters is enough time for the Redskins offense to close a 10-point gap.  I’m having flash backs of week nine, but having human emotions is considered “disruptive behavior.”  I'm fine.  Everything is fine. 
     
    That Quinn celebration, whatever that was, was the highlight of the 1st quarter. 
     
    2nd Quarter Update
    Is there a better way to start a quarter than by scoring a touchdown?  There is, if you follow that TD drive with a forced turnover on defense.  Things are looking good! 

    So much for that.  A great start was quickly ended up canceled out by the Redskins offense.  With a chance to take a lead Alex Smith throws a pick six in the red zone and takes the air out of the stadium.  He followed that up by throwing another interception on the very next drive.  Alex Smith almost made me forget about Vernon Davis dropping that pass.  Almost. 
     
    Texans missed a field goal attempt and the lead remains frozen at 10. 
     
    This quarter feels like a giant blown opportunity.  
     
    Halftime Update. 
    I should have stopped at one hotdog.  I deserve this.
     
    3rd Quarter Update
    You know the feeling where you say and think all these bad things about a player and then he breaks his leg and you immediately feel bad about it?  I live there now.
     
    Colt McCoy has freed me from that place of sadness! 
     
    As much as I love this defense, they have to start forcing teams to punt at some point.  Is there a stat for defense tha thas forced the fewest punts?  We have to be near the top of that list.  Texans have punted just once today.  Holding them to three was good, though.   
     
    The lead is down to six and Colt McCoy has arrived to save us.  (Please let that be true.) 
     
    Personal Note:  Someone just stomped, loudly, out of the press area like a while muttering at his phone.  Laughter and comparisons to toddlers followed him.  The media's laugh is an evil laugh!  Good times. 
     
    4th Quarter Update
    Colt has brought us back.  Welcome to the first lead change of the season, Redskins fans.  You like that?!  (Yeesh, was that always so lame?)  I guess you could say Adrian Peterson contributed by actually scoring the touchdown.  I bet Colt told him to score though, so you have to factor leadership into things.
     
    Once again, the defense cannot force a punt, hard to feel great about holding a team to a field goal when that field goal gives them the lead in the 4th quarter 
     
    Remember that whole "can we block them" thing?  The answer was absolutely not on the Redskins 2nd drive of the 4th quarter.  Watt and Clowney each sacked our man Colt, and ended that drive before it really had a chance to begin. 
     
    Horrible, no good, very bad holding called on Norman gifting Houston a first down at the worst possible time for it.
     
    Colt chooses to throw deep at an inopportune moment resulting in a 60+ yard attempt for an injured kicker.  Heartbreaking end to a game that cost this team entirely too much (via injury) yet still seemed to be within reach several times. 
     
    I'm off to the post game press conference and locker room, check back later for updates.
     
    Final Thoughts
    I’ve always found it preferable to watch my favorite team simply get destroyed, than to feel that they were the better team and still managed to lose.  The Redskins gave this game away with mistakes in the 2nd quarter.  Fred Davis makes a routine catch and Alex Smith doesn’t throw a pick six, and the scoreboard shows at least 7 fewer points for the Texans.  Even if the Redskins had settled for field goals, that’s a 13 point swing in 2 point game.   
     
    Losing the game wasn’t even the worst part.  Losing Alex Smith, for at least the remainder of the season, is likely enough to push the Redskins past the point where they can continue toughing their way through key injuries. 
     
    We'll all feel better after a win against the Cowboys next week. 
     
  6. Destino
    “Usually the team that scores the most points wins the game.” - Madden  
     
    5-2 teams rarely face as many doubts as the Redskins, and it's all about points.  The most significant doubts hang over the offense and trigger that Washington sports fan anxiety we all know and try desperately to repress.  Every win this season has come against teams that have been held to under 20 points.  The offense sits at 25th in the league in points per game, and saying they struggle to score in the second half fails to capture the extent of the situation.  The offense is practically nonexistent in the second half.  Stated plainly, can the Redskins passing game deliver enough points to beat good teams?  More specifically, can Alex Smith win games with his arm?
     
