I just can’t quit you. It’s been a busy few weeks -- as you can tell by the lack of e-mails -- but I can’t hold out any longer. I must express how I feel about the glory that is a 2007-2008 playoff berth for our beloved Redskins, and I must do it now.
Let’s see... where to begin?
I suppose it all started back in Week 13. I was at that game against Buffalo -- an emotionally-charged, rainy Sunday in Landover -- and those within earshot can attest that I was not exactly a fun person to be around. When Joe Gibbs called a second consecutive timeout, I knew right away that it would cost them the game. I shouted and I cursed, and the guy in front of me looked up at me as if I had three heads and twelve eyes.
Pardon me for being overly passionate, as even I’ll admit that I can sometimes take it too far. It’s hard not to, though, when being a fan consists of more ups and downs than anyone should have to endure.
Nevertheless, as I descended the mountainous FedEx Upper Level, I slowly -- and rather reluctantly -- began to accept that 2007 would ultimately be another potential-filled season gone by the wayside. A 2-0 start and flashes of brilliance would be all for naught, as sitting at 5-7 with 4 games to play -- 3 against teams with winning records -- meant that the Redskins’ playoff chances were all but gone.
It was a tough pill to swallow, but not nearly as tough as what the players had to face the following day.
On Monday morning came the funeral, a harsh realization that, despite what had happened on the field less than 24 hours before, football didn’t really matter all that much. Sean Taylor, an immensely talented and physically-gifted young man, was laid to rest. The road ahead for his former teammates would be an extremely difficult one, and anyone expecting a miraculous playoff run would simply be asking too much.
But the Burgundy and Gold, united by tragedy and driven by a new purpose, marched on. Over the next month, they would play some of the best football Washington has seen since the early 90s. Three days after flying down to Miami, the Redskins faced a disappointing Bears team in a game that would produce yet another devastating blow (relatively speaking, of course). Starting quarterback Jason Campbell, putting together an impressive first season in the number one slot, was knocked out of the game on not one, but two occasions.
Midway through the second quarter, after Campbell’s knee took a big hit and he went down in obvious pain, the FedEx Field crowd had no choice but to welcome 36 year-old Todd Collins. The veteran -- seemingly destined to fade into the sunset on clipboard duty, yet unnerved by the lack of playing time -- stepped in and wrote the first chapter in what could eventually be a story-book season.
A long month and 3 extremely efficient wire-to-wire performances later, No. 15 has been crowned the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for December, a script any striking writer would be proud to call his own. Fresh off a 4-game winning streak, the Redskins are playing solid football on both sides of the ball and, in two days, walk into Qwest Field a tougher opponent than most teams will likely face in the Wild Card round.
Clinton Portis has his swagger back. Santana Moss is getting hot at just the right time, coming off a 115-yard, 1-touchdown game against a nearly full-strength Cowboys secondary. Chris Cooley continues to be a reliable target across the middle of the field, while veteran receivers Antwaan Randle El and Reche Caldwell provide more looks and choices for a crazy-accurate Todd Collins.
Gregg Williams’s defense is known for punishing opponents, but never has it been more evident than in the last 4 weeks. Off the line and through the air, the Burgundy & Gold have been damn near suffocating. Shawn Springs has had 4 interceptions in the past 4 games, the last being an incredibly-acrobatic, diving snag.
London Fletcher, Andre Carter, H.B. Blades, Marcus Washington, Fred Smoot, LaRon Landry, Reed Doughty – some young, some old, some inexperienced and some established – all playing with more intensity than anyone could possibly ask for.
And so here they are, staring down a huge date with the Seattle Seahawks in their house. It’s going to be tough, there’s no doubt about that, but I truly believe that the game on Saturday is ours for the taking.
I say “ours” because I think that the entire Washington Redskins organization -- now more than ever -- is built on unity. From the fans in the streets to Joe Gibbs on the sidelines to Chainsaw Dan in the owner’s box, the guys taking the field for these playoffs know that they have the support from an incredibly proud group of people.
I’m not going to get ahead of myself and declare our beloved franchise Arizona-bound, but I will say this: I think the Washington Redskins are going to make some noise. They’re a sentimental favorite, sure, but more importantly, they are a damn good football team that happens to be peaking at the most opportune time.
If the Redskins come out Saturday with the ferocity that they’ve shown for the past month, it will be hard for them to be denied a rematch with the Dallas Cowboys next weekend. If they come out fighting, build an early lead and silence the Qwest Field crowd, we may be witnessing the start of something really special.
