You can reach Rich Tandler by email at WarpathInsiders@comcast.net
During a TV interview following the Redskins’ win over
the Giants, Gregg Williams was informed that the Cowboys had come back to win
their game against Carolina. That meant that the Redskins wouldn’t be able to
have a playoff spot wrapped up until next week.
“I like the fact that we have to win next week,” said
Williams. “I think that’s good for this football team. I don’t think
we’ve accomplished nearly enough to be able to think that we can take a week
off.”
You have to like that point of view and it makes perfect
sense. Coaches are always looking for the extra edge to motivate their players
and certainly the opportunity to keep playing and keep those paychecks coming in
is as good and as practical as any incentive. If the Redskins had clinched this
week, there is a chance that they would lose focus and intensity.
Next weekend’s schedule sets up perfectly from the
perspective of Williams and, presumably, the rest of the coaching staff. There
is no way that the game on Sunday at 4:15 will be rendered meaningless for the
Redskins. While a Dallas loss would clinch a playoff spot for the
Redskins regardless of the outcome of the game in Philadelphia, that game
doesn’t kick off until 8:30 PM on Sunday. If that doesn’t keep the team
focused on winning their game, nothing will.
The playoff seed possibilities are narrowing down for the
Redskins. If they go 10-6 and win the NFC East, they will be the four seed.
Seattle and Chicago have locked up #1 and #2 respectively. The winner of the NFC
South will either have 11 wins or it will be Tampa Bay at 10-6 and the Bucs
would get the higher seed due to their win over the Redskins.
If the Redskins win on Sunday to earn their playoff spot,
they will be the five seed if Carolina loses at Atlanta and they will be the six
seed if the Panthers win. If they manage to back in despite a loss on Sunday,
they will be the six seed.
If Washington wins the division it will host either the
Giants, Panthers, or Bucs. A Wild Card berth will earn a trip to one of those
three teams.
Finishing up in style
In his first tenure here, Joe Gibbs’ teams were an
impressive 8-3 in the 16th game of the season. On top of that, they
never suffered a loss in the final game of the regular season that cost them a
playoff spot. In 1991 they had wrapped up home field throughout the playoffs, so
their loss to the Eagles was merely an exhibition. In 1987 the Redskins had been
eliminated the previous week, so all their overtime loss to Cincinnati didn’t
matter.
Only in 1992 did a final-game loss have playoff
implications. Facing a win and in, lose and need help scenario going into a
Saturday afternoon game against the Raiders, the Redskins came up short, losing
21-20. Fortunately, they got the help they needed the next day as the Packers
lost and the Redskins were able to back in.
Big Blew
The New York writers didn’t take out the long knives on
the Giants after the game nearly as bad as the press in Texas went after the
Cowboys after their loss in Washington. Still, they don’t take losing lightly
in the Big Apple. Here are a few tidbits from a
column by Steve Serby in the New York Post.
This was the day the Giants should have made a loud statement - to the Redskins, to the 90,000 fans that shouted them down and cursed them, to all the other NFC teams with Super Bowl dreams. They were as quiet as church mice, and just as big, instead.
Little Blue shrunk to the occasion.
Big players play big in big games, and Big Blue was nowhere to be found.
Blue Christmas.
Better yet, Blew Christmas.
In the old days, you could always count on pride and toughness from the Giants defense. LT steaming around the corner against Joe Jacoby, with Leonard Marshall creating his own havoc on the opposite side. Harry Carson and John Riggins smashing mouths. Jim Burt nose-to-nose with the Hogs.
Little Blue yesterday.
"They just basically threw the ball up and had some fun with it," Michael Strahan said.
They threw a roadblock in front of sackless Strahan and Osi Umenyiora.
So many fingers of blame to point, so little time:
