Tale of the tape...

[culpeper]

I watched the replay of the game last night (only the offensive possessions).

JC throw for 1st downs PAST the marker on 3rd downs (improvement from last year), go through his progressions VERY well, get the ball out quick, look comfortable most of the time, and scrambled to keep the chains moving when he had to (with a bum ankle). We had 21 first downs and drives of 15 plays, 14 plays, 10 plays, 13 plays, and 13 plays. We moved the ball REALLY well...to get 3 field goals. Devin Thomas's drop in the endzone was VERY catchable (hit him in the chest) and Sellers drop was inexcusable. 23-35 242yrds from JC is a solid day. Should have been 2 TDs and then we would be talking about how great he was all week. He made only 1 mistake all game, and that was the first pass underthrown to Kelly.

CP has been taking some heat for being on the downside of his career. I tell you what, you watch the tape, and I challenge you to come away from that feeling as if he did not get every yard that was out there. The OL does not block well in space and fails to move anyone. CP did show a burst when he had daylight...which happened 2x the whole game. 19 carries for 79 yards, 4.1 clip. He will show he still has it this year. Losing Randy Thomas is going to be a blessing in disguise.

Santana Moss is pathetic. He is lazy running routes, and the sooner we get the ball to Malcolm Kelly more often the better we will be. El in the slot is MONEY, and Cooley always does his thing.

I said 10-6 best case scenario and 9-7 worst case at the start. Im sticking with that. We will ROLL over the Lions this weekend....13-7 lol. We have a better football team than the scoreboard showed last weekend.

[Patrick]

I watched the replay of the game last night (only the offensive possessions).

JC throw for 1st downs PAST the marker on 3rd downs (improvement from last year), go through his progressions VERY well, get the ball out quick, look comfortable most of the time, and scrambled to keep the chains moving when he had to (with a bum ankle). We had 21 first downs and drives of 15 plays, 14 plays, 10 plays, 13 plays, and 13 plays. We moved the ball REALLY well...to get 3 field goals. Devin Thomas's drop in the endzone was VERY catchable (hit him in the chest) and Sellers drop was inexcusable. 23-35 242yrds from JC is a solid day. Should have been 2 TDs and then we would be talking about how great he was all week. He made only 1 mistake all game, and that was the first pass underthrown to Kelly.

CP has been taking some heat for being on the downside of his career. I tell you what, you watch the tape, and I challenge you to come away from that feeling as if he did not get every yard that was out there. The OL does not block well in space and fails to move anyone. CP did show a burst when he had daylight...which happened 2x the whole game. 19 carries for 79 yards, 4.1 clip. He will show he still has it this year. Losing Randy Thomas is going to be a blessing in disguise.

Santana Moss is pathetic. He is lazy running routes, and the sooner we get the ball to Malcolm Kelly more often the better we will be. El in the slot is MONEY, and Cooley always does his thing.

I said 10-6 best case scenario and 9-7 worst case at the start. Im sticking with that. We will ROLL over the Lions this weekend....13-7 lol. We have a better football team than the scoreboard showed last weekend.

Not really because the complaint would have "Skins could only score 17 points against the one of the worse teams in the league". I don't care if the score was 45-0, there will be some in the fandom the won't be satisfied no matter what.

[Hr fan]

Not really because the complaint would have "Skins could only score 17 points against the one of the worse teams in the league". I don't care if the score was 45-0, there will be some in the fandom the won't be satisfied no matter what.

Now, now. I agree that focusing on 2 players that are producing (JC and CP) is misplaced. Both rely on the OL, and we don't have one - and according to Snyderatto's public and recent pronouncements is not an area of need. Wasn't there a play called "A Majority of One" awhile back? Vinnie would have been perfect for the lead.

[CarMike]

Not really because the complaint would have "Skins could only score 17 points against the one of the worse teams in the league". I don't care if the score was 45-0, there will be some in the fandom the won't be satisfied no matter what.

I think that's excessive Patrick. I'm probably one of those you're referring to. I should be at least. If we beat the Rams 45-0, I wouldn't have a problem and would have loved it. But it didn't happen. And I'm not happy with the situation in DC.

[shally]

I watched the replay of the game last night (only the offensive possessions).