    The second doubt is a question of proving it.  It comes from a history of daring to believe only to have the chair pulled out from under us.  Is this defense as good as we think it is?  So far they’ve been most great, but mostly in a season less than halfway done isn’t enough to silence the unwelcome thoughts that creep into my mind.  Thoughts like “the Cowboys, Giants, and Cardinals aren’t impressing anyone. How good is Carolina, really?  Rodgers was on one leg in the mud.    That might be a fluke.”  The New Orleans game should be the exception that we can all write off, but I’m not sure that anyone is doing that with any confidence yet.   
     
    Today’s game can go a long way to granting us peace of mind.  The Falcons can be a very potent offense.  Will the defense shut them down? Will the offense score enough points to win even if the defense uncharacteristically surrenders more than 21 points?   
     
    I’ll find out from the press box, because life is unfair and they’ve once again given me a press pass.    
     
    The Redskins declared the following players as inactive:   
    No. 25 RB Chris Thompson  
    NO. 39 CB Adonis Alexander  
    No. 48 S Kenny Ladler  
    No. 55 C Casey Dunn 
    No. 71 T Trent Williams  
    No. 80 WR Jamison Crowder  
    No. 83 WR Brian Quick 
     
    The Falcons declared the following players as inactive:   
    No. 3 K Matt Bryant  
    No. 23 CB Robert Alford  
    No. 56 DE Steven Means 
    No. 68 T Austin Pasztor  
    No. 72 T Rees Odhiambo  
    No. 77 T Matt Gono
     
    Pregame personal notes: 
    - I had the opportunity to talk basketball with David Aldridge in the Redskins press box.  That’s a sentence I never imagined writing.  Cool moment.    
    - Expected chocolate chip but got a mouthful of oatmeal raisin.  I have no one to blame by myself.
     
    1st Quarter update. 
    Terrible start to the game for the Redskins.  A big penalty followed by an injury to Lauvao dooms the first drive.  Two big drops and an injury to Moses dooms the second.  Atlanta moved down the field with relatively ease on their first drive scoring a touchdown.  Their second looked to be going the same way, but Dunbar postponed the disaster with an interception.  
     
    Falcons are perfect on 3rd down.

    2nd quarter update
    The doubts I held going into this game are all proving themselves well justified.  Other than the 1st quarter turnover the Falcons have scored on every drive.  Atlanta’s punter took the first half off and the Falcons haven’t needed to attempt a field goal.  They’re a perfect 8/8 on 3rd down.  Shades of New Orleans.  
     
    The Redskins offense did manage to show some signs of life midway through the second.  Doctson finally caught a pass, and added a touchdown reception on top of it.  Alex Smith performed a magic trick in escaping the Atlanta pass rush and scrambles for 22 yards, but nearly got himself killed at the end of the run.  He came up smiling, though.  Alex Smith ain’t no punk.
     
    Holding penalty wiped out a big play that put the Redskins in field goal position before the end of the half. 
     
    Alex Smith gets his chance to play the hero in the second half. 
     
    3rd quarter update
    Redskins needed a big 3rd quarter to climb back into this one and while they did play better the lead remains unchanged after trading touchdowns with the Falcons.  The offense did deliver their first third quarter touchdown of this season, so at least we have that. 
     
    14 points down, 1 quarter to play.  Now is the time for Alex Smith to prove he's special.
    Redskins are running out of lineman and racking up an impressive number of penalties.  
     
    4th quarter disaster  
    The redskins needed everything to go right in order to have chance of erasing a 14 point deficit, but fell apart instead.  Offense turned it over and otherwise failed to do anything of note.  The Falcons ate up 6 minutes and some change on their way to a field goal and then put the cherry on this depressing sundae by ending Julio Jones' touchdown drought.   
     
    End result, the second 24 point blowout of the season.   
     
    I entered into this week with doubts and after the game I find that they've been largely validated.  The Redskins appear to be the team I feared they were.  Good on defense, but not good enough to stop the leagues potent passing offenses.  Solid on offense, but incapable of scoring very many points.  Especially when forced to abandon run.   
     
    The good news is that that schedule seems to be offering up many of the sorts of teams I think the Redskins can beat.  The bad news is that the Redskins just aren’t as good as we’d hoped after starting 5-2.  Well, that and the fact that the team is running out of offensive lineman. 
  7. Destino
    Mistakes were made and Destino got his hands on a press pass!  I am reporting from within the wonderfully climate controlled, and entirely dry, press box.  Who says the fan experience at FedEx field isn’t great?  Not me (not today).  I am joined by Spaceman Spiff, who has managed to wrap himself and all his treasured equipment in plastic and is currently out on the field rolling around in the muck.   
     
