The Germans have a lot of long words that encompass very difficult concepts. Words like “schadenfreude,” “Hubschrauberlandeplatz,” and “Verantwortungszuständigkeiten.” I don’t know if they have word for the frustration you feel when you’ve thought that your team had already managed to overcome the mistake you thought was going to cost them the game — like a fourth-quarter Ladell Betts fumble — only to discover that the relief-shattering error that was going to lead to a…

One of the things we love about the NFL is how consistently entertaining the games can be while at the same time not making a whole lot of sense. After fifteen weeks, here’s the stuff that seems understandable: San Diego and Baltimore are probably the two best teams in the league, Houston really should have drafted either Vince Young or Reggie Bush, the Cardinals should really think about ending their 25-year experiment of not having…

Okay. Wow. Uhm…it all boils down to this: It’s the fourth quarter. There are just over six minutes left to play. Washington trails 21-16. It’s been a rough day. The Redskins got in a hole early, giving up two touchdowns on, or soon after interceptions. At one point, it was 21-3. It looked like the rout was on. But, Ladell Betts kept on running. Jason Campbell, who you’d probably have forgiven if he’d simply fallen…

Despite the fact that only the most optimistic of fans bought the line this week that the Washington Redskins were still nursing the slightest of playoff chances, it was still disappointing to watch the Redskins blow a fourteen-point lead and wither away under the resurgent Falcons, 24-14. Ladell Betts and Santana Moss had the terrific games they needed to have, the defense made some inspiring plays, and no one was bagging on Scott Suisham for…

The Washington Redskins gave the Carolina Panthers all they could handle and earned Jason Campbell a win in his home debut yesterday. At the very least, the win will be remembered as one of the lone bright spots in an otherwise frustrating season. Washington gave a complete effort in beating a quality opponent; their offense, defense, and special teams contributed in significant ways. At most, the win gives supporters a renewed sense of optimism, allowing…

> > Pour one out for Coach Janky Spanky. Clinton Portis will receive surgeries for his bum shoulder and broken hand, which means he’s headed to the IR for the rest of the season. It’ll be up to Ladell Betts to carry the rock, though, who knows? Maybe the coaches will remember their costly impulse-buy TJ Duckett, mouldering on the bench. [Washington Post] > > The U.S. House of Representatives is filled stem to stern…

The Washington Redskins treated their fans to a fantastic Christmas Eve by continuing their remarkable reversal of fortune with a well-fought win over the NFC East leading New York Giants, 35-20. The game’s completion ended what had been a remarkable week for Washington that began with a beatdown of the hated Cowboys and continued as every team that needed to lose to put the Redskins into playoff position did so en masse. It was…

Going into the weekend, Redskins fans had a lengthy wishlist. A New England win over Tampa Bay, a Pittsburgh victory in Minneapolis, and Atlanta loss in frozen Chicago (which was aided and abetted by Rex Grossman, which means we can no longer say that Steve Spurrier never did anything for us), and, of course, a December victory over arch-rival Dallas Sunday evening at the Jack. So, umm…check, check, check, and, CHECK. The end result…

For a football team climbing toward a playoff berth from the mushy middle of the conference standings, the way that ball bounces can make you or break you. Last week, after the win over Philadelphia, the fortunate bounces emerged as a talking point among the Redskins’ players—all of whom seemed keenly aware how important it was that they got to those loose balls whenever the need presented itself. Against Tampa Bay, however, the Skins…

The Washington Redskins, in a hopeful sign of things to come, rang in the calendar year 2005 by playing their best, and perhaps most complete game of the season, running the Minnesota Vikings out of the stadium and nearly out of the playoffs. Riding a monstrous performance by the defense, who once again began the game missing key defensive starters and featuring players you’ve never even heard of, like Garnell Wilds, the Skins played…