Sunday, January 6, 2013

Redskins vs. Seahawks 2013 NFC Wild Card game: a running diary

Tough to think this is my first post of the RGIII era, but hey - better late than never, right?  Just crushed some buffalo wings from Tunnicliffs, I’ve got a Guinness poured and my couch is damn comfortable.

Redskins vs. Seahawks.  First home playoff game for the Burgundy & Gold since the 20th Century.  Let’s do this.

FIRST QUARTER

RGIII storms out of the tunnel and the FedEx crowd is bringing the noise.  Yeah, this stadium lacks character, Dan Snyder charges too much for parking, etc. - still a pretty tough place for other teams to play.

Never like taking a timeout that early in a game.  Hopefully that doesn’t come back to haunt these guys late in the half.

Mr. 626 absolutely pounding the ball right out of the gate.  Nice to see.  20+ touches, please.

Holy cow.  RGIII scrambling for a first down, Garcon contributing with a big reception, Royster with the finishing touch.  Couldn’t ask for a better opening drive than that.  Very, very impressive.  7-0 in favor of the B&G.

Just spotted a grown man in the crowd plugging his ears, and the game basically just started.  Gonna be a long day for those fingers.

Oh, weird... London Fletcher with a huge play in the first defensive sequence?  That guy is terrible.

Second possession for RGIII and company, and #10 looks to be moving pretty well.

For the love of God, please be OK, Pierre Garcon.  That looked pretty bad and more of an achilles issue than the busted toe he had earlier in the year.  That would be a big blow to the offense if he can’t return.

And Santana with another timely contribution!  Do it for 2-1, Tana Man.

Phew - #88 back on the field.  Dodged a bullet there.

RGIII taking some risks with the running game, but damn if that’s not a nice pick-up.  Joe Buck and Troy Aikman need to relax a bit with the “he doesn’t look nearly as good as we’re used to seeing” business.  Seriously, dude looks fine.

Man, Kyle is really mixing it up in these first two possessions.  Credit where credit is due - the OC has really brought his A game since the bye week.

Oh noes, that does not look good.  I’d be shocked if RGIII finishes this game.  Damn.

... and it doesn’t seem to phase the 22 year-old under center.  Touchdown, Paulsen!  Wow.  14-0 good guys.

Holy shit, this is kind of incredible.  Russell Wilson, you’ve got some work to do, bro.

The first quarter ends with some stout run defense from Haslett’s charges.  An occasional first down is fine - if these guys can continue to pressure Wilson and contain Beast Mode, I can’t imagine the Seahawks offense can keep pace with the hot start from the Skins.

So that kid who yells “Hey Rodgers!  Discount double check!” - that can’t actually be his voice, can it?  Sounds like someone took the sound byte from the original commercial of the fat bastard outside the bank and just increased the pitch.

SECOND QUARTER

And just like that, Wilson with a real nice run up the middle.  Shut that down, boys.

For what it’s worth, some solid officiating so far in this one.

Lots and lots of time for Wilson to explore his options.  No matter - nearly a sweet pick for Reed Doughty!  Man, that would’ve been awesome.

Funny, didn’t Dallas score a touchdown last week with the play clock at :00?  Yeah, they did, but guess what?  Tony Romo really enjoys throwing horribly-timed interceptions.  HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Sorry, got a bit sidetracked there.  Back to the game...

FedEx is rocking hard right now - Wilson forced to burn one.

‘Hawks held to a field goal.  14-3 B&G.

Niles Paul and Jordan Crawford are so much better than Brandon Banks it’s ridiculous.  Shit, I think I could return kicks better than Banks.

Apropos of nothing, Dr. James Andrews looks totally old school.  Love the long coat and cap... very 70s.

RGIII looking very gingerly after handing the ball off.  I’ll say it again - I don’t think he finishes this game... and I absolutely hate myself for typing that.

Good God, the battles going on between the Skins’ receivers and Seattle’s secondary are insane.

Hey, we couldn’t expect the Redskins to score a touchdown on every drive, could we?  

Gotta be impressed with that scoop-and-run from Marshawn after the Wilson fumble, regardless of who you’re rooting for.  Huge play for Seattle.

And now the Seahawks are moving the ball seemingly at will.  Adjust, Haslett.

Damn, Michael Robinson scores an easy TD for the visitors.  Washington’s lead is cut to 4 points with about 5 to play in the second.

Come on, fans... don’t heckle an injured kicker as he limps off the field.  That’s messed up.

Interception.  No bueno.

Goddamn, I don’t know who is covering Garcon, but maybe the refs could throw a flag and prevent some of this post-whistle nonsense?

DeAngelo has really made me happy recently, for what it’s worth.  Keep getting under their skin and someone’s stack is bound to blow... just hope it’s not #23.

Why is Doug Baldwin so wide open?!  Adjust, Haslett, and don’t make me say it again.

Hockey fans know how big of a difference there is between the regular season and the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  The intensity is, um, intensified and games are generally just that must more physical.  I didn’t watch every minute of the weekend’s other 3 games, but this one is noticeably more insane than any regular season tilt I can recall.

30 seconds before the half and a big third down coming up.  Hold ‘em to a field goal here, boys... please.

Thank you, shitty FedEx Field turf!  Golden Tate seemingly has enough momentum to get a crucial first down but stumbles as he tries to make a cut.  Nice.

