Before the first of two major end-of-season division games, the Redskins made their first major managerial decision during the week last week, firing GM Vinny Cerrato in favor of Bruce Allen.
On Monday night, the Redskins sure didn’t look like they were playing for their jobs, as the New York Giants stormed into FedEx Field and whooped on the ‘Skins, 45-12, in a game that might have been more of a blowout than the final score indicates.
While the Giants drove their first two possessions straight down the field into the end zone, the Redskins couldn’t even muster a first down until their fourth drive of the game.
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Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 12:23 am by bryan
The Washington Redskins have looked like world-beaters for the first three quarters in the past three weeks, as they’ve been leading the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints going into the final 15 minutes of each game.
But just like the last two weeks, the ‘Skins couldn’t close the deal when it counted, and the Saints escaped FedEx Field with a highly improbable win yesterday, with a 33-30 triumph in overtime.
QB Jason Campbell led the ‘Skins offense effectively all day, as they piled up 455 total yards of offense on the beleaguered Saints defense. Campbell had one of his best days as a Redskin, going 30-of-42 for 367 yards and three touchdowns (along with one late interception).
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Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 12:03 am by bryan
The Washington Redskins placed TE Chris Cooley on season-ending injured reserve on Tuesday, after a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles dropped them to 3-8 on the season.
“I talked to Jim last week, and he said, ‘Listen, if we win [at Philadelphia] and there’s any thought of a playoff push, if we win a couple of games, we’ll keep you on that thought,’ ” Cooley said. “So then I went in yesterday, he said, ‘You know, we said that if he we won, we’d keep pushing it, but if we lose, IR.’ And that’s probably best for me.”
Cooley broke his ankle in the first game against the Eagles this season, but had been discussed as a possibility to return by the last few games of the season. In his place, TE Fred Davis has filled in admirably, becoming one of QB Jason Campbell’s favorite targets.
Cooley learned last week that he’d still be forced to wear a walking boot for another week, likely shutting down all hopes that he could return to the team this year.
Regarding this year and the Redskins’ uncertain future, Cooley had some interesting insights:
“I don’t know. It feels almost like a transition year,” Cooley said. “Obviously there’s going to be change at the end of the year, but as far as guessing what that change will be, I have no idea.”
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 10:38 pm by bryan
For the second straight week, the Redskins had managed to open up a lead on a superior NFC East rival into the fourth quarter, and appeared on their way to registering a major road upset.
Then, just like last week’s last-minute loss against Dallas, the ‘Skins fell apart late in this one and allowed the Eagles to storm back and steal a win, 27-24, to keep pace with the Cowboys in the NFC East.
The Redskins got an early boost from Eagles coach Andy Reid, who made the dunceheaded decision to open the game with an onside kick. Shockingly, his move backfired, giving the Redskins a painfully short field and allowing them to score a touchdown within two minutes, stunning the home crowd in the process.
The Eagles battled back, taking a 10-7 lead after blown coverage by the Redskins left WR DeSean Jackson wide open in the end zone, but Jason Campbell and the ‘Skins weren’t done yet. The Eagles managed to move the ball between the 20s consistently all day, with ‘Skins DT Albert Haynesworth sidelined, but their much-documented red zone woes continued, as they kicked three short field goals to keep the Redskins in the game.
After a third quarter interception of McNabb by the ‘Skins brought them down to the Eagles 10-yard line, and with a 21-16 lead, it looked like the Redskins might be cruising to a huge divisional victory.
Yet the Eagles battled back in the fourth quarter, with McNabb rallying the offense for a huge fourth quarter drive that ended with RB Eldra Buckley’s first TD (and a 2-point conversion from LeSean McCoy to tie the game). The Eagles defense made a stand, and the Eagles offense moved the team into field goal position to give them the lead for good.
For the Redskins… yet another disappointing loss in a season filled with losses like this.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 11:03 pm by bryan
