ES: The bigger the stage, the better Robert Griffin III gets

[themurf]

(photo by Brian Murphy)

For most of the last 20 years, the Washington Redskins haven't been very good at football.

For much of the last decade or so, they've been one of the doormat of the NFL -- thanks to a dismal record and a knack for failing to show up in games with a heightened importance.

Anyone who has been a fan of this franchise for more than a few months should be able to close their eyes and instantly recall half a dozen or so disappointments -- including letdown games seemingly whenever the Redskins found themselves in the national spotlight.

Simply put -- no one outside the beltway ever had any reason to care about this team because whenever they saw them play, Washington usually found a way to lose.

Mercifully, it appears those dark days are over, thanks to a rookie quarterback by the name of Robert Griffin III.

This past Thursday, Griffin did something no other Redskins quarterback had ever done before -- he beat the Cowboys in Dallas on Thanksgiving day.

With an entire nation watching, the face of the franchise completed 20 of 28 passes for 311 yards with four touchdowns, one interception and a passer rating of 132.6. While most Redskins players would have wilted in the spotlight, Griffin has already shown he's not like most Redskins players.

He broke single-season team records for passing yards by a rookie (Norm Snead’s 2,337 in '61) and passing touchdowns by a rookie (Eddie LeBaron’s 14 in '52). For the season, RGIII has now completed 206 of 305 passes (67.5 percent) for 2,504 yards with 16 touchdowns and just four interceptions.

Griffin III became the first player in Redskins history to pass for four touchdowns in consecutive games. He also became the first rookie ever to have multiple games with four or more passing touchdowns in a season, and is one of two quarterbacks this season with four touchdown passes in consecutive weeks (along with New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees).

Griffin III is the first player in NFL history to have four 60-yard passing touchdowns and a 60-yard rushing touchdown in a season.

Griffin torched the Cowboys when they sent five or more pass rushers, completing 6-of-7 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns.

The former Heisman Trophy winner came into the league with unreasonable hype and expectations placed upon him, after the Redskins traded away a stockpile of high draft picks to land him, and yet, he's still managed to impress.

Aside from suffering a concussion because he failed to get down quickly against Atlanta, Griffin has given critics and skeptics zero ammunition this season. Even when his team looks bad this year, he's still managed to be Washington's lone bright spot -- like, for example, when his receivers dropped 10 passes in Pittsburgh.

Playing behind a mediocre offensive line, with a so-so receiving corps and a rookie running back, RGIII has already done the unimaginable -- he's made the Washington Redskins relevant once again.

Even though most casual sports fans were already tired of RGIII before he ever took his first NFL snap, thanks to endorsements of seemingly every product imaginable, Griffin has managed to convert even the biggest Redskins haters into believers.

“I really have got to give kudos to the Redskins, Coach Shanahan, RGIII. That was as hot a hand in that first half, those plays that he made, the way that he played quarterback out there," said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. "I do want to give them a lot of credit. And anybody that watched that can see that RGIII was a huge difference-maker out there. That’s not an excuse; we just didn’t play well enough in light of how he played.”

This comes, of course, just one month after the entire New York Giants roster lined up to praise Griffin ... even after they beat him.

"That guy is flat-out unbelievable," Giants pass rusher Osi Umenyiora said. "That's the best quarterback we've played this year, for sure."

Fellow defensive lineman Justin Tuck took it a step further.

"I'm pretty mad at the football gods for putting him in the NFC East," he said. "A quarterback like that, he's different from the Eli [Manning] and those guys. He presents … it's just hard to gameplan that guy. He takes away from your enthusiasm for the game a little bit when you play a play perfectly and he still has 4.3 speed to outrun guys and make plays. I don't think there's anybody in the league just like him."

Griffin's numbers against NFC East opponents show just why so many rivals have so many positive things to say about the rookie quarterback.

Against New York, Philadelphia and Dallas, Griffin has completed 54 of 71 passes (76 percent) for 769 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions with a 138.4 quarterback rating. With inspired play like that from football's most important position, it's only a matter of time before the Redskins are no longer a doormat in the division.

“You know, he’s kind of like Cool Hand Luke,” Shanahan said. “He doesn’t get too upset about anything. He just handles himself, and goes about his business, and works extremely hard to prepare for a game. And he knows how to avoid distractions, because he focuses on his job, and doesn’t seem to let anything bother him. And that’s why he has the success that he has, because he is very disciplined, and very determined, and he works at it.”

Even with Griffin running the show, Washington still went into the bye week a frustrating 3-6 record. Thanks to a combination of injuries, ineffectiveness and a defense that struggled to stop anyone, Shanahan and friends already appeared to be throwing in the towel.

