Redskins @ Eagles tonight for MNF

by Skin Patrol on Sep 17, 2007 4:39 PM EDT in Open Threads

The team was ready to kick a field goal, and then Andy Reid said no job, and then we decided we'd give the offense another chance to get a delay of game penalty, a false start, and then finally Jason Campbell made the perfect pass to Chris Cooley. The game certainly would've been different had Coach Reid just let Suisham kick a field goal. Count me satisfied.

This isn't beating the Miami Dolphins, at home, in overtime, by a Shaun Suisham field goal. This is beating a division rival, a worthy adversary, a 7 point favorite, on the road, against the meanest fans in the nation, despite losing the turnover battle, despite not getting it done on the ground, etc. Etc. Etc.

This is great defense. This is being 2-0 football, and more than anything, this is Your Washington Redskins looking professional.

20-12.

Kickoff and gameday info at the Official Site. We're set for 8:30 Eastern on ESPN's Monday Night Football. We're battling for shared privaledges atop the East with the Cowboys, as a win tonight puts us at 2-0 with a road victory over a division foe. That's a great place to be.

The Redskins are a touchdown dog so this game should hardly be a gimme gimme gimme. Bleeding Green previews the game. This is one of those rare moments where a Redskins team gets National Media coverage via Pat Kirwan at NFL.com:

IF YOU LIKE THE REDSKINS

Jason Campbell has thrown for 220-plus yards in his last two starts.
Clinton Portis has five rushing touchdowns in his last four games against Philly.
Last week, Donovan McNabb only completed 45 percent of his passes and none over.
Antwaan Randle El had his best game as a Redskin last week with five receptions for 162 yards.
Washington was the No. 4 rushing team last year, while the Eagles were 26th against the run.
The Redskins started this season with 400 yards of total offense against the No. 4 defense in 2006.

I don't like the Redskins, I love the Redskins. So does Ben.

My keys to the game:

Mistake free
Run the ball, run some more after that, run some more after that
Must generate large chunks of yards on big plays

All predicated on the fact that we're a 7 point dog and that's how teams win on the road. I'm not yet ready to lay anything at the feet of our defense given that I don't know enough about the overall unit. Is this the 2005 defense or the 2006 defense? I haven't seen enough against competent offenses to make that evaluation just yet, though I am encouraged by what we saw last week. Thus, my opinion is that we win this playing Joe Gibbs scripted football: mitigate mistakes, run viciously and right at them, and use that run to open up the deep play action pass. Lee Gibbons knows what I'm talking about:

Running, running and more running.

Anyways, I'll be here, live blogging the event, for what feels like the first time in ages. I don't have to travel to reaches groggy (bar) or distant (amigo's house) to view a Monday Night Football game on national television, and neither do you. Join me, then, at this space.

HTTR -- Official prediction from here is... 23-13 Redskins. Holla.

Depending who you ask, My Brain Says Rage is either really offensive, or just speaking truth to power. I say Powah.

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Comments

I'd like to add key number 4...

find a way to contain Mr. Westbrook.

McNabb should have a better week on Monday night, but I don't think he's healthy/unrusty enough to carry the offense by himself. He'll get back there over the course of the year, but I don't see it happening in week 2. This is the perfect time for the Skins to go into Philly and steal a game on the road.

Special teams will play a huge part into who wins and who goes home with a divisional game loss. The Eagles had a terrible... and I mean really, really bad... game in terms of the special teams in week 1. Coach Reid will not let that happen 2 weeks in a row. That being said, the special teams need to come up with a big play. A punt downed inside the 5-10, a fumble recovery, a long punt return. Something.

So, my own personal keys:

Run the ball.
Stop/slow down/contain Westbrook.
Run the ball.
Special teams play... meaning solid play throughout and one big play.
Run the damn ball.

A little aside... on Around The Horn, they just had a teams at 20 update that said Portis and Betts determine the rotation during the course of the game. That's an interesting development.

