Photo of the Day: November 27, 2009
Car Pushed Into Anacostia River By Train
Morning Roundup: Black Friday Edition
Devendra Banhart @ 9:30 Club
Saturday Thanks Don't End At Thanksgiving Photo: November 28, 2009
Redskins fans who watched the Dallas-Pittsburgh game yesterday afternoon knew the Redskins had been given a gift. Suddenly faced with a great opportunity, the 'Skins could make a quick trip up I-95, get a win, and land themselves in prime position for a Wild Card playoff slot. With new meaning and fire in their eyes, Washington opened the game with their typical three and out—handing the ball to the Ravens, who marched downfield for a quick touchdown. So much for that.
The first three quarters ended up being a complete disaster, especially the first. After the first Ravens touchdown, the Redskins coughed up a “fumble,” which was a questionable call at best, and Ed Reed ran it in for a touchdown to put the Ravens up by 14. The game was out of reach from that point on. Sacks, interceptions, fumbles and endless penalties mounted, and the better team prevailed 24-10.
What’s truly disturbing about these Redskins is the fact that they appear to be getting worse. Aside from the myriad injuries (Clinton Portis ended up out, as did both starting tackles), mistakes and lack of discipline appear to be a very real problem for this team. Like last week’s game against the Giants, it was obvious that the Redskins were outcoached by the opposing team. Misdirection confused the defense over and over, and blitzes from different angles left the Redskins offense powerless and unable to move the ball.
Those who had deified Zorn earlier this season are now starting to curse him. In the fourth quarter, after a 3rd and goal play (a screen to Ladell Betts) that left the Redskins with a 4th and goal from the five, the cameras closed in on Zorn, attempting to see what strategy the crafty coach would employ. I may not be a professional lip reader, but I rewound the DVR three times, and you could read Zorn's lips. It appears that asked, “What down is it?” I sincerely hope I’m wrong.
AP Photo/Rob Carr
Not that it matters at this point. The Redskins' playoff hopes are shrinking and the players appear to be losing faith in each other. The truth is that this team may not be talented enough to compete with the better teams in the league — and most certainly not clever enough to compensate.
So the Redskins have lost 4 of 5 and are nearly out of contention, it is arctic cold outside but there has been no snow, we’re in a full recession, and the man that introduced most of the world to Turducken (John Madden) admitted he “doesn’t trust” crabcakes. This has to be the bottom.
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Guh. Worst game of my life.
agreed. i really hope zorn knew what down it was...please tell me he did.
I stopped reading this post after the 1st paragraph. Did you watch the game? "Typical three and out"?
On the third play JC was hit as he released the ball which was intercepted by a diving Ed Reed.
Nothing typical about that play.
Mustachio - you are correct-- I realized that after publishing. It was just the first of what would turn out to be a field day for Ed Reed.
I don't care for the NFL, but I caught the second half of this game.
What the fuck is Zorn doing running play action? He hadn't called hardly any running plays, yet he kept trying to get the defense to bite on play actions - didn't matter anyway because the Ravens blitz was doing its job.
The Ravens' call for the play action after running 10 consecutive running plays, which resulted in a TD, was brilliant. Washington looked absolutely flummoxed.
What a joke of a team. I'm glad I owe no allegiances to it.
This team has no idea how to take advantage of an opportunity. Even after Randle El scored the touchdown, you just knew the defense, which had been playing pretty well all night, would pick that time to fold embarassingly. The offensive line is horrific. Campbell never had any time. Jansen and Samuels get a lot of props for some reason, but anyone that watches the games knows that they suck. So it's no surprise that their backups suck even more. The worst part is the Skins will probably win against Cincinnati, forcing fans to keep hope alive one week longer, only to have that hope extinguished by a team that can come up with big plays and wins, just never at the right time.
I wonder if this embarrassing defeat will finally cause the Redskins, commentators for the Redskins, and Redskins fans to lose their patented overconfident attitude...probably not.
The Redskins clearly sucked, but there is no denying that the Ravens defense is wicked scary (and not just 'cause Ray Lews might murder you outside a nightclub either).
Ravens! Woo!
Getting home late, the VERY first play I saw was Ed Reed running back a fumble. When he crossed the goal line, I turned the channel off.
Total time investment: 15 seconds.
Ok I did wait around to see if it would be reversed, but that freed me to catch the start of a great new series on HBO, "The House of Saddam."
Sorry Skins, you need an Offense already.