And then word came out that -- even though he's only a rookie -- Griffin had been voted a team captain. Forget the fact that in most NFL locker rooms, rookies are told to speak only when spoken to. Once again, RGIII isn't like most rookies.

He also takes something as simple as being a team captain seriously. Since then, he's thrown for 511 yards with eight touchdowns and one interception. Hell, he's got eight touchdowns compared to just nine incomplete passes over the last two games and now the 5-6 Redskins are inexplicably one game out of a playoff spot.

How is that even possible?

"Every week it's like you're watching your boys playing a game of Madden," said tight end Logan Paulsen. "Five touchdowns later, you're like, 'Well, it's Madden. It's not real life.' That's kind of how I feel when I watch him play.

"The bigger the stage, the bigger the opportunity, the bigger he steps up," Paulsen added. "I think that's just the kind of guy he is."

Realistically, Washington's chance of actually claiming a playoff spot this season are slim. But simply having Griffin involved at least gives the franchise a chance. And that's all local sports fans have ever wanted -- a chance to watch meaningful football.

[RVAbrendan]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8341/8212005673_3b1b945707.jpg

(photo by Brian Murphy)

Against New York, Philadelphia and Dallas, Griffin has completed 54 of 71 passes (76 percent) for 769 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions with a 138.4 quarterback rating. With inspired play like that from football's most important position, it's only a matter of time before the Redskins are no longer a doormat in the division.

Love these stats! Monday night is going to be a wild one...

[milliondollarslim]

AMEN!!!! ( I just hate when we are out of it with one third of the season left). At least there is a slim chance.

[SWFLSkins]

Great write up. It is amazing that finally around the NFL we have a guy who is not only respected but likable, even among opposing fans.

[The Trashman]

He would have had 8 TDs with zero INTs in the last 2 weeks had it not been for his OL to step on his foot causing the errant throw for an INT.

He would have had back to back perfect passing games.

Unbelievable.

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Getting repetitive, and I'm completely out of superlatives for Robert; but as I've been saying on here from the very first day he took to the field; RGIII is the single most exciting player and most naturally gifted athlete I've ever had the privilege of watching in 30 years following this team. And he's already elevated himself into the realms of expanding that to the entire league over the duration.

And to say that, after growing up through the glory years and some all time Redskins legends; a mere 11 games into his pro-career; is just about as high a tribute as I can bestow on the young genius.

Maybe now, even if they refuse to admit it publicly, people will finally fully grasp why I and others were so open about losing out last year to grab the highest draft spot available for the special, special, once in a generation talent that came out in the top two spots.

The **** it took in the 3- 13 thread alone makes it all the sweater that we've got one of those guys in our colors for all of us to enjoy the next decade and more.

Hail.

[Arsenic]

i know.. if we had just pulled off one of those close games.. so many what ifs..

who knows.. with Robert at the helm, maybe they can win out.. if anyone can do it, griffin can. i wouldnt bet against him, thats for sure.. 5 games is a lot, though..

one at a time.. one at a time.. tighten your laces, fellas.

[logosteel]

For once going into December there is a shot....A long one.

[wysknz1]

Great write up. It is amazing that finally around the NFL we have a guy who is not only respected but likable, even among opposing fans.

When you get the fans in the opposing stadium chanting your name....it's priceless.

[BornToHail]

great read! What better way to show your worth than bringing this team from the scraps to a post season contender!

[Darth Tater]

i know.. if we had just pulled off one of those close games.. so many what ifs..

who knows.. with Robert at the helm, maybe they can win out.. if anyone can do it, griffin can. i wouldnt bet against him, thats for sure.. 5 games is a lot, though..

one at a time.. one at a time.. tighten your laces, fellas.

Seems a bit like a reverse 2004. In 2004, just a slightly better offense probably puts us in the playoffs that year (of course, 8-8 would have been enough). This year, a small improvement in the defense would have had us in the HF conversation, not just as a wildcard or 4th seed candidate

[The Caretaker]

Great write up, however, I have to ask..

How exactly is it a slim chance that we make the playoffs? We are one game out of the wild-card spot, and with a win over the Giants, one game behind them for the division, and we have tiebreakers over all three of the other teams competing for the final wild-card spot (Seattle, Minnesota, Tampa-bay). And they all are playing heavy competition next week, and the Giants have games remaining against Atlanta, Baltimore, and New Orleans.

Not slim at all, and that is without throwing in the RG3 factor.

[Skinz4Life12]

Great write up, however, I have to ask..

