Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Redskins Continue Upward Trend

    The Redskins, over the past two weeks have continued their upward trend. They did go 1-1, but one of those games was against the Broncos. Defensively, we could have done better, but offensively, we managed to put up 66 points over two weeks. This is especially impressive because the skins were finally able to put up points in the first half, something they have really struggled with in the first few weeks of the season.
    The game against the bears was a down to the last minute nail-biter. Roy Helu, with only 45 seconds remaining, ran in for his third touchdown of the day. This score gave a 4 point lead to the Redskins, who were able to prevent the Bears from scoring in the last few moments of the game. This game was one of the highest scoring this season, with 86 combined points. While this doesn't reflect very well on defense, it shows that the skins have come a long way on offense.
    The following week, in their game against the Broncos, the Redskins did not look quite as good. They started the game well, holding the Broncos to seven points in the first half, which they were able to match just before halftime. After a very short time into the third, the redskins looked like they could be only the second team to defeat the Broncos. They got great field position off of a Peyton Manning fumble, which Morris capitalized on in a 1-yard TD run. Next, Deangelo Hall returned an interception for a touchdown. Going into the second half, the Redskins were almost immediately up 21-7.
   That's when Peyton Manning began to play like Peyton Manning. In the third quarter he managed to get his team down into the end zone, making it a one-score game. In the fourth quarter, the Broncos scored 31 points, the Redskins scored zero. The Broncos scored on three Manning passes, a Prater field goal, and a 75-yard Rodgers-Cromartie interception return.
   Worst of all for Redskins fans, Robert Griffin III was hurt late in the game on Sunday. The good news is that Griffin suffered only a minor knee injury, and could have returned, but was held out because of the score. Griffin, on that play, threw his second pick of the day. Cousins, who replaced him, also threw two picks.


Friday, October 4, 2013

Redskins Looking Competent

   This weekend, the Redskins were finally able to put together a respectable game. In fact, they looked more like the team that everyone was hoping they would be to start the season. The Redskins were able to outscored the Raiders 24-14 this weekend in Oakland.
   Initially, the game seemed like it was going to turn out the same way as all the other games when they went down 14-0 in the first quarter. The Raiders, for the first score of the game recovered a blocked punt for a TD in the end zone. The Raiders then went on to score a TD on an 81 yard drive led by Matt Flynn. By the end of the first quarter the game did not look good for the Redskins.
   The next score in the game came when the Redskins drove down the field and kicked a 25 yard field goal. Next Matt Flynn threw an interception to Amerson, which was returned 45 yards for the touchdown. By the end of the half, it was 10-14 and the Redskins looked dominant. 
   In the next quarter, the only scoring play was a 5 yard pass from RG3 to Garçon. The last score of the game, which came in the fourth was the 14 yard run by Roy Helu, who came in when Morris left with bruised ribs. The Redskins ended up winning 24-14, not allowing a score outside of the first quarter. 
   The Redskins most impressive performance came on the defensive side of the ball. The Redskins had constant pressure on Matt Flynm, who they managed to sack seven times. The defense also had an interception, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown. Finally, the Redskins' defense only allowed one score by the Raiders, which came early on in the game. The Redskins defense created opportunities for their offense, and made the Redskins look like a respectable team for the first time this year.