I Dislike Your Favorite Team

The Washington Football Team marched on Dallas with the confidence of a young Geronimo, nailing down a TD on their first possession. Four quarters later, the Redskins found themselves defeated, disenfranchised and dissolute. When Geronimo finally surrendered in 1886, he was down to sixteen warriors, twelve women and six children.

The Cowboys tore apart the patchwork Redskins secondary, and B.O. scored 4 TDs. The Redskins, once again, lost the game in the second half.

Gibbs was #1 in the league for 2nd half comebacks before he retired. Now he is #1 in the league for blown halftime leads. Playing for FGs rather than TDs is a large part of the problem.

In the fourth quarter, there was plenty of time to hand the ball to RB Portis, who could have scorched a deep gash on a draw against the wildly pass-rushing Cowboys. Even an attempt might have helped keep the defense guessing.

Instead ... down by five with 11:32 left in the game, the Redskins called thirty passes and zero runs to secure the loss. I am a BIG fan of QB Campbell. The word to describe his talent is "tantalizing." But wouldn't he have been helped by flashing the game-breaking sparkle of RB Portis (#6 NFL rushing yards) at least once in the final quarter?

QB Jason Campbell needed to have his best game to secure a victory, and he came up slightly short. While passing for a career-best 348 yards, he boofed a 4th quarter INT only twelve yards away from taking the lead. There was 1:50 on the clock, with timeouts available. The Redskins, again, had gone frantic.

The 5-5 Redskins have tumbled back into the dirty stinking NFC pack. It is becoming more challenging to argue that they don't belong there.

Next week they'll travel to sunny Tampa Bay, another pass-whacky team. S Taylor is doubtful, and that open wound in the middle of the secondary is devastating. With Taylor playing safety, the Redskins give up six yards per pass attempt. Without Taylor there to make it safe, B.O. averaged 21.6 yards per catch.

Hidden stat? The Cowboys had seven penalties for 58 yards. The Redskins had three penalties for seventy-one yards.

Shanahan Sucks?
There is mounting evidence that longtime presumed-genius Coach Mike "Rat Boy" Shanahan of the Broncos sucks. Forget last-season's handling of his D Coordinator and QB, or the Broncos disappointing 5-5 record. Tonight, the Broncos called two timeouts which should have cost them the game.

The first was another attempted last-second Cheezy-Freeze, which gave Titans clutch kicker My-my-my Bironas a second attempt at a long missed FG in the closing moments of the first half. Now able to read the wind, Bironas nailed the re-kick. Shanahan's Cheezy-Freeze against the Raiders in week one threatened to start an utterly lame fad. Let's hope that his being burned by a Cheezy-Freeze halts the ugly practice he geniused.

The other mistake with a last-second timeout was precipitated by the confusion of the Broncos D on 3rd and goal. It gave the Titans an unexpected opportunity to challenge the bad ruling on the previous play, and QB Young received credit for his sweet & painful TD.

I'm ready to become an apologist for Vince Young. Just like Vick, Young is an uncanny competitor whose efforts are undone by his supporting cast. At least ten incompletions hit his receivers in the hands. Young, like Vick, puts a whole lotta mustard on the ball. But millionaire WRs are paid to catch it. Sucks for TN.

IDYFT Cup
The Vikes beat the Raiders in a game so lame not even Jesus could watch. Culpepper made the Vikes really sorry they gave him the boot, contributing a fumble, INT and safety. That sentence, by the way, was a proper example of irony.

1. Green Bay Packers (+3)
2. Detroit Lions (+1)
3. Washington Redskins (0)
4. Minnesota Vikings (-2)
5. Oakland Raiders (-2)

Next Week: The USA is treated to a classic matchup in the dreadful NFC North, as the 6-4 Lions host the 9-1 Packers. I fully expect someone who gives a crap about either of these teams to offer up a prediction, preview or premature apology. But it ain't me babe. No, no, no, it ain't me you're looking for, babe.