JC throw for 1st downs PAST the marker on 3rd downs (improvement from last year), go through his progressions VERY well, get the ball out quick, look comfortable most of the time, and scrambled to keep the chains moving when he had to (with a bum ankle). We had 21 first downs and drives of 15 plays, 14 plays, 10 plays, 13 plays, and 13 plays. We moved the ball REALLY well...to get 3 field goals. Devin Thomas's drop in the endzone was VERY catchable (hit him in the chest) and Sellers drop was inexcusable. 23-35 242yrds from JC is a solid day. Should have been 2 TDs and then we would be talking about how great he was all week. He made only 1 mistake all game, and that was the first pass underthrown to Kelly.

CP has been taking some heat for being on the downside of his career. I tell you what, you watch the tape, and I challenge you to come away from that feeling as if he did not get every yard that was out there. The OL does not block well in space and fails to move anyone. CP did show a burst when he had daylight...which happened 2x the whole game. 19 carries for 79 yards, 4.1 clip. He will show he still has it this year. Losing Randy Thomas is going to be a blessing in disguise.

Santana Moss is pathetic. He is lazy running routes, and the sooner we get the ball to Malcolm Kelly more often the better we will be. El in the slot is MONEY, and Cooley always does his thing.

I said 10-6 best case scenario and 9-7 worst case at the start. Im sticking with that. We will ROLL over the Lions this weekend....13-7 lol. We have a better football team than the scoreboard showed last weekend.

good luck with that prediction... if we play the Lions the same way we played the Rams, we will lose by 14 points or more

[shally]

I think that's excessive Patrick. I'm probably one of those you're referring to. I should be at least. If we beat the Rams 45-0, I wouldn't have a problem and would have loved it. But it didn't happen. And I'm not happy with the situation in DC.

count me among that number as well.. right now, we are a terribly dysfunctional team, if not a bad one..

[akhhorus]

I think that's excessive Patrick. I'm probably one of those you're referring to. I should be at least. If we beat the Rams 45-0, I wouldn't have a problem and would have loved it. But it didn't happen. And I'm not happy with the situation in DC.

How could anyone be happy with the situation in DC?

[Hr fan]

good luck with that prediction... if we play the Lions the same way we played the Rams, we will lose by 14 points or more

+1. Enough said.

[Brokenstriker]

nits ...
JC was throwing behind his receiver more than just the first pass. At least once on a crossing pattern, caught but turned the receiver around lining him up for the LB welcoming party and keeping him from potential yards after catch. He was a party to the botched hand-off where he tried to shove it into Seller's shoulder and then barely recovered. And he is incapable apparently of throwing with sufficient touch to execute the ancient yet reliable fade to the corner (that is one of the reason's tall receivers are supposed to be such a good thing right?)

But yeah ... much better performance. He put the ball in catchable places that would have resulted in +8 points assuming 1 point conversions ... so 17 - 7. A 10 point lead though is not a certain win until after the 2 minute warning and even then given the Skins looong reliance on the so called prevent defense I wouldn't rest easy unless the Skins were in possession with less than 2 minutes and a 10 point lead.

The problem with the Skins trying to live with such low scoring offense is that any NFL team is one play from beating them, or closing to make it a one-possession potential win (and lets not even start to discuss the Skins "prevent" defense). The Skins need to go +15 to take the possibility of a loss out of the range of likely outcomes ... and since they rarely score as much as 15 points every game is one lucky play away from another Skins loss ... and that's with the defense playing shut-down d.

I'll complain until they break the 13 point mark ... and grumble until they are posting 24+ ... like just about every team, good or bad in the league seems to do on a fairly regular basis. 45-0 and the only thing I'll be doing is checking to make sure its not a dream.

[Patrick]

I think that's excessive Patrick. I'm probably one of those you're referring to. I should be at least. If we beat the Rams 45-0, I wouldn't have a problem and would have loved it. But it didn't happen. And I'm not happy with the situation in DC.
Mike I not talking about anyone in specific ...... it's just a fact - there are many around (and I'm not just talking about hR) who just are not satisfied with anything this team does period. ......... From MPOV - I just want the team to win and if it's by two point to the worse team in the league so be it. I happy when the team WINS (kind of like the weekly thread) regardless of how it's done AS LONG as it's not at the expense of guys going down to injury and that's always a bummer. (Don't like players getting hurt - I KNOW and I'm one of the one's who profess it's all part of the game.) ..................NOW would I like to see them win in dominating fashion - sure why not but don't expect it to be that way in any game - just hasn't been the MO of this team. But I've been pretty upbeat all week and feel good about this game coming up. ........ You should know - I TRY my best to look at the situation in the most positive manner - don't always suceed but I try and I know that tends to piss some people off ...........(and I hope I never change) ;)

[akhhorus]