    Stop me if you’ve heard this before: There are reasons to feel good about the defense, the passing game has started slow, and the running game is unreliable.  There are differences, but in general we find ourselves entering week three on familiar ground, asking a familiar question.  Is this team any good?  (and maybe adding a quick “please please let them be good” under our breath.)   
     
    Are the Redskins as good as the team that beat the Cardinals or as bad as the team that got shut down by that stunning Colts defense?  Have the wide receivers introduced themselves to Alex Smith?  Has Peterson informed Jay that running towards the sideline isn’t his style?  Can we beat an injured Aaron Rodgers in the rain?   
     
    We’ll find out together.  (Time for some more free food!)          
     
    The Redskins declared the following players as inactive:   
    No. 17 WR Michael Floyd  
    No. 30 S Troy Apke 
    No. 32 RB Samaje Perine  
    No. 39 CB Adonis Alexander  
    No. 74 T Geron Christian  
    No. 77 G Shawn Lauvao  
    No. 99 DL Caleb Brantley  
     
    The Packers declared the following players as inactive:  
    No. 8 QB Tim Boyle 
    No. 19 WR Equanimeous St. Brown  
    No. 20 CB Kevin King 
    No. 22 RB Darius Jackson 
    No. 27 S Josh Jones  
    No. 70 T/G Alex Light  
    No. 82 WR J’Mon Moore
     
    Diet Pepsi fueled update #1
    A quarter into this one and FedEx field is magical place where dreams can come true.  Alex Smith and his stable of receivers have been dominant.  The Packers, having failed to stop them within the rules turned to pass interference, but the results were the same.  Touchdowns.  Sweet sweet touchdowns.
     
    Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense took the quarter off.   Good for them, they deserve a break. 
     
    Personal notes:  B Mitch is now sitting in front of me.  Close enough that I could bop him on the head if I were so inclined.  Probably a bad idea.
     
    Watching the game in the press box feels a little like watching a football game while at work.  We’re all watching a game, but without any of the noise you'd normally associate with that.  Professionals.  Every single one of us.
      A lot of ugly cheese hats behind the end zone. 
     
    Free chocolate cake powered update #2    
    Those of you hoping for a shut out are disappointed, and some fans in the forums are no doubt finding reasons to frown with a mouth full of ice cream.  Reasonable fans should be thrilled.
     
    The Redskins defense managed to keep the the Packers quiet but the Pack were able to stretch their legs a bit.  Against Rodgers one blown coverage is all it takes for him to make a 64-yard touchdown pass look like pitch and catch.  I get the impression that they’ll look much more capable in the second half. 
     
    Alex Smith gave up an interception but the Redskins offense continued to produce big plays and finish drives.  Peterson broke off a 41-yard run and Davis caught a 50 yard pass.  Most importantly the drives continued to end with touchdowns and not the field goals that doomed the Redskins in the home opener.  They'll need to continue to play well in the second half.  Rodgers will not go gently into the night. 
     
    Personal Notes:  I chose the Vikings in survivor league.   
     
    Coffee coffee coffee!  Update #3
    Alex Smith and the offense took the 3rd quarter off, completing one pass for zero yards, scoring no points, and managing just a single first down.  Momentum has definitely swung towards the Packers who held the ball 10 minutes and scored the quarter's only points (7).  That said, the damage on the scoreboard wasn’t nearly as bad as it could have been.   
      
    I worry that the Redskins may have taken their foot off the gas a bit too early in this one.  Wouldn’t be the first time Gruden went conservative too early in the second half when his team held a lead. 
     
    Time to find out just how good this defense can be.
     
    Personal Note:  That familiar dread is slowly creeping its way in.  If you've been a Washington Sports fan for long enough, you know what I'm talking about. 
     
    T-shirt toss has no place in a world with t-shirt cannons.  
     
    End of game.
    “It feels good man, especially after a rough week” - Josh Norman. 
     
