This is an attempt at a regular feature on either Tuesdays or Wednesdays depending on how much you hate it detailing the week's NFL action and the impacts, if any, particular games had on Your Washington Redskins. Don't presume that because I'm talking about a game, I watched it. Much of the commentary will depend on boxscores and the like since I am far too poor to afford the media services requisite in catching more than 3-4 games a week.

Kansas City Chiefs 14, Atlanta Falcons 38

Neither team is on the schedule. Future interest might be in KC's head coach, Herm Edwards, who will soon be looking for any potentially vacated coordinator positions after he is FIRED FIRED FIRED soon enough. However, given the way that team has nose-dived, I don't know many people who really want him as coordinator, even. The Falcons may represent some trouble in the future depending how much someone is buying their shot at a division or wildcard spot in what has now become a competitive (inside the division at least) NFC South. In my opinion, this year it is win the South or watch the playoffs, so...

Oakland Raiders 23, Buffalo Bills 24

We do not play either of these teams and neither impacts our ability to get into the postseason. I watch the Bills only with the hope that they will finally unseat the Patriots in their division. I watch the Oakland Raiders because we all stare at car wrecks. The flapping heads say what Al Davis is doing to his head coach is disgraceful. Disgraceful like an entertaining fox!

Tampa Bay Bucs 27, Chicago Bears 24

It's early, but the South is representing a far scarier hand against us for a potential cross-divisional wildcard battle royale. The North is simply soft right now, with their best having no chance against ours. The Vikings don't look like the preseason favorite so many of us were drooling over, and the Lions? Pushaw. Impressed as I was that the Bears beat the Colts, I just don't think they make the playoffs without securing the North. We play neither team.

Carolina Panthers 10, Minnesota Vikings 20

Already talked about the Vikings, the NFC North, and the NFC South. Whether Gus Frerotte is Fr'real is up in the air. Tarvaris Jackson is not. The Panthers have a better chance at playing somebody's spoiler in the South than at actually winning it, in my opinion. We play neither.

Miami Dolphins 38, New England Patriots 13

No consequences for our team whatsoever but so absolutely entertaining watching the Patriots gets dismantled by a pretty unimpressive Dolphins team. If the Patriots lose to the Dolphins lose to the Cardinals lose to the Redskins, that does make us better, right? Talking heads on Rome is Burning were just saying how Belichick is now exposed as a fraud, given his team sucks without Tom Brady. While true, no mere fraud wins 3 Super Bowls with or without Brady, as there have been a lot of teams with great quarterbacks who have failed to yield more than one (Peyton Manning, for instance). The lesson: Cheating makes a difference.

Cincy Bengals 23, New York Giants 26

This game was double plus ungood for two reasons: 1) I was just getting comfortable with looking past the Bengals when we face them this December, 2) Total missed opportunity to make ground on an NFC rival that already has a tie breaker against us. However good we think the Redskins are, if we aren't as good as at least one NFC East rival, we're doomed to no postseason. There aren't enough wildcard spots for us all to make it, which means we have to remain above at least one team. Root against the NFC East all year, people, because they all look sharp.

Houston Texans 12, Tennessee Titans 31

Game has no impact on us although I watch the Titans closely because I have so many friends that are Vince Young fans. That the Titans are now one of the best teams in the AFC is reason enough to believe that the NFC is challenging for the better conference. Michael Wilbon just said he thinks the Cowboys, Eagles, and Giants were better than any team in the AFC. I have no idea if he's right.

Arizona Cardinals 17, Washington Redskins 24

All our wins are huge and consequential and divinely inspired and magnificent. This was a much better Cardinals team than we're accustomed to facing and they have as good as not a chance of going on to win the division. Etc.

New Orleans Saints 32, Denver Broncos 34

This game demonstrates either how great our defense is or how poor the Broncos is. In any event, a week after we limited Drew Brees substantially in our game he went off like a crazy person against the Broncos, with 421 passing yards. That's about half what we gave him, and we picked him off. Twice.

Detroit Lions 13, San Francisco 49ers 31

Both teams remain on our schedule. How fortunate it is that Detroit is our road non-divisional conference opponent this year, as they look positively disgusting thus far in the season. San Francisco is ditto. Detroit represents zero chance of challenging us for a wild card but I'm not so sure the same is true of the 49ers, who find themselves in such a bad division that it's possible, wish upon a star, that they win 9 games this year.