Mike I not talking about anyone in specific ...... it's just a fact - there are many around (and I'm not just talking about hR) who just are not satisfied with anything this team does period. ......... From MPOV - I just want the team to win and if it's by two point to the worse team in the league so be it. I happy when the team WINS (kind like the weekly thread) regardless of how it's done AS LONG as it's not at the expense of guys going down to injury and that's always a bummer. (Don't like players getting hurt - I KNOW and I'm one of the one's who profess it's all part of the game.) ..................NOW would I like to see them win in dominating fashion - sure why not but don't expect it to be that way in any game - just hasn't been the MO of this team. But I've been pretty upbeat all week and feel good about this game coming up. ........ You should know - I TRY my best to look at the situation in the most positive manner - don't always suceed but I try and I know that tends to piss some people off ...........(and I hope I never change) ;)

You can have any opinion you want to, and if you want to see the bright side in everything, go ahead. I want to deal with reality of the situation: the skins aren't a good team, have terrible coaching and the franchise needs some major reorganization. If you want to get happy about looking like crap against arguably the worst team in the NFL, feel free to, but you cross the line, imo, by trying to make the issue about those who disagree with you.

[SkinsfaninNJ]

nits ...
JC was throwing behind his receiver more than just the first pass. At least once on a crossing pattern, caught but turned the receiver around lining him up for the LB welcoming party and keeping him from potential yards after catch. He was a party to the botched hand-off where he tried to shove it into Seller's shoulder and then barely recovered. And he is incapable apparently of throwing with sufficient touch to execute the ancient yet reliable fade to the corner (that is one of the reason's tall receivers are supposed to be such a good thing right?)

But yeah ... much better performance. He put the ball in catchable places that would have resulted in +8 points assuming 1 point conversions ... so 17 - 7. A 10 point lead though is not a certain win until after the 2 minute warning and even then given the Skins looong reliance on the so called prevent defense I wouldn't rest easy unless the Skins were in possession with less than 2 minutes and a 10 point lead.

The problem with the Skins trying to live with such low scoring offense is that any NFL team is one play from beating them, or closing to make it a one-possession potential win (and lets not even start to discuss the Skins "prevent" defense). The Skins need to go +15 to take the possibility of a loss out of the range of likely outcomes ... and since they rarely score as much as 15 points every game is one lucky play away from another Skins loss ... and that's with the defense playing shut-down d.

I'll complain until they break the 13 point mark ... and grumble until they are posting 24+ ... like just about every team, good or bad in the league seems to do on a fairly regular basis. 45-0 and the only thing I'll be doing is checking to make sure its not a dream.

Not accurate. We were in the redzone a total of four times (forget the kneel down at the end for the fifth time). Assuming we get 14 points on two of those drives, we most certainly would have kicked the FG with 2 minutes to go to increase the lead to 20-7, no? So if TD's are caught this game would have been 20-7.

Now, if Moss doesn't fumble at the 29 yard line, we probably score at least a FG there too. Of course, the Rams would have scored as well on their fumble at the 5.

If we won the game 20-7, the feel this week would have been different.

[SkinsfaninNJ]

You can have any opinion you want to, and if you want to see the bright side in everything, go ahead. I want to deal with reality of the situation: the skins aren't a good team, have terrible coaching and the franchise needs some major reorganization. If you want to get happy about looking like crap against arguably the worst team in the NFL, feel free to, but you cross the line, imo, by trying to make the issue about those who disagree with you.

In Patrick's defense, the argument could still be made that this team will be better than last year. If this Rams win happened last year to move us to 7-1, after impressive road wins at Dal, Phil., we would have a different perception. We would have assumed it was a common let down that the team will come back and learn from, but we are happy to get out with the win.

I tend to agree with you that the way they played against the Rams and the fact we can't compete against the Giants coupled with the way we played the second half last year means we are destined for at best another 8-8 season.

But the perception of the Rams game narrow win could have been much different if the 2009 Redskins had accomplished anything before it. Now, we will see if they can accomplish anything after it.

[Redskinmayhem]

Not really because the complaint would have "Skins could only score 17 points against the one of the worse teams in the league". I don't care if the score was 45-0, there will be some in the fandom the won't be satisfied no matter what.

we tried to play "possession" ball vs. the Lambs. Had we scored those two TD's, 17-7 isn't all that bad. We're not a juggernaut. We're not the saints. All we had to do was beat the Rams, soundly, and we be talking about progression, improvement, etc. 17-7 is a sound ball control beating. Not to mention, scoring TD's swings momentum your way and taking the Rams out of the game early w/ Devin's TD would've been huge. At that point, who knows, it opens up other things. Not only for the offense but the defense as well.

