After the first half of the regular season, I should never have expected the Redskins to get into the playoffs.
I should be filled with elation that the team not only made it into the playoffs, but survived the first round against the Lions.
But still.
They were winning. 13-0. They had all of the momentum. We were going to beat the Bucs and move on to face Jacksonville (where we would have been creamed, but we would have been contenders for the NFC championship).
Then Johnson throws one goddamned interception, the Bucs get a touchdown, and suddenly the Skins can do no right and the Bucs can do no wrong.
Goddamnit.
JMCJ
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A small nitpick – wouldn’t the 'Skins have moved on to play the winner of Minnesota/St. Louis instead of Jacksonville?
Wally:
I consider the Titans/Bills game payment in full for the Bills playoff comeback against the Oilers (92-93?) Which would you prefer? The quick, painless death of the Music City Miracle, or the slow, incredibly painful death of the Greatest Comeback Ever?
“A bad snap?” Hardly. Even if the snap was perfect, I give Conway a 50-50 shot (at best) at making a 51 yarder in Tampa Bay under that kind of pressure. And if he did make it, the Bucs still had a minute left on the clock, which is an eternity if all you need is a field goal. The third down call right before the attempt (the run right at Sapp that got stuffed in the backfield) is a classic example of Norv beating himself. They should have played for the first down there and about ten more yards after that, setting up a neat little 38 yarder with 20 seconds or so left on the clock. “A bad snap” is not what did them in.
The IQ of a group is equal to the IQ of the dumbest member divided by the number of people in the group.
Be thankful that you are not a Lions fan. Every year they give you hope…and then slowly kill you by beating themselves. Which is why it helps to have a “back up” favorite team in Detroit.
No, but you have to admit it was incredibly inept.
None of that matters, because St. Louis is going to annihilate Tampa Bay (after they pound the Vikings).
Well… if you’ll allow me to use “bad snap” to refer to the entire sequence of events following the snap. Johnson desperately grabbed up the ball and looked for a receiver… but everyone seemed to be just standing there. Both tight ends and everyone lined up outside them were eligible receivers. Conway himself was (obviously) in the backfield. SOMEONE could have gotten open, or at least tried. But Brad had absolutely no go-to options. It’s entirely within the bounds of possibility that they could have at least converted the down.
If it was only the play with the bad snap, I wouldn’t have been cussing all up and down last night.
But the turnovers that let the Bucs back into the game (Johnson wasn’t pressured when he threw the INT), and the terrible play-calling on second and third downs before the FG try at the end…gag. Retch.
There’s a big difference between fighting the good fight and losing (e.g. against the Colts), and blowing a game you had in hand (e.g. opening game against Dallas, first Philly game, last night against the Bucs).
Well. It still was a better season than I would have expected. But what a stinkin’ end.
Very true. And although it seemed like a big lead (13-0) it’s well to remember that the offense only got into the red zone twice in three quarters, and took away two field goals. Brian Mitchell’s amazing 100 yard kickoff return gave the 'Skins more points than the offense ever put on the board.
All too true, Rick. And one of those field goals was after Darrell Green’s interception and return; the offense didn’t even get a first down before the FG.
Off topic, but what the hey: anybody interested in a DC area Doper get-together? Figured while I had a bunch of 'Skins fans in the room was a good time to ask.
Now, having said that, I’m sure the Rams will CRUSH my beloved Bucs. Here in Tampa, we were all rooting for the Vikings so we could have the championship game at home. Bummer!
[shameless self promotion]
Be sure to visit www.buccaneers.com! [/shameless self-promotion]
According to today’s Post, consider both Turks (Matt and Dan) gone It was inevitable considering the problems with them leading up to the botched snap.
And count me in for a DC Dopers “drown your sorrows” fest.
Why did the Washingtonians (dislike their team name) have only one man go downfield? Shouldn’t Johnson have been yelling “Fire” while 2 or 3 guys scramble out?
At least when Jimmy Johnson’s team gets destroyed, he blames himself. Dennis Green claims that the Vikings played hard for 60 minutes and didn’t quit!