How exactly is it a slim chance that we make the playoffs? We are one game out of the wild-card spot, and with a win over the Giants, one game behind them for the division, and we have tiebreakers over all three of the other teams competing for the final wild-card spot (Seattle, Minnesota, Tampa-bay). And they all are playing heavy competition next week, and the Giants have games remaining against Atlanta, Baltimore, and New Orleans.

Not slim at all, and that is without throwing in the RG3 factor.

its not really that slim. if we keep winning, we will make it in. the key is to continue winning.

[CaptChaos86]

Great read!!! Lets hope RG3 keeps it going!! Can't remember the last time we had a game this important!! We need everybody to step up so we can make a run at not only a wildcard but the division. Our destiny is in our hands.

[Ghost of]

Yeah the odds of us NOT getting in if we win the next four is very, very small. Even if we lost one, provided it's to an AFC team, our odds are still very nice. Not nearly as solid but still a chance, even for the NFC East.

[themurf]

Great write up, however, I have to ask..

How exactly is it a slim chance that we make the playoffs? We are one game out of the wild-card spot, and with a win over the Giants, one game behind them for the division, and we have tiebreakers over all three of the other teams competing for the final wild-card spot (Seattle, Minnesota, Tampa-bay). And they all are playing heavy competition next week, and the Giants have games remaining against Atlanta, Baltimore, and New Orleans.

Not slim at all, and that is without throwing in the RG3 factor.

When is the last time the Redskins put together a seven-game winning streak? When is the last time this franchise overcame any amount of adversity? While Peter King actually went as far as to predict the Redskins as the sixth seed in this year's playoffs, I'm doing my best to temper expectations because -- as the second half in Dallas showed -- the defense is still more than capable of falling apart at a moment's notice. I'll happily enjoy the ride wherever this team takes me, but that doesn't mean I'm expecting it to happen.

[texasthunder]

i know.. if we had just pulled off one of those close games.. so many what ifs..

who knows.. with Robert at the helm, maybe they can win out.. if anyone can do it, griffin can. i wouldnt bet against him, thats for sure.. 5 games is a lot, though..

one at a time.. one at a time.. tighten your laces, fellas.

All I keep thinking about is that last minute pass to Cruz in the Giants game.

If our DB knocks that pass down, then there is a much brighter perspective on the rest of the season.

[DogofWar1]

Great article. Griffin is easily the best rookie QB we've ever had, and quite possibly is the best rookie QB in the NFL's history. He's not going to beat Newton's rookie passing mark, but he doesn't have to.

Most rookie passing TDs in a season EVER was 22. If he gets 1.2 TDs a game he'll tie that. More importantly, Newton had 17 INTs. If RGIII somehow throws an INT a game from here on out, he'll finish the season with 9.

He's also got a shot to beat Cam's rushing mark for a QB. Total TDs is probably out of reach, Cam did had 35 total TDs rushing and passing, but his efficiency was nowhere near Griffin's.

If he manages, again that's the key, to keep playing well, Griffin might end up beating Big Ben's rookie passer rating mark of 98.1. Could also pass the comp. % record also by Big Ben of 66.44%. As it stands, he's 2 away from the best TD-INT differential of any rookie, set by Marino at 14.

Simply put, Griffin is insanely good at this game.

[CGSKINS]

How are our playoff chances slim? If we Win out we will get in at 10-6. Yea the Giants won, but its still a big game on monday night. If we beat the Gmen we are right in the thick of things.

[Bacon]

Jeez, Murf, don't jinx him now! He plays the biggest game of his career next week.

[RAAZ227]

RG3 thrives on the big stage. I expect big things Monday!

[gortiz]

the kid is so due for a big run ... I mean one of those 50-60 yard, Larry Michael screaming "Electrifying" runs ... I mean he's just due.

[Rpredskins]

It's true. And its shocking to see it. As a Skins and Caps fan I have only seen my teams crumble under pressure. When Alex Ovechkin gets back from Russia I hope he hangs out with RG3 for a while.

If Griffin keeps playing like this in divisional games it will be very hard to avoid the playoffs as long as he is the QB.

[ThisOneGoesTo11]

All I keep thinking about is that last minute pass to Cruz in the Giants game.

If our DB knocks that pass down, then there is a much brighter perspective on the rest of the season.

Hell if RGIII hadn't gone down against ATL I think we would have won that game, and Forbath would have at least had a chance to make that long kick against the Rams, especially if Morgan didn't have a tantrum at the end.

[FrFan]

Robert is a Jack of all trades, a do it all guy, I'm just wondering if there is anything he can't do. He's only 22 years old and already a locker room leader.

These RG3 chants in the pokes' house were priceless.