I think those two drops were largely forgotten in the fecal-storm that arose from JZ's play-calling.

[akhhorus]

In Patrick's defense, the argument could still be made that this team will be better than last year. If this Rams win happened last year to move us to 7-1, after impressive road wins at Dal, Phil., we would have a different perception. We would have assumed it was a common let down that the team will come back and learn from, but we are happy to get out with the win.

I tend to agree with you that the way they played against the Rams and the fact we can't compete against the Giants coupled with the way we played the second half last year means we are destined for at best another 8-8 season.

But the perception of the Rams game narrow win could have been much different if the 2009 Redskins had accomplished anything before it. Now, we will see if they can accomplish anything after it.

The way they played against the Rams should undermine any hopes for a good season unless a lot of things turn around. The skins have a killer 10 game stretch against a lot of good offenses and good Qbs. And if they don't get things fixed shortly, 8 wins is a pipe dream. I honestly don't think anyone can say that this redskins team is better than last year's at all.

[SkinsfaninNJ]

we tried to play "possession" ball vs. the Lambs. Had we scored those two TD's, 17-7 isn't all that bad. We're not a juggernaut. We're not the saints. All we had to do was beat the Rams, soundly, and we be talking about progression, improvement, etc. 17-7 is a sound ball control beating. Not to mention, scoring TD's swings momentum your way and taking the Rams out of the game early w/ Devin's TD would've been huge. At that point, who knows, it opens up other things. Not only for the offense but the defense as well.

I think those two drops were largely forgotten in the fecal-storm that arose from JZ's play-calling.

No, that's actually the dumbest part for me. Your QB is dealing all over the field including the redzone. Can't be stopped except by dropped passes. So the next two times you are down there, you don't let him throw? Dumb, dumb, dumb.

[SkinsfaninNJ]

The way they played against the Rams should undermine any hopes for a good season unless a lot of things turn around. The skins have a killer 10 game stretch against a lot of good offenses and good Qbs. And if they don't get things fixed shortly, 8 wins is a pipe dream. I honestly don't think anyone can say that this redskins team is better than last year's at all.

Right now, I don't think so.

Funny thing you say too, because the entire time I was watching last week, I kept thinking that the 2008 defense is better than the 2009 defense despite AH, Hall for a full season and Rak.

[Redskinmayhem]

Not accurate. We were in the redzone a total of four times (forget the kneel down at the end for the fifth time). Assuming we get 14 points on two of those drives, we most certainly would have kicked the FG with 2 minutes to go to increase the lead to 20-7, no? So if TD's are caught this game would have been 20-7.

Now, if Moss doesn't fumble at the 29 yard line, we probably score at least a FG there too. Of course, the Rams would have scored as well on their fumble at the 5.

If we won the game 20-7, the feel this week would have been different.

All good points but still, all "IF's". As a coach, yo uhave to count on your guys to execute but you better have contingency plays when your guys don't produce.

Zorn's contingency plays are all one in the same. Sweep/stretch left. lol.

[Redskinmayhem]

No, that's actually the dumbest part for me. Your QB is dealing all over the field including the redzone. Can't be stopped except by dropped passes. So the next two times you are down there, you don't let him throw? Dumb, dumb, dumb.

exactly. put Jason in the shotgun, spread out 4 wr's and let him make a pass. If not for those two drops, we're in good shape.

*Again, I hate the "IF" game.

[SkinsfaninNJ]

exactly. put Jason in the shotgun, spread out 4 wr's and let him make a pass. If not for those two drops, we're in good shape.

*Again, I hate the "IF" game.

That's not really an if. There was nothing in Campbell's play that should have made Zorn get conservative in the last two trips into the redzone. That was just bad coaching.

[redskin_rich]

I don't think a lot of people realize just how bad the situation with the O-Line is. Playcalling is horrible but I wouldn't expect plays being called differently to change a whole lot. The right side of this line is horrid and it wasn't much better before Randy got hurt. Rabach gets shoved backward on every play at Center. Once Samuels knee gives out and that is very likely to happen this season, there will be no wheels left on this cart.

People keep pointing to two plays, that if made, would totally change the perception. I'm afraid every team in the league has a few plays every week that aren't made but they still make another play(s) later. We have no margin of error.

[akhhorus]

Right now, I don't think so.

