Official Game Thread - Week 12 - Commanders vs. Dallas @NW - GIDDY UP!

[Boone]

Yeah - I agree with every word of that.

 

[RandyHolt]

I want to see a full assault vs Copper Bush. No more of this soft sit back and hope for a mistake defenses of DC past. I want to see a helmet in his sternum in the first series.

Fire blitz every down corners in press and don't stop until they can beat it. SHOW. NO. RESPECT.

 

[Petey hodge]

I think people are under selling the fact we lost 2 games to possible SB contenders with 2 of the best defenses in the league. And we played Philly off of a physical Pittsburgh game and had to travel while they got a mini-bye of beating up on Dallas.

Truth is... watching our Eagles game is likely what a playoff game will look like for us (and not some of the other cupcake, 40 pt wins we've had this year). The opposing Defense will not get 'startled' by JD5 and gang... and their offense will pick apart the many vulnerabilities that we all know exist in our defense.

 

[RedWolf]

Voice_of_Reason well said, i agree

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Truth is... watching our Eagles game is likely what a playoff game will look like for us (and not some of the other cupcake, 40 pt wins we've had this year). The opposing Defense will not get 'startled' by JD5 and gang... and their offense will pick apart the many vulnerabilities that we all know exist in our defense.

You might be right. And actually, if the playoffs started today, I think we would play the Eagles in the playoffs in the wild card round in Philly.

I don’t actually care that much if they lose to a superior team in the playoffs. This is year 1 of a rebuild. After 25 years of roster mismanagement, it’s going to taken more than one off season to guide a contender.

If they get to 11 wins and into the playoffs and lose to Philly in Philly, so be it.

If they play Atlanta, they’ll have a shot.

If they play the NFC West winner, who knows? They’ve already destroyed Arizona, who’s currently leading the division. The 49ers, Rams and Seahawks are all 5-5. A healthy SF team would be a handful. The others? Eh? If we play like we were a few weeks ago, we’re in the same tier.

But honestly I don’t care. Keep the mojo going, win the games you’re supposed to win, make the playoffs with a winning record, go have some fun.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I want to see a full assault vs Copper Bush. No more of this soft sit back and hope for a mistake defenses of DC past. I want to see a helmet in his sternum in the first series.

Fire blitz every down corners in press and don't stop until they can beat it. SHOW. NO. RESPECT.

The big question there will be if Lattimore plays. If he does, I think you’ll see them be very aggressive.

If he doesn’t, I don’t think you will, because they know the Dallas run game will not beat them. But CD Lamb can. And Cooper Rush is fine. He’s not great but he’s not terrible.

They still have a huge liability at CB, and I imagine they won’t want to get beat by the big play.

That said, depending on injuries, the Cowboys might be signing guys from local HSs to play on the OLine, so we might not need a ton of blitzes to get pressure. They were totally overwhelmed Monday Night up front by just 4 rushers.

 

[Om]

 

[Chris]

I have to admit that Dallas Week just doesn’t hold the allure for me that it used to. It’s been so long since the two franchises played a consequential game for both teams.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I have to admit that Dallas Week just doesn’t hold the allure for me that it used to. It’s been so long since the two franchises played a consequential game for both teams.

2012 final game was epic.

Also the 2016 Thanksgiving game down there where Kirk was blinded by the sun was a great game too with lots of meaning.

Thats about it since Gibbs retired (again).

 

[Chris]

I was spoiled by the absolute intensity of the rivalry in my formative fan years, where the organizations and players held real enmity for each other. Like Harvey Martin throwing a funeral wreath into the Skins locker room after a win that knocked Washington out of the playoffs in the season’s final game.

The city and surrounding suburbs were on fire with passion for every match up for so long. It’s just not the same anymore due to the lack of important, meaningful games. It’s not really like that anymore. I think the will is there but it’s going to take both teams being in a position of consequence.

Washington fans hate Dallas more from a point of nostalgia than anything else. I doubt Dallas and it’s fans feel the same. That needs to change and there is only one way it will.

 

[ixcuincle]

10 pt favorite and Dallas is uncompetitive without dak

put belt to ass

 

[Chris]

KK got a bit testy on the final question of his presser. Asked about his history of offensive regression in previous seasons. (Not sure if it was Sam, Whyno, or someone else.)

He said I have no idea what you are referring to, I’d have to see what years you’re talking about. I was thinking about doing triple-option, is that what you’re gettin at? I don’t know. We’re gonna do what we do, so…

Then an unusually quick exit from the dais.

 

[gortiz]

But I think the offense is going to look much better.

this is where i have lost faith ... its been four games now, yes i know arguably 3 of the 4 were against good to great Ds, but the Giants game was pretty bad. 4 games is a trend, not a speedbump.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

I was spoiled by the absolute intensity of the rivalry in my formative fan years, where the organizations and players held real enmity for each other. Like Harvey Martin throwing a funeral wreath into the Skins locker room after a win that knocked Washington out of the playoffs in the season’s final game.