Thoughts?

by TexSkins on Sep 17, 2007 5:25 PM EDT reply actions

Letting them determine the rotation........

might be a good idea in getting appropriate rest for each.

My opinion for keys to the game.

consensus #1 RUN,RUN,RUN
better press coverage from the DB's, this depends on D-line getting pressure on Mcnabb.Doesnt it seem like we've been getting eaten alive by 10 yard passes the last 20 games.
very good special teams play.
Campbell and receivers being more in sync.

by Sincethebeginning @ Hogs Haven on Sep 17, 2007 5:57 PM EDT reply actions

Both teams game plan should be pretty similar

Try to establish the running game and blitz often.

We really need to get after Mcnabb tonight. He looked pretty shaky at times against the Packers but he could still shred our secondary if he gets enough time.

If we run the ball well I can see Santana & El getting some good matchups deep against that Eagles secondary. All Jason needs to do is control those shorter throws a little better and we have a great chance to go 2-0.

Redskins win by 3.

by BritishRedskin on Sep 17, 2007 6:10 PM EDT reply actions

I don't want to dog on wireless internet

as it might be the greatest invention of the 21st century, but it always seems to break in an area localized entirely within my house whenever I need it desparately. It works in my house, but not in front of my High Definition TV. I'll be walking back and forth from the TV to here periodically throughout the game, and I'm recording it on another TV so perhaps Hogs Haven will get to have its first video recap of the game.

We'll see.

Go Register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Sep 17, 2007 7:29 PM EDT reply actions

I just saw Sean Taylor's hair

I am guaranteeing victory.

Go Register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Sep 17, 2007 7:36 PM EDT reply actions

Boo red jerseys

Are more teams going to the white home?

Boo

Talkin' Sports

by BlackOps on Sep 17, 2007 7:50 PM EDT reply actions

It used to be just the Skins...

and then the Texans when Casserly went there. Now, it's a ton more teams.

by TexSkins on Sep 17, 2007 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions

We'll take the lead

3-0 on a field goal, enabled by a Santana Moss deep reception. We've run the ball... ok. I really like the way the defense looks thus far as well.

Go Register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Sep 17, 2007 9:15 PM EDT reply actions

WHAT IS THE FRIDGIN PROBLEM

with the injuries,now Randy Thomas goes down,looks like were coming close to having a very long season. O-line is NUMERO UNO.

I dont give a shit if we have L.T. and Peyton Manning. Who is the physical trainer over there at the park and what the hell are they feeding these guys, vegetables.

I am so GOD DAMN frustrated!!!!

by Sincethebeginning @ Hogs Haven on Sep 17, 2007 9:48 PM EDT reply actions

lol

by Burgundy and Gold on Sep 17, 2007 10:07 PM EDT reply actions

McNabb sucks

Campbell is a better qb, but then again Romo is better than both. ;)

by Terry @ Hogs Haven on Sep 17, 2007 10:10 PM EDT reply actions

LOL

by Burgundy and Gold on Sep 17, 2007 10:10 PM EDT reply actions

10-6

We're getting the ball in the 2nd half. This is when the coaching staff leans on the run game, perhaps to a fault. I see us going 70/30 on run plays for the rest of the game.

Go Register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Sep 17, 2007 10:28 PM EDT reply actions

reid is gonna get FIRED

by Burgundy and Gold on Sep 17, 2007 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions

how you say?

What's it called when a Redskins defender tackles an opposing team's quarterback for a loss? I know there's a term for it, but I haven't heard it in so long...

by Burgundy and Gold on Sep 17, 2007 10:47 PM EDT reply actions

I must say...

Collins looks pretty good in that trench coat.

by TexSkins on Sep 17, 2007 10:58 PM EDT reply actions

Some facts:

On the road, losing the turnover battle, making some huge errors with penalties when it matters most (red zone) and we're up 4 points right now with possession in good field. I'm very happy with the game thus far. Some things piss me off, but these are angry circumstances to be where we're at.

A W would make a world of difference right now.

Go Register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Sep 17, 2007 11:09 PM EDT reply actions