Redskins Newsletter

Volume 12 #9

November 13, 2007

Redskins lose to Eagles 33-25

Once again, a game the Redskins seemed to have won slipped away, just as games had earlier this year against the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers. The Redskins could not maintain a nine point fourth quarter lead, and once again a game the Redskins should have won slipped away. This time it was a 33-25 loss to the Eagles. The Redskins’ fate was sealed by a series of blunders, fumbles, and penalties.

I cannot decide if the main story of the game is the eleven penalties: the penalties were on both the offense and defense, and for the 13th time since 2004 they lost a game in which they led at the half, most in the NFL; or the time/clock management which continues to plague the Redskins, Coach Gibbs had no time-outs left in the final critical minutes of the game; or once again losing in the second half. Sunday the Redskins allowed 20 fourth quarter points. Gregg Williams had plenty to say about the recent rash of third-down penalties: "Don't put [the referee] in position to have to make good call or a bad call. That's our fault." What made Sunday’s loss sting even more was the fact that the Redskins led until 3 minutes 16 seconds were left in the game. On losing so many games in the second half Gibbs said: "I don't think anyone has the answer to that. Redskins defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin on this topic said: "We've got to finish games. We're not playing well in the second half. We've got to get it corrected if we want to win." Cornerback Fred Smoot added: "We've got to learn how to put the dog away, point blank. I felt like we were the better team, but they played better, and guess what happened? They won the game off our mistakes."

The offense again failed score touchdowns, settling for field goals from the 3 and 5; fumbling at the 29. "We knew there was a lot at stake and we made great preparation for it," Gibbs said. "All of us together made too many mistakes and we didn't capitalize on things."

Reportedly McNabb suffered a sore shoulder throughout the second half. Still, he completed 20 of 28 passes for 251 yards and four touchdowns. Westbrook caught two touchdown passes and rushed for a touchdown, finishing with 20 carries for 100 yards and five receptions for 83 yards. One the game’s big plays was Westbrook's touchdown with 3:16 remaining which gave the Eagles the lead. With the Eagles trailing by five, McNabb threw a screen pass to Westbrook over the middle. that allowed Westbrook to scamper for a 57 yard touchdown. Westbrook's touchdown followed a conservative play by the Redskins. With the Redskins facing a third-and-goal at the 7 and leading 22-20, Coach Gibbs decided to go for the field goal starting with a running play to Portis rather than try for the touchdown that likely would have sealed the win. Portis was stopped well short, and Redskins kicker Suisham field goal brought the Redskin's lead to five.

Westbrook added one more score with 2:18 to play, a 10-yard run the Redskins admitted they purposely allowed so they could get the ball back with a chance to tie. To that Westbrook responded: "That's exactly what they did. They allowed us to score. I wish I would have known that. I would have stopped at the 1. As an offensive player, any time you have an opportunity to get into the end zone, you get into the end zone."

Jason Campbell completed 23 of 34 passes for 215 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. Clinton Portis combined yards for rushing and receiving was 157 yards. James Thrash, who had only three catches all season and was starting because of an injury to Santana Moss (heel), had five receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns. Thrash had a high ankle sprain in the fourth quarter and was on crutches after the game. The Eagles posted 158 yards and four more touchdowns after Sean Taylor sprained his knee late in the third quarter.

At 5-4, the Redskins need to win at five of their last seven games to have a chance at making the playoffs. The reality is that five of those games are against teams with winning records, including two with Dallas. Next for the Redskins are road games against Dallas and Tampa.

Trivia: Last week’s question: What year was DC Stadium renamed RFK Stadium? Answer: 1969: Prior to the start of the season DC Stadium is renamed RFK Stadium in honor of the slain Senator. The Redskins also lose a family member when Owner George Preston Marshall dies at the age of 72. With Vince Lombardi now coaching the Redskins finally post a winning record at 7-5-2, ending a long frustrating 14-year drought. Quarterback Sonny Jurgensen who passed for 3,102 yards said He learned more from him in 5 days than I had in 12 years.

This week’s question is: What was the first year of the George Allen reign?

beganjrfl@comcast.net