Redskins-Cowboys Preview
The Redskins go into Dallas with a game they actually don’t have to win. Read that again. Against the biggest rivals in Redskins history all we actually need is a nice effort and some consistency again from the offensive and defensive units. At 2-1, the Redskins are decently positioned to make a run at the playoffs even if we fall to 2-2.
That we would ever get to this point seemed practically unthinkable three weeks ago when the Giants absolutely tarred and feathered the Redskins making their offensive look juvenile and brittle in the process.
The ‘Skins’ have come back though with two gritty efforts in the 4th quarter while being tied at home and in the Saints game, down by 9. This has been created through Jason Campbell playing incredibly sharp in the 4th as in the last two games he seemingly has made every correct play. Santana Moss has also played the 4th with the energy of someone who hasn’t played three quarters of football, as against the Saints and the Cardinals he scored the game winning touchdown. Yes it is official; Santana officially has his wheels back!
More importantly then even the play of Jason Campbell and Santana Moss has been the fact the Redskins have done nothing. That’s right nothing, or to put it differently, zero. Through three games the Redskins have given up zero,… yes zero points to opponents in the 4th. Zero is also the number of interceptions Jason Campbell has thrown this year. Not bad for a guy who folks last year rightfully said wilted under pressure last year.
As Campbell has beaten back his detractors, so has Redskins coach Jim Zorn. After looking overmatched coaching in his first game against the Giants, the Redskins have abated any sense that Jim Zorn isn’t ready. Against the Cardinals, Zorn made some calls that to be honest, would not have been made by the great Joe Gibbs. Gibbs at least in the last two seasons may have played things too conservatively to try to pass the ball on a situation like 3rd and 2 with the Redskins needing a first-down to seal a game. (which they did through a quick slant pass to Santana Moss.) Again last week, the Redskins held the ball on a 2nd and 7 late in the 4th and needed a first down to win against the Cardinals who had no timeouts. Conventional wisdom again would say that the Skins should have run. Zorn did not, instead calling a bootleg pass from Campbell to tight-end Chris Cooley that gained 22 yards and ended the game.
Not only did those call from Zorn turn out to be great, but by letting Campbell have control of the game late in the 4th, it seems like Zorn is doing exactly what Campbell implored him to do after the first game when he told to the coach to, “trust me.”
Unfortunately, we may need to end this love fest right here as Dallas very well may be the best team in the league. Terrell Owens may be cocky, but there is some truth to his statement this week that for now, “other teams really can’t stop us,” as the Cowboys currently have the number one ranked offense in the league.
The Cowboys defense on the other hand has hardly looked indestructible, giving up over 30 points to the Eagles. Still, in deference to John Madden, you obviously can’t beat a team you don’t outscore, and this Dallas offense looks to have more weapons than the Montana militia.
Want to double team Terrell Owens? Dallas tight end Jason Witten will simply burn you with quick passes to the flat. Put more men in the box to stop the powerful Marion Barber? Well, don’t be surprised if Tony Romo burns you deep. As Jason La Confora told me, the key to beating or at least remaining competitive with the Cowboys will be to limit their big plays. That may be tough with Linebacker Jason Taylor out, but if the Skins can make the Cowboys work slow and methodically down the field, they do have a shot to pull one out. Just don’t be surprised or that disappointed if they don’t, which pains me greatly to say during Dallas week.
Still, at least recently the Skins have stepped up to the plate against the Cowboys, and guys like Clinton Portis know exactly how big this game is. “You hear it all the time, no matter what happens in the season, just beat Dallas. That’s our Super Bowl.”
Skins fan can take heed. Dallas may be our Super Bowl as fans, but Portis told reporters that the Redskins intend to play in the real Super Bowl, a game that certainly doesn’t take place in week 4. With that mentality, anything is possible here. As Terrell Owens has said before, “sit back and get the popcorn out!”
That we would ever get to this point seemed practically unthinkable three weeks ago when the Giants absolutely tarred and feathered the Redskins making their offensive look juvenile and brittle in the process.
The ‘Skins’ have come back though with two gritty efforts in the 4th quarter while being tied at home and in the Saints game, down by 9. This has been created through Jason Campbell playing incredibly sharp in the 4th as in the last two games he seemingly has made every correct play. Santana Moss has also played the 4th with the energy of someone who hasn’t played three quarters of football, as against the Saints and the Cardinals he scored the game winning touchdown. Yes it is official; Santana officially has his wheels back!
More importantly then even the play of Jason Campbell and Santana Moss has been the fact the Redskins have done nothing. That’s right nothing, or to put it differently, zero. Through three games the Redskins have given up zero,… yes zero points to opponents in the 4th. Zero is also the number of interceptions Jason Campbell has thrown this year. Not bad for a guy who folks last year rightfully said wilted under pressure last year.
As Campbell has beaten back his detractors, so has Redskins coach Jim Zorn. After looking overmatched coaching in his first game against the Giants, the Redskins have abated any sense that Jim Zorn isn’t ready. Against the Cardinals, Zorn made some calls that to be honest, would not have been made by the great Joe Gibbs. Gibbs at least in the last two seasons may have played things too conservatively to try to pass the ball on a situation like 3rd and 2 with the Redskins needing a first-down to seal a game. (which they did through a quick slant pass to Santana Moss.) Again last week, the Redskins held the ball on a 2nd and 7 late in the 4th and needed a first down to win against the Cardinals who had no timeouts. Conventional wisdom again would say that the Skins should have run. Zorn did not, instead calling a bootleg pass from Campbell to tight-end Chris Cooley that gained 22 yards and ended the game.
Not only did those call from Zorn turn out to be great, but by letting Campbell have control of the game late in the 4th, it seems like Zorn is doing exactly what Campbell implored him to do after the first game when he told to the coach to, “trust me.”
Unfortunately, we may need to end this love fest right here as Dallas very well may be the best team in the league. Terrell Owens may be cocky, but there is some truth to his statement this week that for now, “other teams really can’t stop us,” as the Cowboys currently have the number one ranked offense in the league.
The Cowboys defense on the other hand has hardly looked indestructible, giving up over 30 points to the Eagles. Still, in deference to John Madden, you obviously can’t beat a team you don’t outscore, and this Dallas offense looks to have more weapons than the Montana militia.
Want to double team Terrell Owens? Dallas tight end Jason Witten will simply burn you with quick passes to the flat. Put more men in the box to stop the powerful Marion Barber? Well, don’t be surprised if Tony Romo burns you deep. As Jason La Confora told me, the key to beating or at least remaining competitive with the Cowboys will be to limit their big plays. That may be tough with Linebacker Jason Taylor out, but if the Skins can make the Cowboys work slow and methodically down the field, they do have a shot to pull one out. Just don’t be surprised or that disappointed if they don’t, which pains me greatly to say during Dallas week.
Still, at least recently the Skins have stepped up to the plate against the Cowboys, and guys like Clinton Portis know exactly how big this game is. “You hear it all the time, no matter what happens in the season, just beat Dallas. That’s our Super Bowl.”
Skins fan can take heed. Dallas may be our Super Bowl as fans, but Portis told reporters that the Redskins intend to play in the real Super Bowl, a game that certainly doesn’t take place in week 4. With that mentality, anything is possible here. As Terrell Owens has said before, “sit back and get the popcorn out!”
posted by The Gryphon at 4:44 PM
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