I had to work yesterday. Had the game on in an empty patient room but obviously couldn't stand there watching it for extended periods. Couple general thoughts based on the loss and what I've read about it:
1) There IS no home field advantage for us. Short of some kind of resurgence of the franchise where we are competing for multiple SBs (ala the Gibbs era) - there never will be. It has nothing to do with anything other than the fact that Washington DC is not really a typical city. There is an incredible diversity of and influx and exit of population in that area that tends to mean there are always going to be big groups of opposing fans attending games. Sure - huge success of the team would bolster Skins fan attendance at the games. A new and better stadium might also help. But I just tend to think it's the nature of the area that we will always struggle to have a real home field advantage.
2) That being said - the bigger issue is that the Redskins just don't play particularly well at home. Crowd noise is always helpful, but lets face it...most teams prefer to play at home, play better at home, and that's the nature of the 'advantage'. We just don't seem to enjoy that kind of improved performance at home. I can't explain it but I think most if not all would agree - we're no more likely to win at home than we are on the road.
3) Om said it to me on the phone before this game. This loss was such a typical Skins performance. Big, inspired, unexpected win on the road, followed by a lackluster loss at home in a must win situation. I don't know why our guys can't get up for big games at Fed Ex - but they struggle with it. This loss felt a lot like the Green Bay home playoff loss 2 years ago. Evenly matched teams. Back and forth game early, with the B&G making the crucial mistakes down the stretch and letting the game get out of hand in the end.
4) More than any other team I watch, the Redskins seem incapable of having all 3 units show up for the same game. When we win, it's because the defense OR the offense OR ST played a great game. But never do all 3 units excel. Even last week in the Seattle win, our offense was putrid throughout most of the game and it took some late game miracles to come out on top. If our offense and defense both showed up on game days, we'd certainly be better than .500 right now. I have no idea what to attribute that to. Maybe it's this way with all teams, but it seems the Redskins struggle having all 3 units perform well in the same game much more so than other teams do?
I always watch the game - but I think I'm going to pass in re-watching this one. I don't need the pain
The Redskins 2017 season was likely lost yesterday. Excluding the division leaders, there are currently 6 teams with 5 or more wins competing for wildcard spots (including 2 teams with 6 wins). The Redskins have NO division wins and only 3 conference wins. That sucks. With 7 games to go, even if we won 6 of them, we'd likely have to see major implosions from other conference rivals to have a chance at a wildcard. It might take a sweep of the remaining games to secure a playoff spot.
We're not a bad team. But unless you define .500 as achievement, we have yet to demonstrate that we're a good one. Yes - as Kirk Cousins correctly stated in his post-game comments, the NFL is extremely competitive. It's an 'Any Given Sunday' league. We all know that. But good teams don't put themselves in a position every damn year where they have to win out just to
make the playoffs. When we are consistently in the mix and an even bet to make the playoffs every year, then I'll be happy to characterize us as a good team.
Yesterday was our opportunity to show that we will be relevant in 2017. The challenge was to beat an evenly matched team with a good QB and good overall talent on our home field. We couldn't do it. Again. And we're going nowhere this season. Again.
As you all know, I really like Jay Gruden. But these are the games that take the measure of your overall ability. And Gruden is failing these tests over and over again.
Somebody must have voodoo dolls and lots of needles. Art Jones is already doubtful with a separated shoulder.
