Redskins Newsletter

Volume 12 #5

October 16, 2007

A summary of the game goes like this: a blown half-time lead again, fumbles and seven dropped passes.

The Redskins began the third quarter with a 14-7 lead. The Packers then kicked a 37-yard field goal, cutting the Redskins' lead to 14-10. Then came Santana Moss’ fumble. Late in the third quarter Packer lineman Corey Williams stripped Santana Moss on a reverse play. Cornerback Charles Woodson picked up the football and ran for the touchdown. This defensive touchdown brought the score to 17-14, which was enough for the game winning score. Coach Gibbs reported that the last time the Redskins called for a reverse for Moss, it resulted in a 30 yard gain. This time it was an expensive fumble. Between the fumble and a leg cramp, Moss took himself out of the game. ''I took myself out,'' Moss said. ''Something wasn't feeling right with me, and why go out there and keep another guy from helping us win? There was (stuff) going on and I wasn't making the plays that I should have been making.'' Of Santana’s play Coach Gibbs commented: ''You've got to look at that and say, 'That's something that just happened to us today.’ Certainly, we've got great confidence in him and he means a lot to us.''

Favre threw two interceptions, both caught by safety Sean Taylor. With these two interceptions Favre became the NFL’s career interception leader. Favre's record-setting interceptions came two weeks after Favre surpassed Dan Marino's career record for touchdown passes and a month after Favre broke John Elway's record for most career victories for a starting quarterback. Packers coach Mike McCarthy said the Redskins were the best team the Packers have played so far.

Coach Gibbs said his team's fumbles and dropped passes weren't acceptable, even in wet conditions. ''Certainly that's no excuse for us. We're out in it, and we've got to make the catches.'' Sean Taylor’s second interception gave the Redskins opportunities with 4:14 left. The Packers forced a punt and held on for the victory. ''All the things that happened today, we've got to take it and learn from it,'' Campbell said. ''We can't do (any) finger-pointing, we're all in this together. I could've done some things better, everybody else could've done some things better.''

In the last year, Washington has led opponents nine times at the half, yet has lost six of those games. "I guess we ain't learning our lesson," Clinton Portis commented. "When we get a chance to put teams away, we have to finish them."

Injury notes: The offensive line, already weak on the right side with Jon Jansen out for the season and Randy Thomas recovering from a torn triceps, lost center Casey Rabach, to a groin injury. Replacement right tackles Todd Wade (groin) and Stephen Heyer (hamstring) also left the game.

"One of the things I'm most concerned about right now is our injury situation," said Coach Gibbs. "We were scrambling around there trying to get guys who could fill in for us. We had a chance to make plays today and a lot happened."

Trivia: last week’s question was: In what year was the Redskins band and its new fight song introduced? Who wrote “Hail to the Redskins”?

Answer: 1938, the Redskins marched into their 2nd season in Washington with a band and a new fight song, which was penned by Owner George Preston Marshal's wife, Corrine Griffith, a former silent movie actress. However, the Redskins quest for a 2nd straight Championship ended with a disappointing 36-0 loss to the Giants in New York in the final game of the season, as the Skins settled for 2nd Place with a 6-3-2 record.

This week’s trivia question: On December 8, 1940 the Washington Redskins played the Chicago Bears for the championship of the National Professional Football League. Who won and what was memorable about the game?

A Message From Bobbe

Sixty "not-so-smiling" fans left the Dog House after watching the Skins self destruct for the second time this season. Packers win -- Redskins lose. Things will have to be different next week as we face the Cardinals at 1 p.m. It's a home game so look for that Club Shirt to be the hot item in our weekly raffle. Today's special Redskin/Dog House T-shirt was won by Nancy, and Duane cleaned up by winning 3 of the 4 quarters in the Trivia Game. The other quarter was won by John B. Congrats Still more "new faces" joining us for each game and we welcome all of you. We hope everyone will make use of the new EASY way to get our newsletter and will click on all the great spots on our website (redskinsfanclub.com). You can get any issue of the newsletter, participate in some opinion polls, look at pictures, learn all the words to our Fight Song, and even leave some comments on the contact page by clicking "sign” our guestbook". Please use our site so other clubs will see what we're all about. Thanks again to Eddie Kim , our Webmaster. We have been announcing our Christmas Party to be held on Dec. 2nd. We need items for the Special Holiday Raffle that is held that day and for everyone to get their tickets for the autographed mini-helmets that will be given away at this Dec. 2nd game. A detailed description of our gift exchange and these Holiday Raffles follows. A special menu for dinner is being planned. Circle your calendar See you Sunday --- HAIL TO THE REDSKINS

Editor’s Note: During halftime Sunday, I briefly mentioned the Club Christmas Party. This is an annual event that will be held early this year on December 2nd due to the late night games on the two following weeks. Unlike the Tailgate Party, this one will feature a full Christmas dinner with appetizer, salad, entrée, and dessert. Drinks, including beer and wine, will also be included in the price: FREE. In addition to the dinner, we will also conduct a voluntary gift exchange. You do not have to participate in the gift exchange if you do not want to, but you will miss out on a lot of fun. Here is how the gift exchange works. Purchase a gift with a value of approximately $15. It does not have to be Redskins related. In the past, popular items have been various types of adult beverages, all sorts of Holiday fare, fancy cheeses, nuts, candies, etc. Wrap it, bring it to the party and place it on the designated gift table. You will be given a ticket similar to our raffle tickets. Everyone with me so far. At half time, tickets will be drawn and the person with that number will go to the gift table and make a selection. This is half the fun because there will be all sorts of shapes and sizes, some wrapped fancy, some plain. The trick is to try to discern what the best present would be for you but you only have a few seconds to make a choice because the next ticket will be drawn quickly. Finally, there will be the special Christmas raffle. Bobbe will announce the different prizes that will be in the special Christmas raffle each week. If you have in idea for something special that you would like to donate, please see Bobbe during any game or call her at 708-6555.

Bob Daly, Editor

GO SKINS!!!!!!!!!