And if Joe Gibbs does the unthinkable and leads this team -- excuse me, this city -- to the promised land, the victory parade down Constitution Avenue will be bigger and more dramatic than any Presidential inauguration.
Hail.
Let’s see... where to begin?
I suppose it all started back in Week 13. I was at that game against Buffalo -- an emotionally-charged, rainy Sunday in Landover -- and those within earshot can attest that I was not exactly a fun person to be around. When Joe Gibbs called a second consecutive timeout, I knew right away that it would cost them the game. I shouted and I cursed, and the guy in front of me looked up at me as if I had three heads and twelve eyes.
Pardon me for being overly passionate, as even I’ll admit that I can sometimes take it too far. It’s hard not to, though, when being a fan consists of more ups and downs than anyone should have to endure.
Nevertheless, as I descended the mountainous FedEx Upper Level, I slowly -- and rather reluctantly -- began to accept that 2007 would ultimately be another potential-filled season gone by the wayside. A 2-0 start and flashes of brilliance would be all for naught, as sitting at 5-7 with 4 games to play -- 3 against teams with winning records -- meant that the Redskins’ playoff chances were all but gone.
It was a tough pill to swallow, but not nearly as tough as what the players had to face the following day.
On Monday morning came the funeral, a harsh realization that, despite what had happened on the field less than 24 hours before, football didn’t really matter all that much. Sean Taylor, an immensely talented and physically-gifted young man, was laid to rest. The road ahead for his former teammates would be an extremely difficult one, and anyone expecting a miraculous playoff run would simply be asking too much.
But the Burgundy and Gold, united by tragedy and driven by a new purpose, marched on. Over the next month, they would play some of the best football Washington has seen since the early 90s. Three days after flying down to Miami, the Redskins faced a disappointing Bears team in a game that would produce yet another devastating blow (relatively speaking, of course). Starting quarterback Jason Campbell, putting together an impressive first season in the number one slot, was knocked out of the game on not one, but two occasions.
Midway through the second quarter, after Campbell’s knee took a big hit and he went down in obvious pain, the FedEx Field crowd had no choice but to welcome 36 year-old Todd Collins. The veteran -- seemingly destined to fade into the sunset on clipboard duty, yet unnerved by the lack of playing time -- stepped in and wrote the first chapter in what could eventually be a story-book season.
A long month and 3 extremely efficient wire-to-wire performances later, No. 15 has been crowned the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for December, a script any striking writer would be proud to call his own. Fresh off a 4-game winning streak, the Redskins are playing solid football on both sides of the ball and, in two days, walk into Qwest Field a tougher opponent than most teams will likely face in the Wild Card round.
Clinton Portis has his swagger back. Santana Moss is getting hot at just the right time, coming off a 115-yard, 1-touchdown game against a nearly full-strength Cowboys secondary. Chris Cooley continues to be a reliable target across the middle of the field, while veteran receivers Antwaan Randle El and Reche Caldwell provide more looks and choices for a crazy-accurate Todd Collins.
Gregg Williams’s defense is known for punishing opponents, but never has it been more evident than in the last 4 weeks. Off the line and through the air, the Burgundy & Gold have been damn near suffocating. Shawn Springs has had 4 interceptions in the past 4 games, the last being an incredibly-acrobatic, diving snag.
London Fletcher, Andre Carter, H.B. Blades, Marcus Washington, Fred Smoot, LaRon Landry, Reed Doughty – some young, some old, some inexperienced and some established – all playing with more intensity than anyone could possibly ask for.
And so here they are, staring down a huge date with the Seattle Seahawks in their house. It’s going to be tough, there’s no doubt about that, but I truly believe that the game on Saturday is ours for the taking.
I say “ours” because I think that the entire Washington Redskins organization -- now more than ever -- is built on unity. From the fans in the streets to Joe Gibbs on the sidelines to Chainsaw Dan in the owner’s box, the guys taking the field for these playoffs know that they have the support from an incredibly proud group of people.
I’m not going to get ahead of myself and declare our beloved franchise Arizona-bound, but I will say this: I think the Washington Redskins are going to make some noise. They’re a sentimental favorite, sure, but more importantly, they are a damn good football team that happens to be peaking at the most opportune time.
If the Redskins come out Saturday with the ferocity that they’ve shown for the past month, it will be hard for them to be denied a rematch with the Dallas Cowboys next weekend. If they come out fighting, build an early lead and silence the Qwest Field crowd, we may be witnessing the start of something really special.
And if Joe Gibbs does the unthinkable and leads this team -- excuse me, this city -- to the promised land, the victory parade down Constitution Avenue will be bigger and more dramatic than any Presidential inauguration.
Hail.
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