HAIL YEAH - Redskins Week 2 Recap

It’s recap time for the 2-0 Washington Redskins.  I’m warning you from the beginning, this is kind of a long, ugly story, but it has a happy ending, so try to stick it out.  

The Skins started the game by dominating the statistical categories BUT……unfortunately this included the turnover category.  In the first 2 possessions, Grossman threw 2 interceptions.  The first was terrible – after a 12 play, 70 yard drive, Rex just made an awful play.  The 2^nd maybe not his fault, as their appeared to be a missed holding call that kept Anthony Armstrong from catching the pass.  The Cards took advantage of the 2^nd INT, and put a quick TD on the scoreboard.  On their 3^rd drive, the Skins still couldn’t put the ball in the end zone, but to start the 2^nd quarter, Graham Gano did hit a 26 yard field goal to make the score 7 to 3.

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Later in the quarter 2, both Tim Hightower and Roy Helu had big time runs to set up a 1 yard passing touchdown from Grossman to Fred Davis, who had another big game.  The defense had a great 2^nd quarter, forcing the Cardinals to punt on every possession.  With time running out, the Skins were in position to kick another field goal and take momentum going into half time.  BUT…….Campbell blocked Gano’s kick and the good guys had to settle for a 10-7 lead at the half.

The 2^nd half started on a good note for the Redskins when team captain London Fletcher intercepted a Kevin Kolb pass intended for Andre Roberts.  BUT…..our O failed to do anything with it, gave the ball back 5 plays later.  The Cardinals scored another TD and went up 14 -10.

AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Moving on to the 4^th quarter – Gano put up a 23 yard field goal early on, bringing the good guys to within 1 point of the Cards.  BUT……1 play later Larry Fitzgerald burned D-Hall for a 73 yard touchdown.  Now down 21-13, but with plenty of time on the clock, the Skins put together a great drive of their own that ended with a 18 yard TD pass to Santana Moss.  They went for the 2 point conversion, which really made sense, but missed leaving them down 21 – 19 with just over 5 minutes left.  Boy did the Skins D pick it up.  Ryan Kerrigan, today’s Dude of the Day, batted down a Kolb pass forcing a punt in Arizona’s next series.  This allowed the Skins to drive and give Graham Gano a shot at a 34 yard field goal to take the lead.  BUT…… JK – HE HIT IT!!!!!!  Skins go up by 1 with 1:45 left in the game.  First play of the Cardinals next drive, Byron Westbrook forced a fumble, which Reed Doughty recovered.  After a series of time outs and kneel downs, the Skins punted.  Peterson returned the punt 29 yards and who do you think made the tackle to end the game…..none other than the punter, Sav Rocca.  That’s right – we saw you #6.  

We already told you Rexy wasn’t so sexy this week, but for exact numbers, he was 25 of 43 for 291 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.  Hightower ran the ball 20 times for 96 yards and Helu was a big contributor running the ball 10 times for 74 yards.  Tight end Fred Davis was the leading receiver with 6 catches for 86 yards and Jabar Gaffney and Santana Moss weren’t far behind him.  Rocky McIntosh was the leading tackler on the night.  And let’s not forget Brandon Banks who averaged 26.3 yards on kick returns and 18.3 on punt returns.

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Some off the field notes:  This was the first game where FedEx field used solar power.  20% of the electricity used on game days is now generated from solar power and 100% of the electricity on non-game days is generated by the sun.  The Dudettes are all about going green and give this 2 thumbs up.  There to help NRG, the company behind this new solar power, celebrate were Joe Montana, Doug Flutie, Joe Theismann and Mark Rypein.  I saw them all, but people kept getting in the way, so I can’t give myself any photo credits this week.  Any way – you got 3 Super Bowl MVPs and the guy behind one of the best play in college football history right there.  Kinda cool.  Finally, I would just like to say how much I like Roy Helu.  I really enjoy LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUing every time he gets the ball, plus the way people say the name reminds me of that Friends episode where Ross and Rachel got married in Vegas – Heluuuuuuuuu Mrs. Ross.  Heluuuuuuuuu Mr. Rachel.

And finally, let me leave you with this.  WE WANT DALLAS, WE WANT DALLAS!!!!