Funny thing you say too, because the entire time I was watching last week, I kept thinking that the 2008 defense is better than the 2009 defense despite AH, Hall for a full season and Rak.

Well, thats because Blache wants to prove that his scheme still works in the NFL and will waste any talent he's given.

I don't think a lot of people realize just how bad the situation with the O-Line is. Playcalling is horrible but I wouldn't expect plays being called differently to change a whole lot. The right side of this line is horrid and it wasn't much better before Randy got hurt. Rabach gets shoved backward on every play at Center. Once Samuels knee gives out and that is very likely to happen this season, there will be no wheels left on this cart.

People keep pointing to two plays, that if made, would totally change the perception. I'm afraid every team in the league has a few plays every week that aren't made but they still make another play(s) later. We have no margin of error.

+1

[CarMike]

I don't think a lot of people realize just how bad the situation with the O-Line is. Playcalling is horrible but I wouldn't expect plays being called differently to change a whole lot. The right side of this line is horrid and it wasn't much better before Randy got hurt. Rabach gets shoved backward on every play at Center. Once Samuels knee gives out and that is very likely to happen this season, there will be no wheels left on this cart.

People keep pointing to two plays, that if made, would totally change the perception. I'm afraid every team in the league has a few plays every week that aren't made but they still make another play(s) later. We have no margin of error.

I certainly do. Our OL is in big time trouble. If Mike Williams, who hasn't played in the NFL since 2005, could start for us you know we're in for a world of trouble. Running behind this line, Portis will go TO before the end of the season.

[nicefellow31]

I don't think a lot of people realize just how bad the situation with the O-Line is. Playcalling is horrible but I wouldn't expect plays being called differently to change a whole lot. The right side of this line is horrid and it wasn't much better before Randy got hurt. Rabach gets shoved backward on every play at Center. Once Samuels knee gives out and that is very likely to happen this season, there will be no wheels left on this cart.
People keep pointing to two plays, that if made, would totally change the perception. I'm afraid every team in the league has a few plays every week that aren't made but they still make another play(s) later. We have no margin of error.

I know we have discussed this over and over but I don't get how the FO didn't address this in the offseason. Mind boggling.

[akhhorus]

I know we have discussed this over and over but I don't get how the FO didn't address this in the offseason. Mind boggling.

And they have the nerve to turn around and say this to the Post:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/jason-reid/play-calling-isnt-the-only-pro.html

In their internal offseason evaluation of the roster, the Redskins identified the offensive line as their main deficiency.

So...the Oline was the main deficiency to the skins, and they did nothing to address it. Does not compute.

[nicefellow31]

And they have the nerve to turn around and say this to the Post:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/jason-reid/play-calling-isnt-the-only-pro.html



So...the Oline was the main deficiency to the skins, and they did nothing to address it. Does not compute.

Indeed

[Patrick]

You can have any opinion you want to, and if you want to see the bright side in everything, go ahead. I want to deal with reality of the situation: the skins aren't a good team, have terrible coaching and the franchise needs some major reorganization. If you want to get happy about looking like crap against arguably the worst team in the NFL, feel free to, but you cross the line, imo, by trying to make the issue about those who disagree with you. Sorry Akh that I don't always see it your way either but thanks for your permission on letting me see it how I want. I NOT making issues with anyone but only pointing out the no matter what, there ARE some who will never be satisified with the Redskins and will always try to find the negitives. ...... I believe I said I "TRY" to look at the positives and was feeling good about the win this week . AND just to expand on that - AS YOU pointed out - yes the Skins looked bad against the Rams (again as you point out, one of the worse teams in the league) BUT the Skins DID beat them which is an improvement over last year - OR is this somehow a step backwards too. ........ Regardless - I'm not taking issue with anyone.

[akhhorus]

Sorry Akh that I don't always see it your way either but thanks for your permission on letting me see it how I want. I NOT making issues with anyone but only pointing out the no matter what, there ARE some who will never be satisified with the Redskins and will always try to find the negitives. ...... I believe I said I "TRY" to look at the positives and was feeling good about the win this week . AND just to expand on that - AS YOU pointed out - yes the Skins looked bad against the Rams (again as you point out, one of the worse teams in the league) BUT the Skins DID beat them which is an improvement over last year - OR is this somehow a step backwards too. ........ Regardless - I'm not taking issue with anyone.