Punter is kicker.  Finkel is Einhorn.  Laces out!

Oh, that was actually their kicker.  Rats.

Halftime.  Redskins 14, Seahawks 13.  I said it heading in and I still believe it - this is going to be a close one and will go down to the wire.

The Skins need to start spreading the ball around on offense like they did on the first two drives, and the defense has to adjust a bit to stop Russell Wilson from having open lanes to scramble.  Haslett has done a damn good job the last few weeks coming out of the locker room with a renewed focus - fingers crossed that continues.

THIRD QUARTER

Man, I haven’t had nerves heading into a second half like this in I don’t know how long.  Right now my stomach feels like an over-stuffed vacuum cleaner bag and my butt like an about-to-explode bratwurst.

Nice kick, Forbath.

Contain at the initial point of contact, boys!  You cannot let Marshawn get loose in the open field like that, lest you want to see a long TD run and another nut-grab endzone celebration, and I certainly don’t.

Nice grab by Tate.  Geez.  I don’t like this momentum swing even a little bit.

And Beast Mode runs it down to the 2.  Fuck.

Lynch coughs it up at the 1 and the Skins have it!  Holy crap.

Tana, baby.  Would’ve loved to see a first down celebration circa 2007, but hey, just keep doing what you do, boy.

Two strong runs from FroMo after the Moss first down.  Continue.

Seriously, are these refs not watching the abuse Garcon is taking?

Huge third and long here... and incomplete.  Come on, defense, force a three-and-out here or something.

Fuckin’ A, man.  Stupid penalty leads to a huge run up the middle from Wilson.  Do something different moving forward, please, I’m begging you.

Big-time third down stop!  Thank you.  Offense, if you could produce some points here and eat up some clock, I’d really, really appreciate it.

Holding, Marcus Washington.  Oh, wait.

“Why aren’t they showing more ads for that new celebrity high-dive show?  That looks incredibly entertaining!” said no one ever.  Seriously, ever... that show looks fucking horrific.

I am not liking the way the Redskins are playing right now, I’m not going to lie.  They can’t do anything.  Dare I say Cousins might be a better option down the stretch?  

Nice boot, Sav, and way to pump him up when he came off the field, Rex.

And at the end of the third, the score remains as it did at halftime.  I’m only 33 years-old and in relatively good health, but I’m not sure I’m going to survive this one.  If my heart explodes, tell the world my story...

FOURTH QUARTER

Who chews more gum, Pete Carroll or Danny Smith?  Discuss.

“At this point, RGIII has been a non-factor in this game,” says Troy Aikman.  Oh, you know, except for those two really solid drives he conducted to start the game and put up 14 points.  Fuck these announcers.

You know who’s really stepped it up the last few weeks?  Reed Doughty.

Uh, yeah, RGIII looks really, really gimpy.  Do not want.

STOP TALKING ABOUT HOW RGIII IS NOT A THREAT.  I HATE YOU.

Make that catch, Hankerson!  Sheesh.

10 tackles and 2 sacks for Doughty.  Great stuff.

Alright, boys, just under 9 minutes to play.  3rd and 10.  Make something happen here, get the ball back and put together a big drive.

NOOOOOOOO.  Shit shit shit.  That was too damn easy.  Love the blitz call, but Miller was left with nothing but room to run.  Unreal.

Unfuckingbelievable.  Beast Mode just absolutely shattered DeAngelo’s ankles, busting the right side wide open and barreling his way into the endzone.  I’m starting to feel slightly nauseous.

And with confirmation from the referee on that Marshawn TD, we start to hear what I assumed would be a pretty big Seattle contingent in attendance.

2-point conversion good.  Situation bad.  Seattle takes the lead, 21-14.

This drive will determine whether or not the Washington Redskins 2012 campaign ends today.

... and RGIII is sacked for a 12-yard loss.

... and RGIII fumbles the next snap, lays in a heap and Seattle pounces on the ball.  Game  over.

Ok, I am going to say this right now.  With what we learned today about the Baltimore game and how Dr. Andrews never OK’d RGIII’s return, Cousins should’ve been brought in earlier in this game without a doubt.  Now we’re looking at not only the end of the season, but a potentially career-altering injury.  Mike Shanahan, you are the head of this team.  You should not have sat silently while your most prized possession and the future of this franchise absolutely put his health at risk.  Fuck, man.

Alright, a quick 3 and out from inside the 5 yard-line and the Skins will escape this nightmare scenario allowing only a field goal.  This game isn’t over quite yet.  Seattle 24, Redskins 14.

If KC1 can rally the troops and at least make this respectable, his trade value is going to be off the charts.  Nice start...

So Hankerson couldn’t make an in-stride catch across the middle but just made a highlight-worthy, feet-dragging sideline grab?  Makes sense.

How is there no interference call on that Moss incompletion?! Seattle’s secondary getting a lot of leeway from these refs.  Christ Almighty.

“And on 4th down, it looks like the offense is going to stay out on the field.”  Oh, you think?!

Nada.

Everyone knew this game wouldn’t be easy.  Seattle is legit and has been all year.  Still, you’d think deciding to keep RGIII in the game for as long as they did will be the biggest story heading into the ensuing DC-area media shit-storm.

Final score: Washington Redskins 14, Seattle Seahawks 24.

I has sad.

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