Desperate Times

In Redskins Insider, the new guy, I forget his name right now, said: "I know the Redskins did not play well in their 23-17 loss in Week 1 at Giants Stadium, but the despair many fans have expressed on the Insider, Internet message boards and sports-talk radio seems a tad premature to me. The reality is it was highly unlikely the Redskins, who've lost seven of eight against their division rivals, would win at Giants Stadium. And it's not as if they opened against a team that went winless last season."

But that's the problem. The reality is it was highly unlikely the Redskins would win in New York. IT SHOULD NEVER BE HIGHLY UNLIKLEY. NEVER! AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM!

I looked at the highlights of the game last night, and its frustrating to see that although the Giants showed that they were clearly better, the game was lost on 2 completely unnecessary plays.

1. The td pass to Manningham--Its third and 7 and Eli throws a 3 yard pass to the wideout. Smoot is there. I yell, "Go for the legs!" If Smoot took him down, that would have forced a long field goal attempt. 10 yards down the sideline, DeAngelo Hall has a chance to bump him out, but he "olays" it just like a little league short stop. Pathetic.

2. Campbell's fumble--The pocket was set up for him perfectly. All he had to do was enter the pocket with a step or two forward. Instead he got stripped by a player who was properly blocked to the perimeter.

2 plays, 2 touchdowns. Game over.

This week, we couldn't ask for a better situation to go 1-1. At home, on Sunday, at 1:00 against a lousy team, with a new coach, that is also a team that was lousy last year but beat us at home so they can't sneak up on us. Got that, Redskins!?

Will Zorn let Campbell go bombs away, or will he try to get a 16 point lead and then hold on for dear life and try to escape 16-13 like we've been doing the last few years. That the question Boswell asked today. If the Redskins don't blow out the Rams, it will prove that there is no improvement, and showing improvement is arguably as important as getting this win is.

I submit wishful thinking prediction: Redskins 31, Rams 13.