I'm not responsible for your thoughts, so I can't give you permission for anything. But you are the one trying to make this about other people, so don't try to claim that you're not. You don't like that people are criticizing the skins after a win(which you yourself say was a bad win). Fine. Don't try to make people who think the team is in trouble the issue, because its not. And if you disagree with anyone's opinion on the team, then disagree with their opinions, don't try to get judgmental.

[Patrick]

I'm not responsible for your thoughts, so I can't give you permission for anything. But you are the one trying to make this about other people, so don't try to claim that you're not. You don't like that people are criticizing the skins after a win(which you yourself say was a bad win). Fine. Don't try to make people who think the team is in trouble the issue, because its not. And if you disagree with anyone's opinion on the team, then disagree with their opinions, don't try to get judgmental.
Not worth going any further with this but one thing - you do NOT have authority to tell people "Don't" or "Do" when they are expressing an opinion and if you have an issue with that take it up in a PM.

[akhhorus]

Not worth going any further with this but one thing - you do NOT have authority to tell people "Don't" or "Do" when they are expressing an opinion and if you have an issue with that take it up in a PM.

I never said that I had permission to determine what anyone said, nor did I ever imply that in any of my posts in this thread. I don't know why you're bringing that up.

[Taylor21TheUndertaker]

Why wouldnt it be better? Losing Marcus Washington, kendall, jansen, and springs.... adding dockery and haynesworth... young wrs develop, playbook develop, guys like horton and rinehart(fingers crossed) get better

[akhhorus]

Why wouldnt it be better? Losing Marcus Washington, kendall, jansen, and springs.... adding dockery and haynesworth... young wrs develop, playbook develop, guys like horton and rinehart(fingers crossed) get better

Orakpo is worse than Washington was at SLB and Blache isn't letting him contribute at DE much. Kendall vs Dockery smells like a wash imo. Heyer is worse than Jansen was(and Jansen wasn't good at the end of 08). Losing Springs was a positive and a negative, Hall's regression has made it a negative(but Springs is sucking donkey balls in New England). Haynesworth was a big improvement, but we swapped Jason Taylor for Philip Daniels(major negative) also. The young WRs(especially Kelly) are seeing more time, but Moss looks like he's mentally checked out of the season already(but Zorn continues to play him). On the balance, I don't think they're a better team.

[Taylor21TheUndertaker]

I see it as a wash with a year experience in the system. They should be better, to some extent.

[Redskinmayhem]

how many picks do we have next year? We're going to have to use the top two for the O-line, the 3rd for the Dline, Some more young LB's and hopefully pick up a good SLB or WLB (Lets see how Rocky Mc holds up - so far so good) in FA along w/ a good C.O.P. to spell CP. Maybe we trade Betts/rock??? lol.

Seriously though, we need to address the Oline this off-season. That's one major way we could get younger and better FAST.

[Brokenstriker]

Not accurate. We were in the redzone a total of four times (forget the kneel down at the end for the fifth time). Assuming we get 14 points on two of those drives, we most certainly would have kicked the FG with 2 minutes to go to increase the lead to 20-7, no? So if TD's are caught this game would have been 20-7.

Now, if Moss doesn't fumble at the 29 yard line, we probably score at least a FG there too. Of course, the Rams would have scored as well on their fumble at the 5.

If we won the game 20-7, the feel this week would have been different.

Fair enough +11 ... 20 - 7. re: Moss ... I'm not happy with the extending string of ifs. 2 "if caught" TDs already being credited ... now another "if not fumbled" ... bottom line is ... if they were a good team there wouldn't be if's. Reality check ... 2 point margin and plenty of opportunity for the Rams on their last possession with <2 minutes to go. Granted the D held ... so they get a win ... but play with fire long enough and you'll get burned. Odds are against them being > .500 if they keep the other team in the game until the final seconds .. and that's assuming they can manage to be leading with single digit point totals ... pretty sure that's amazingly long odds

[Brokenstriker]

besides ... everyone of those ifs changes more than the potential score ... If the Skins had a > 7 point lead ... they would probably have gone prevent towards the end ... and based on past performances the Rams probably would have scored at least a field goal and very likely a TD. Also the Rams would probably have called more aggressive plays if they were looking at the need to score more than a field goal to win the game in the final quarter ... give the Skins the ifs and you have to start looking at the impact that would have on the Rams ... they go no huddle .. they go for broke ... the go on 4th down ... etc.

Bottom line ... until something changes the Skins are either trailing or they are keeping the other team in the game. One defensive screw up ... one offensive screw up and bingo-bango-bop-o and the opposition goes ahead.

Don't think they play mistake free football well enough to live with that situation.