Vision Quest: One More for the Road

What the Redskins have done the last four weeks is nothing short of amazing. Going on the road they won in Arizona and St. Louis. They then hosted the Cowboys and for the first time in ten years they completed the sweep in stunning fashion. In fact they won 35-7, which is the most lopsided win in franchise history. Next the NY Giants came to town, complete with boxes of “NFC East Champion” t-shirts in boxes ready to go. They did not get a chance to open them as the Redskins avenged an earlier loss and brought the Giants to their knees with a 35-20 drubbing.

While the Redskins were taking care of business, other teams have fallen by the wayside. Everyone’s hot pick Minnesota cooled off considerably losing the last two games and getting eliminated sinking their playoff chances like the Love Boat hitting an iceberg. Atlanta also lost their last two proving that there is more to a Quarterback then athletic ability and Michael Vick has a lot of work to do. So combined with the Redskin victories they now have the ability to control their own destiny and get to the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

All of that means absolutely ****Censored by Spence**** if they do not win on New Year’s Day.

The Redskins season comes down to winning at Philadelphia on the last game of the season. This is always a dangerous proposition. Even though the Eagles are without Donovan McNabb, Michael Westbrook, and Terrell Owen, they are still a division rival and Lincoln Field is a very hostile environment. They have to bring their A game to win.

Normally I would be worried as hell about this game. Who am I kidding; I am worried as hell, but not as much as I would be in previous seasons. This game has “Let Down” written all over it. Four straight victories by the Redskins with some serious injuries including Randy Thomas, Carlos Rogers, and Mark Brunell as a result. A road game against a division rival with nothing left to lose. And during the week a “controversy” about Lava Arrington could be a big distraction. Normally I would be very very worried.

However there is something different about this Redskin squad. It can be summed up in one word, Character. There is one man who can be thanked for this, Joe Gibbs. This has not been a very easy season for our skins and many of us would have been happy with an 8-8 record. From the moment the schedule came out it looked like the deck was stacked against us, but the Redskins took everything in stride. In the opening game Ramsey was benched and the Redskins went with what many of us thought was the worst free agent signing in Redskin history, Mark Brunell to lead the squad. However the Redskins responded with winning not only the Chicago game but also the next two games at Dallas and against Seattle at home. After losing two tough road games at Denver and Kansas City, the Redskins respond with a 52-17 shellacking of San Francisco. After getting pummeled by the NY Giants 36-0 they return to Fed Ex and beat reigning NFC champion Philadelphia who at this point was only without TO and Donovan McNabb and Michael Westbrook were still playing.

The next three games though were the low point of the Redskin schedule. Losing to Tampa Bay, Oakland, and San Diego despite being ahead in the 4th quarter. Each loss was different and more debilitating losses. Not being able to stop Tampa’s mediocre offensive attack and a bogus 2 point conversion by Tampa, leading 16-3 on an Oakland squad that has in all accounts quit on the season and forgetting to run the ball in the 2nd half, and then San Diego where it seemed tackling was optional. The team went from playoff contender at 5-3 to left for dead at 5-6.

But like the Phoenix they rose from their ashes and were reborn. Gibbs called his veteran players into his office and gave the season over to them. He told them this is their season. He said that if they want to go to the playoffs, if they want to have a successful season, they would have to rise up and win the next 5 games. Gibbs didn’t just charge the players with a task and walk out of the meeting though. He listened to the vets who wanted to pound the ball more. So out of that meeting a TEAM was born, for the first time since 1992. A team that plays together and knows what it has to do to win.

The results we all know now. A 24-98 dismantling of St. Louis where Rock and Portis ran the ball with abandon. A 17-13 win in Arizona where the 12th man traveled and drowned out the Arizona faithless. The 35-7 demolition of the Dallas Cowboys giving us our first sweep over the hated rival in 10 years and one of the best moments in Fed Ex history. Then last weeks 35-20 revenge against the NY Giants where even an injury to Mark Brunell could not keep the Redskins down and Santana Moss beat Will Allen like he took his girlfriend.

Before Sunday’s game I just wanted to proclaim one thing. I love this team. Sure there are holes such as the lack of a 2nd receiver or a true pass rusher on the defensive line. And there are injuries to our best offensive lineman in Randy Thomas. But I love this team more then any other team since 1991. They play hard and show up for every game. I even love them more then the playoff team of 1999 that won 10 games but had no character or heart when it came to the big games.

I believe the Redskins will win because of who they are, a “Team” for the first time in years. I believe the Redskins will win because of who they play for, the fans that have supported them like no other Redskin team in recent memory. I believe the Redskins will win because of who they are coached by, Joe Gibbs a man of integrity and the only coach in the NFL with a bust already in Canton. But mostly I believe the Redskins will win because of I believe that this year is something special something that does not come along often. And this year’s Redskins are something very very special indeed.

Playoff Rooting Cards

Even though I know we are going to win to get into the playoffs there are still higher seeds to hope for. So with that in mind here is your playoff-rooting card.

NY Giants at Oakland. A NY Giants loss is the only way for the Redskins to win the division and get a home playoff game. A win by Norv Turner’s lackluster team would be the best thing he has ever done for the Redskins. I hope Kerry Collins wish for revenge and the loss of Jeremy Shockey and bruised ego will help NY choke. Go Oakland you rat bastards!!!!

Carolina at Atlanta. A loss by Carolina can help the Redskins by assuring us the 5th seed if NY wins and we win. And I just can’t forgive those damn panthers for allowing the Cowboys to be alive in the playoff hunt still. Go Atlanta!!!

New Orleans at Tampa Bay. No real help for the Redskins here, as Tampa owns the tiebreaker over them. But a loss by Tampa could put them in the wild card with us in the division and then they have to come to our house to play. New Orleans has not won one time I have rooted for them, this is what it must be like to be a Saints fan. Go Saints anyways!!!

St. Louis at Dallas. While I believe we will win a Cowboy loss will also assure us a playoff spot. Thus I hate the damn Cowboys and a 9-7 season may propel Bill Parcells into the retirement home and/or prompt Dallas to go get TO, two things that will assure a destructive season next year as well. Go St. Louis!!!!

That’s it guys. One more to go to the Promised Land.

Hail Redskins!!!