St. Louis Rams 13, Seattle Seahawks 37

See above comments in Re: NFC West. Who will win? Who knows but we face both these teams and I'm obviously more worried about the Seahawks -- only because the Rams are about the worst team in the league by two -- who have carnal knowledge of our Head Coach. And we have to fly up to Qwest field to beat the Seahawks, a task I can't remember us ever accomplishing. 2005 and 2007 postseason? Yea, eff the Seahawks.

Cleveland Browns 10, Baltimore Ravens 28

We play both these teams. Preseason I was thrilled we had the Browns at home and the Ravens on the road, though I've since changed my mind. All those claiming Browns as preseason cinderellas need account for themselves (if that includes me, I won't admit it without damning evidence). After our gauntlet against the Cowboys and Eagles on the road the next two weeks, it will be nice to have the Browns and Rams at home. If we're 2-2 over the next 4 games, I'll be content. If we're 3-1, cover your ears.

Jacksonville Jaguars 23, Indy Colts 21

We play neither. The only joy fans might get out of this is schadenfreude over the Colts looking in disarray, which I think is perfectly natural given how absolutely dominating their team has been over the past X years. Everyone hates the King.

Pittsburgh Steelers 6, Philly Eagles 15

I mourn with Steelers Nation and am terrified of the prospect of facing the Eagles pass rush, which managed something like 72 sacks against Big Ben last week. Another opportunity missed for us to gain a game on the Eagles, and this was about as good a prospect as we had from the AFC North. We still have to play the Steelers which is, despite this result, a very good football team. We get them at home, at least.

Dallas Cowboys 27, Green Bay Packers 16

No one is giong to beat the Dallas Cowboys for us. It will be up to us to beat the Dallas Cowboys. The rest of the league will be unreliable in this task. The great news this week is that I won't b attending the Redskins - Cowboys game at Texas Stadium for the first time in years. We lost the last two times I attended, and you know what happened in 2005. Count it. (I will be in DFW for the game, though, so pray for me.)

New York Jets 29, San Diego Chargers 48

First, click the above two links and go welcome our newest bloggers to SB Nation at Gang Green Nation and Bolts From The Blue. We're now a full deck. The game impacts us not and we play neither team for the rest of the year comma sooooooooooooo... Fuck Norv Turner?

I'm out.

Just like that the Redskins beat the Saints 29-24, a team billed by many as one of the best in the NFC outside the East. Redskins move to 1-1 under new Head Coach Jim Zorn. No one wanted it more than him, I'd imagine.

These are just my quick thoughts before I hit the road, but:

• That Chris Horton found himself to the right place at the right times. I like Reed Doughty, but he's now on notice that his starting job is contested. Two picks against Drew Brees, who doesn't throw that many interceptions (2.7%)? Good times.
• Defense played incredibly stout, especially in the cliche battle, defeating the run on our way to victory. New Orleans held to 55 yards and 2.9 YPC. I'd say we silenced Reggie Bush, but he did have that punt return...
• Things aren't going so hot for Durant Brooks, who muffed a hold that ultimately failed a FG and apparently lost the memo in Re: not kicking to Reggie Bush. He'll get it together. I hope.
• More three step drop slants to Santana Moss. This is supposed to be a timing offense, and I saw a lot of Campbell fleeing briskly from the line of scrimmage. He takes those short drops and throws to Santana Moss and good things happen, whether it's a long gain or a game-quitting 4th and 2.
• I love the go for it mentality of Coach Zorn. Most coaches might be cowards in fear of the media barrage after a loss and kick the extra point or else punt (or whatever) on 4th and 2. Jim Zorn is new, has much to lose, and says eff it, stay on the field offense.
• Antwaan Randle El hurdling Santana Moss after that big touchdown catch in the 4th quarter was definitely the play of the game. Randle El has ups.
• Clinton Portis just said he was misunderstood by the outside world regarding the offense, his comments on. He looked sharp as did Jason Campbell, who just got some big time love from Portis. When asked what the difference was betwixt this week and last? "Number 17."
• We ran well, we defended the run well, and we had big plays in the passing game. I could not be happier with the way the team played and now we look forward towards Arizona.

HTTR.

Earlier this week we wondered why Carlos Rogers ain't got such great hands and the impact that could have on us defensively. I contemplated that his dropsies could account, over a healthy season, for something like two fewer turnovers per year.

The team is doing something about it, or trying. Per the Official Site:

The Redskins continue to find inventive ways to end the trend of dropped interceptions.

After Thursday’s practice at Redskins Park, the defensive backs gathered at midfield to catch a series of rapid-fire passes from quarterbacks.

