FanPost

My prediction was wrong, but...

...I was right about something. This game was all about the 5 big guys on offense. As Skin Patrol said eloquently, the NFL's most impressive front 4 were held to 2 sacks (which is as many as Andre Carter had). An undrafted rookie handled Michael Strahan. Chris Samuels did a fantastic job on Osi Umenyiora and Pete Kendall finally looked comfortable making some good pull blocks and giving Portis some extra room. Clinton was able to run through some nice holes, and Ladell Betts' TD run was a result of one a huge hole coupled with sheer, Redskins grit.

The Redskins remain alive because of their performance last night. Our offense put up 22 points against a tough defense in a hostile environment who wanted a win just as much as we did. We were able to take a lead on them early, which was so important as the losing team was forced to throw the ball more in the typhoon conditions in NYC. The Redskins took out a team that not only beat them earlier, but also was looking to cement a playoff berth on national TV at home -- and we were without our starting QB!

I'll say it now and continue to say it as long as it is applicable -- if the Redskins make the playoffs, or even go 9-7 and don't make it, Joe Gibbs is NFC Coach of the Year. I hear Wade Phillips and Mike McCarthy, I know they have great records in DAL and GB. But not in my memory has a team had to rebound from the death of its best player and still make the playoffs. For us to make the playoffs, it will probably require us having a 3-1 record AFTER Sean Taylor's death. That would be unbelievable. That would also be with a backup QB and an offensive line made out of mostly-backups, in the toughest division in the NFC.

Of course, we have to win some games, but I have complete faith -- finally -- in our coaching staff that singularly blew several games for us this year, in our QB who has started one game in a decade (by the way, he's undefeated in the last decade now -- Tom Brady's got nothing on that!!! sike) and our defense that has dealt with more adversity than any I can remember after losing its best player.

Who knew?