The city and surrounding suburbs were on fire with passion for every match up for so long. It’s just not the same anymore due to the lack of important, meaningful games. It’s not really like that anymore. I think the will is there but it’s going to take both teams being in a position of consequence.

Washington fans hate Dallas more from a point of nostalgia than anything else. I doubt Dallas and it’s fans feel the same. That needs to change and there is only one way it will.

I have a friend that is a cowboys fan. He would agree with everything you said. It is the competitiveness that has not been there that has killed the rivalry. He is like most dallas fans and think’s the world (not just the NFL) revolves around them. So this franchise not being a threat to their world for hardly any time in the last 30 years means the rivalry doesn’t exist. Even this year, dallas sucks so bad their fans won’t even care if they lose again. So what will build it up is winning and playing for meaningful stakes.

 

[TD_WashingtonRedskins]

this is where i have lost faith ... its been four games now, yes i know arguably 3 of the 4 were against good to great Ds, but the Giants game was pretty bad. 4 games is a trend, not a speedbump.

That's true...but Dallas is very, very bad. I wouldn't be surprised to see the struggles pop back up against Tennessee, New Orleans, and Philly again. But, the Dallas games and Atlanta games should look good.

 

[TD_WashingtonRedskins]

KK got a bit testy on the final question of his presser. Asked about his history of offensive regression in previous seasons. (Not sure if it was Sam, Whyno, or someone else.)

He said I have no idea what you are referring to, I’d have to see what years you’re talking about. I was thinking about doing triple-option, is that what you’re gettin at? I don’t know. We’re gonna do what we do, so…

Then an unusually quick exit from the dais.

Kevin Sheehan broke this down a little bit earlier in the week. Apparently KK's regression isn't typically his offense, but usually his overall team (when he's been the head coach). That would be something to be optimistic about.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

this is where i have lost faith ... its been four games now, yes i know arguably 3 of the 4 were against good to great Ds, but the Giants game was pretty bad. 4 games is a trend, not a speedbump.

They weren’t bad in the Giants game.

and they did score 27 points against the Steelers, which ties the season high against them.

They have been really banged up on the OL for a month, and Jayden had been hurt.

I think they’ll start getting better on offense. OL will start getting healthier, Jayden healthier, and not playing SB contenders will help.

Also, we need less drops and stupid mistakes. My hope is a bit of rest and relaxation will help them tremendously.

If you listen to the Al Galdi podcast, Mark Bullock did a pretty extensive film review and a pretty full throated defense of Kliff’s offense not hitting a wall.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

That's true...but Dallas is very, very bad. I wouldn't be surprised to see the struggles pop back up against Tennessee, New Orleans, and Philly again. But, the Dallas games and Atlanta games should look good.

Everybody is going to struggle against Philly.

I think they’ll figure out Tennessee’s defense.

New Orleans is after the bye. That could be an explosion with a well rested team.

Or. They could have hit a wall and it will all collapse. I will leave open that possibility but I don’t think it’s going to happen. But you never know.

 

[TD_WashingtonRedskins]

Everybody is going to struggle against Philly.

I think they’ll figure out Tennessee’s defense.

New Orleans is after the bye. That could be an explosion with a well rested team.

Or. They could have hit a wall and it will all collapse. I will leave open that possibility but I don’t think it’s going to happen. But you never know.

I think it's somewhere in the middle of what you're saying. Your post seems to imply that Washington will always dictate everything. Either they are broken or they will dominate (Philly as the exception). I believe that against the good-to-very-good defenses, Washington will be held in check. Not dominated or stopped, but contained. To me, there are 3 of those still remaining on the schedule. But, even banged up or tired or floundering, I don't think bad defenses stand a chance against KK, JD, and the boys...so both Dallas games and Kirk's return should be high-scoring (at worst) or blowouts (at best).

In short, I don't think this team is QUITE good enough to beat anyone when playing at the top of its game yet. They are missing some talent to be in that class.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I think it's somewhere in the middle of what you're saying. Your post seems to imply that Washington will always dictate everything. Either they are broken or they will dominate (Philly as the exception). I believe that against the good-to-very-good defenses, Washington will be held in check. Not dominated or stopped, but contained. To me, there are 3 of those still remaining on the schedule. But, even banged up or tired or floundering, I don't think bad defenses stand a chance against KK, JD, and the boys...so both Dallas games and Kirk's return should be high-scoring (at worst) or blowouts (at best).

In short, I don't think this team is QUITE good enough to beat anyone when playing at the top of its game yet. They are missing some talent to be in that class.

I don’t think that was my general point, but I think they were a top 10 offense for a good bit of the season. Then they got injured and tired and ran into really good defenses at the wrong time.

I think they’ll revert back to a top 10 offense if healthy and rested.

Not the 1999 greatest show on turf Rams, but pretty good and efficient.