The defensive backs had to stand with their backs to the quarterback and then abruptly turn around to catch the ball from 10 yards away.

Carlos Rogers had no trouble catching the footballs in this drill although Fred Smoot did. Considering the former has had a whole lot more difficulty catching footballs in actual games than the latter, that raises some questions about how effective this drill is in improving their hands. Smoot may not have the best hands in the NFL, but they are certainly better than Carlos Rogers' (hands).

Greg Blache had the money quote:

“If we don’t, then we will be flirting with disaster,” defensive coordinator Greg Blache said. “It’s rare when quality quarterbacks give you that opportunity. When you pass them up, the football gods go against you.

Blache continues to be, by far, the most profound coach on the staff. Looking forward to this weekend's game, Drew Brees isn't going to give us many opportunities to steal his balls, yuck. Did you know, for instance, that Drew Brees is 6th among active (14th all time) QBs in interception % behind only Donovan McNabb, Jeff Garcia, Tom Brady, Steve McNair, and Philip Rivers? His career 2.7% int % is scary good.

So if not on interceptions, how are we supposed to beat New Orleans? Tandler says:

The Redskins offense can't start off slowly again this week. A sack on the game's opening series would quickly get the team into a "here we go again" frame of mind. A couple of three and outs out of the gate will bring out a strong undertone of boo-birds. A slow, hesitant pace, even in the early going, will rekindle thoughts of the "what, me hurry?" offense the team displayed in the fourth quarter in the Meadowlands.

Later:

This doesn't meant that Campbell needs to launch a deep one to Moss on the first play or that Portis needs to break off a long one in the early going.

Actually, throwing balls deep balls more (and thus earlier and oftener?) is precisely what Clinton Portis wants, per DC Sports Bog:

"You know, I think Jason should just go out and continue playing his game and let it loose," Portis said. "Once he make a mistake I think he get into that idea of he let us down. He's not letting us down. Give us the opportunity to win. Go out and sling the ball for 70 yards when it's a slant. Shake off [the play] at the line, call a go route.

"If I've got Santana Moss out here one-on-one, then, you know, I'll deal with coach yelling at me from checking out of that play when I get back to the sideline, compared to 'Oh, I want to do it, but I don't do it, [and] all the sudden we punting the ball off.

Uhh, that actually makes a lot of sense to me. I've maintained for some time now that Jason Campbell's best asset as a quarterback is his long pass, which he throws about as well as anyone in the league. We have wide receivers designed for precisely those kinds of routes (small but fast Steve Smith types in Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El) and yet I'm not seeing us take advantage of that. And while it may be true that a robust passing game makes it much easier to run, not all passes are created equal in this regard; backing up those safeties with liberal use of deep passes could go a long way towards opening up the 15+ yard runs that get fans out of their seats.

Really, what's the worst that can happen? It's not as if this offense is exactly clicking. We have a quarterback who can launch the ball very effectively and a WR who can run a 4.3 40. Forget the finesse, let's try some old fashioned you go deep and I'll heave it. Pass and pray might even please the football gods.

Still absorbing the results of last night's frustrating loss to the Giants. And by absorbing I mean day drinking here I come!

There's a lot going on in the Redskins blogosphere regarding the game. By way of example but not exhaustion here's a couple quick notes before we get into the title number, quickly: Dan Steinberg has quotes from the players... Riggo's Rag says it was the little things (but lots of them)... I am very eager to read Post Game Heroe's recap as I felt there was a huge amount of fail by the offensive line and they will direct my pointed fingers best... Ben at Curly R wants this game Del Tacoed... we ain't seen the real Zorn offense yet -- I sure hope that's right... but maybe we have seen the same old Redskins offense?

Fred Smoot was injured in the game with the scoop via Redskins 360:

Fred Smoot left Thursday's game at the Giants in the third quarter with a back injury, but on Monday Zorn said that the corneback instead has a hip pointer which is painful but shouldn't keep him out against New Orleans on Sept. 14.

Praise jeebus. There were times I didn't feel the secondary was playing all that great but 16 points isn't so bad, especially without your starting cornerback. Carlos Rogers looked especially lost, particularly early on. We're not so far removed from 2006 to know what kind of disaster lurks when your corners are injured.

Better news: Shawn Springs expected to return against New Orleans this weekend. We'll get our best look at the defense against a very talented Saints QB in Drew Brees, and hopefully a new look at our own offense, which will remain sans Malcolm Kelly, per the above article.