Blognosticator - China
Fortunately I had family commitments on Christmas Eve and wasn’t able to watch the Redskins game against the Vikings. I say fortunately because once again the Redskins managed to lose against a team they should have beaten. This has been one of the patterns we’ve seen with the Redskins over the last 20 years, playing to the level of their opponent; playing good teams tough and bad teams poorly. This has resulted in an inordinate number of close games, most of which the Redskins manage to lose. The reasons are myriad, ranging from dysfunctional team management to poor coaching to inferior talent to simple bad luck or some combination thereof. Another season has come and gone, and like far too many before it, was eminently forgettable as the Redskins didn’t even come close to sniffing the playoffs.
The point of a Blognostication, however, is to provide some type of prediction on the upcoming game, so I won’t dwell too much on the past except as it relates to the game in question. That being said let us move on to the Eagles. The Eagles, oh how we hate thee. Let us count the ways…no, there is too much, let me sum up: the Eagles are cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sacks of monkey shit whose mothers are hamsters and whose fathers smelt of elderberries. We fart in your general direction. You don't frighten us, Philly pig-dogs!
Hmmm…I think I may have mixed up some of my movie references. Oh well, the sentiment still stands.
When the Redskins have the ball:
They need to run the ball. The Redskins have rushed for 100 yards or more in each of the last 5 games, compared to only twice in the previous 10. Methinks Mike Shanahan is finally getting the message through to his son to 'run the ball damn it.’ I don’t think we can underestimate the contributions of Rex’s frequent and often inexplicable interceptions on reinforcing the message. As we all know if they can run the ball they can keep the opposing offense off the field as well as be able to use the run game to be able to set up the play-action pass. Let’s face it, this year’s QB and receiving corps don’t scare anybody, especially a team with Asomugha, Samuel and Rodgers-Cromartie back there, so keeping the LBs and safeties a step off would help. Their CBs have been nicked up recently, so that should help as well. Now if we could only get Rex to throw an INT free game for once… Rex has thrown 19 interceptions to only 15 interceptions in 12 games this year and hasn’t had an INT-free game since the season opener. It’d be a nice way to bookend the season.
When the Eagles have the ball:
The Redskins need to stop the two-headed monster of Vick and McCoy. The Redskins have seemingly always had difficulty with running QBs and Vick has been no exception. They need to contain Vick and not let him pick up cheap first downs with his feet that extend drives. McCoy is the real deal, but stacking the box could leave the field open for Vick whose ability to give himself extra time in the pocket won’t help matters. We’ll need a good game plan from Haslett as well as a couple of big plays from some playmakers on defense (I’m looking at you Hall, Kerrigan, Orakpo) to keep their offense under wraps.
Prediction:
If the Redskins can get up on top early the Eagles will give up, as they have been eliminated from playoff contention and will want to get their disappointing season over with. I look for the Eagles to mail it in but, with the talent disparity and the way the Redskins always play, I expect it to be close. Once again the Redskins will fail to break 30 points, making it a rare 0-for-the-season in that category. Nevertheless I’m predicting a Redskins victory to close out the season and start off a Happy New Year!
Redskins - 27
Eagles - 23
Fortunately I had family commitments on Christmas Eve and wasn’t able to watch the Redskins game against the Vikings. I say fortunately because once again the Redskins managed to lose against a team they should have beaten. This has been one of the patterns we’ve seen with the Redskins over the last 20 years, playing to the level of their opponent; playing good teams tough and bad teams poorly. This has resulted in an inordinate number of close games, most of which the Redskins manage to lose. The reasons are myriad, ranging from dysfunctional team management to poor coaching to inferior talent to simple bad luck or some combination thereof. Another season has come and gone, and like far too many before it, was eminently forgettable as the Redskins didn’t even come close to sniffing the playoffs.
The point of a Blognostication, however, is to provide some type of prediction on the upcoming game, so I won’t dwell too much on the past except as it relates to the game in question. That being said let us move on to the Eagles. The Eagles, oh how we hate thee. Let us count the ways…no, there is too much, let me sum up: the Eagles are cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sacks of monkey shit whose mothers are hamsters and whose fathers smelt of elderberries. We fart in your general direction. You don't frighten us, Philly pig-dogs!
Hmmm…I think I may have mixed up some of my movie references. Oh well, the sentiment still stands.
When the Redskins have the ball:
They need to run the ball. The Redskins have rushed for 100 yards or more in each of the last 5 games, compared to only twice in the previous 10. Methinks Mike Shanahan is finally getting the message through to his son to 'run the ball damn it.’ I don’t think we can underestimate the contributions of Rex’s frequent and often inexplicable interceptions on reinforcing the message. As we all know if they can run the ball they can keep the opposing offense off the field as well as be able to use the run game to be able to set up the play-action pass. Let’s face it, this year’s QB and receiving corps don’t scare anybody, especially a team with Asomugha, Samuel and Rodgers-Cromartie back there, so keeping the LBs and safeties a step off would help. Their CBs have been nicked up recently, so that should help as well. Now if we could only get Rex to throw an INT free game for once… Rex has thrown 19 interceptions to only 15 interceptions in 12 games this year and hasn’t had an INT-free game since the season opener. It’d be a nice way to bookend the season.
When the Eagles have the ball:
The Redskins need to stop the two-headed monster of Vick and McCoy. The Redskins have seemingly always had difficulty with running QBs and Vick has been no exception. They need to contain Vick and not let him pick up cheap first downs with his feet that extend drives. McCoy is the real deal, but stacking the box could leave the field open for Vick whose ability to give himself extra time in the pocket won’t help matters. We’ll need a good game plan from Haslett as well as a couple of big plays from some playmakers on defense (I’m looking at you Hall, Kerrigan, Orakpo) to keep their offense under wraps.
Prediction:
If the Redskins can get up on top early the Eagles will give up, as they have been eliminated from playoff contention and will want to get their disappointing season over with. I look for the Eagles to mail it in but, with the talent disparity and the way the Redskins always play, I expect it to be close. Once again the Redskins will fail to break 30 points, making it a rare 0-for-the-season in that category. Nevertheless I’m predicting a Redskins victory to close out the season and start off a Happy New Year!
Redskins - 27
Eagles - 23