(AP Photo/Mel Evans)
Two wins on the road against division rivals is enough to give any team a certain swag. The team that was everyone’s pick for cellar dweller in the NFC Beast this season is finally getting the respect it deserves. And why shouldn’t they, they make for a great story. This is a team that tragically lost a star safety to murder and not so tragically a hall of fame coach to retirement all in the same year. A team that replaced Joe Gibbs with a no name quarterback coach that first referred to the Redskins as the maroon and black. A team that after two pre-season collapses and a devastating loss to the Giants on National Television looked on the verge of self destruction. All I can say is, what a difference a month makes. I am believing more and more that “on any given Sunday” in the NFL, good teams can look really bad and bad teams can look really good. But four straight wins is no fluke my friends, and members of the media are starting to take notice.
Last week the Redskins moved up from #15 to #6 in ESPN’s power rankings. The NFL homepage on ESPN today has a giant picture of Jason Campbell with the caption “Sure, the Giants and Titans are unbeaten. But the Skins are the NFL’s hottest team after another huge road win.” Yup, it seems like everyone is jumping on the Redskins bandwagon these days. The same experts that ripped them just a month earlier apparently forgot that the NFL is a 16 game season. That being said the NFL is a 16 game season. Anything could happen between now and the end of the year, including an 11 game losing streak. But with upcoming games against the Rams, Browns, and Lions who are a combined 1-11, I like our odds at a playoff run.
There are still some haters however, and McNabb appears to be El Presidente of the Redskins Haters fan club. McNabb’s comments from yesterday are as follows “Not taking anything away from them, but there is no way that team is better than us. The same went for last week and then you find yourself here wondering why. It’s what we didn’t do. Not what they did, but what we didn’t do.” Okay, so the 203 yards rushing we put up on y’all I suppose you let us do that. The 4th and 1 run by Portis at the end of the game to clinch our fourth straight win, yep you pretty much just let him run right over you. And what about the 23-3 run The Redskins had after your early 14-0 lead? Oh yeah, you just didn’t feel like scoring any more points. Your right McNabb, you basically gave us the game. We are so lucky to have beaten your great team. Quick stat McNabb, The Redskins are 4-1 and your Eagles are 2-3. See you on 12/21 in Fed EX you Herb.
Remember the “bizarro” episode of Seinfeld where Jerry and the gang run into mirror opposites of each other? Well The Redskins are basically the Bizarro Cowboys. Aside from the dancing Jason Taylor, Mr. Pockets Straight Clinton Portis, and Cooley the blogger, this team has very little in the way of star power. While the Cowboys boast a self promoting 6′3″ jerk as their best receiver who complains 17 balls his way is not enough, the Redskins have an unassuming 5′10″ speedster who never complains, even with 0 catches. At quarterback the Cowboys have an outgoing, flashy player who stars in Pepsi commercials, dates movie stars, and chokes under pressure. The Redskins have a humble kid from Mississippi with a slow southern draw, an extremely level-headed demeanor, and who thrives under pressure. Sure their are some similarities, like two hands on owners who believe you cannot put a price tag on wins. But at this point in the season the Redskins, humble and under the radar, appear to be getting better while the Cowboys, all glitz and glam, are getting worse. Right now, there appears to be no reason why the Washington Redskins, that’s right The Redskins, can not only make the playoffs, but win the division.
Hail to the Redskins!
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