    Final thoughts on today's game have to start with the defense.  They deserve the lions share of the credit considering how the second half played out.  The unit surrendered 17 points to Aaron Rodgers (and the Packers) and through three games have allowed just 14.7ppg. That’s a significant improvement over the 24.3ppg they averaged by the end of last season.  They’re healthy again and it shows.   
     
    The Packers also dropped some passes.  It had to be said.  I said it.  We can move on.   
     
    Peterson and the rushing offense had a bounce back performance.  This fills me with happiness for some reason.  There is just something about the Redskins featuring a power running game that feels right.   
     
    If there is a cloud in the silver lining, it’s the offenses disappearing act in the second half.  Alex Smith and the passing game followed up a brilliant first half of football with a second half stat line that is almost unbelievable:  2/5 passing for 6 yards.  Three first downs and three points for the offense in the second half.   
     
    Only explanation for this is that Jay Gruden decided to turtle early.  Today, it worked.   
     
    We won, and it feels good.  
     
     
     
  8. Destino
    Good afternoons Redskins fans, I’m here with the exceedingly friendly, but not always creepy, @Spaceman Spiff to bring you live coverage of the final moments of the long dead 2018 season.  I will welcome the end to this misery from the warm confines of the press box, while Spiff rolls around in the mud in order to justify his continued ownership of knee pads.
     
    Special thanks to @pez and @Huly for the warm welcome and great food at the tailgate.  I certainly didn't plan on eating an enormous bowl of beef stew today, but it was delicious.  Also, bourbon.
     
    A season that began with greater promise than most of us expected ends not with a bang, but a whimper.  All we have left is a chance to play spoiler., so let’s all embrace the pettiness of “if we can’t win, then neither can they” for one day.  With a win the Redskins can deny the Eagles a chance at the playoffs and a chance to defend their title.  One Superbowl is enough for that fan base and the Redskins would really be doing everyone a favor by winning today.  The world doesn’t need more Eagle fans. 
     
    There’s only one problem.  Winning isn’t something the Redskins have done very much of since the team was beaten mercilessly by the injury bug.  Well for the especially petty few among our fan base there is something to be had in losing as well.  Or at least there could be.  If the Vikings lose, then a Redskins loss would keep Kirk Cousins out of the playoffs.  (Wouldn't be the first-time poor play by the Redskins have kept Kirk out of the playoffs.) 
     
    Side note:  I can see, from my perch in the press box, Eagles fans in furry white costumes with Eagles jerseys on over them.  Have these people never seen an eagle before or are they supposed to be some sort of eagle like monster? Is there such a thing as a were-eagle? 
     
    blog will be updated as the game unfolds, check back for updates....
     
    1st Quarter Updates:
    This is an eagle home game. I’m not sure how apparent this is on TV but the clear majority here are eagle fans.  The Redskins were very loudly booed on their way out of the tunnel.
     
    First play of the game was an interception, Eagles gave it back, and the rest of the first quarter was exactly as exciting as 3-0 sounds. 
     
    tshirt canon malfunctioned.  We'll never hit enough of these eagle fans without the canon.  All hope is lost. 
     
    2nd quarter update: 
    "This feels like a home game for X" is a thing that is often said when too many fans from opposing teams show up, but is usually greatly exaggerated.  Not today.  The chants I can hear from my vantage point are entirely for the eagles and the stadium erupted in cheers when Philly scored a touchdown.  And then there's this (note the colors in the seats):

     
    Half time!
    How many hotdogs would be too many to eat during half time?  I'm going with four.  I would never eat four. 
     
    3rd Quarter Update:
    Redskins continue to struggle, Eagles score again, and just when you think there is no reason to watch *boom* they hit you with the fake punt.  Sadly no points.  On the bright side most of the fans in the stadium seem to be happy with the way things are going. 
     
    Main topic of conversation in the press box is the Vikings Bears game going on far away in a universe where football isn't nearly as sad as it it in this one. 
     
    4th Quarter Update.
    This is it folks, the last quarter of football and many questions remain unanswered.  By how many points will we lose this game?  Will the Redskins be shut out?  Will Kirk feel guilty about taking all that money from the Vikings?
     
    Loudest cheers in FedEx field in the 4th quarter were from Eagles fans... for the Bears. 
     
    Redskins finish the game on the losing end of a 24-0 shut out. 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
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