With 1/4th of the season gone don't forget to check out the NFL Probability Experiment at the top. This look's like my best week of picks. And if you haven't already, like The Master Debater on facebook by clicking here!
1. The Defense Played Defense
Let's not mince words. The Defense won the game in Oakland, not RG3, not Alfred Morris, not Roy Helu and not the offensive line. One touchdown was given up on a blocked punt, the other on a Matt Flynn touchdown pass. That adds up to the defense yielding a mere 7 points. And after David Amerson's pick six the defense netted ZERO points given up. Meaning that all the offense had to to do was cover up the gaffe on the blocked punt and score another point. We needed 8 points from our offense to win, and we got 17. The missed tackles were not as glaring and with 7 sacks the pass rush also improved. However, it's not much considering that we were playing the Raiders without their starting quarterback or top two starting running backs. Frankly, if our defense couldn't absolutely suffocate the handicapped Raiders then there would be no hope of salvaging the season. But zero net points given up, 12 third down stops out of 17 attempts, two turnovers forced and only 74 rushing yards given up to McFadden and Jennings is simply a solid outing for any defense, especially the NFL's worst.
2. Turnovers Are Still A Problem
RG3 had no turnovers, no interceptions, no fumbles. Good to finally see him taking care of the football after three bad games. However, we still turned the ball over twice. Once on a fumble and once on a blocked punt which resulted in a touchdown. Roy Helu fumbled as well but got away with it because the Raiders were offsides. The offense isn't producing points. They had a single good drive in the first half that ended in a field goal. That was it. Three points. Turnovers are not going to help this team win games and if we're gonna beat Dallas in two weeks this has to stop. We're getting demolished by opposing teams and don't need to shoot ourselves in the foot as well.
3. RG3 Continues to Improve
I will continue to preach that everyone needs to give him 4 more games to get back to form. By then RG3 should be the dynamic play-maker we've all grown accustomed to seeing. And I know it isn't a fair comparison considering all the garbage time they've had to play with but RG3 has the most yards and is tied for most touchdown passes among last year's quarterback class. Wilson has 6, Luck and Kaepernick* have 5, Tannehill has 4, and Weeden has 1 and is probably benched for the season. All three have been a little slow to start the season playmaking-wise. Granted Wilson and Tannehill are both undefeated but I'm simply talking from a numbers standpoint. He didn't throw a pick, he slid when he ran, and he had a touchdown pass. It's better than 300 yards, 3 tds 2 ints and a loss.
4. Ryan Kerrigan is a Stud
In each of the first 4 games the Redskins have played, the defense has been attacked for their horrendous play. Lost in that barrage of hate and mediocrity is Ryan Kerrigan, the guy who plays linebacker opposite Brian Orakpo. He never misses a snap and has constantly pressured the quarterback in every single game this year. If he keeps this up he'll have twenty sacks (he has 5 right now) this season. Something unheard of since Dexter Manley's days in the 80's. Not only that but he's never caught an interception without taking it to the house. Every interception he's had has been for six points. Just an all around solid player. And to think people had us taking Blaine Gabbert in that draft...scary thoughts I tell ya.
5. Playoffs Are Suddenly a Possibility
Don't get me wrong, the Redskins are not winning the Superbowl this year. Anyone who is says otherwise is one of those delusional Redskins fans that give us a bad rap. But with the NFC East so completely and utterly horrible the Redskins are now tied for 2nd place with the Philadelphia Eagles. Dallas remains on top at 2-2 but face Peyton Manning's red hot Broncos next week. A win against Dallas after the bye and we're 2-3 and at the top of the East. If that happens then we're pretty much given a clean slate and a fresh start to the rest of the season as the first three losses won't mean anything.
Bottomline: To be honest, with games against San Diego, Denver, Atlanta, Kansas City (yes the Chiefs are for real), and San Francisco it's simply going to be tough come out on top. All the Redskins need to do is get healthy and focus on being the team that won 7 straight games at the end of last year. And despite all the raucous surrounding the NFC East and RG3 we just need to focus on playing football, one week at a time.
*Kaepernick wasn't in that draft class but emerged the same year so I included him.
1. The Defense Played Defense
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| David Amerson's pick six was the turning point in the game. |
2. Turnovers Are Still A Problem
RG3 had no turnovers, no interceptions, no fumbles. Good to finally see him taking care of the football after three bad games. However, we still turned the ball over twice. Once on a fumble and once on a blocked punt which resulted in a touchdown. Roy Helu fumbled as well but got away with it because the Raiders were offsides. The offense isn't producing points. They had a single good drive in the first half that ended in a field goal. That was it. Three points. Turnovers are not going to help this team win games and if we're gonna beat Dallas in two weeks this has to stop. We're getting demolished by opposing teams and don't need to shoot ourselves in the foot as well.
3. RG3 Continues to Improve
I will continue to preach that everyone needs to give him 4 more games to get back to form. By then RG3 should be the dynamic play-maker we've all grown accustomed to seeing. And I know it isn't a fair comparison considering all the garbage time they've had to play with but RG3 has the most yards and is tied for most touchdown passes among last year's quarterback class. Wilson has 6, Luck and Kaepernick* have 5, Tannehill has 4, and Weeden has 1 and is probably benched for the season. All three have been a little slow to start the season playmaking-wise. Granted Wilson and Tannehill are both undefeated but I'm simply talking from a numbers standpoint. He didn't throw a pick, he slid when he ran, and he had a touchdown pass. It's better than 300 yards, 3 tds 2 ints and a loss.
4. Ryan Kerrigan is a Stud
In each of the first 4 games the Redskins have played, the defense has been attacked for their horrendous play. Lost in that barrage of hate and mediocrity is Ryan Kerrigan, the guy who plays linebacker opposite Brian Orakpo. He never misses a snap and has constantly pressured the quarterback in every single game this year. If he keeps this up he'll have twenty sacks (he has 5 right now) this season. Something unheard of since Dexter Manley's days in the 80's. Not only that but he's never caught an interception without taking it to the house. Every interception he's had has been for six points. Just an all around solid player. And to think people had us taking Blaine Gabbert in that draft...scary thoughts I tell ya.
5. Playoffs Are Suddenly a Possibility
Don't get me wrong, the Redskins are not winning the Superbowl this year. Anyone who is says otherwise is one of those delusional Redskins fans that give us a bad rap. But with the NFC East so completely and utterly horrible the Redskins are now tied for 2nd place with the Philadelphia Eagles. Dallas remains on top at 2-2 but face Peyton Manning's red hot Broncos next week. A win against Dallas after the bye and we're 2-3 and at the top of the East. If that happens then we're pretty much given a clean slate and a fresh start to the rest of the season as the first three losses won't mean anything.
Bottomline: To be honest, with games against San Diego, Denver, Atlanta, Kansas City (yes the Chiefs are for real), and San Francisco it's simply going to be tough come out on top. All the Redskins need to do is get healthy and focus on being the team that won 7 straight games at the end of last year. And despite all the raucous surrounding the NFC East and RG3 we just need to focus on playing football, one week at a time.
*Kaepernick wasn't in that draft class but emerged the same year so I included him.
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