The Washington Redskins can compete with the New York Giants. They proved as much by going toe-to-toe with the Baltimore Ravens Friday night in a close 34-31 loss.
The Redskins held the lead for 59 minutes, 38 seconds of the game before giving up the winning score to the Ravens that was set up by blown Special Teams coverage that wasted Sav Rocca’s 55-yard punt and allowed the Ravens to return the ball to the Redskins’ 35. Tyrod Taylor threw the go-ahead touchdown to Brandon Jones three plays later.
That score was given up by Washington’s back-ups competing for a spot against Baltimore’s back-ups on the same mission. The group earlier survived Talmadge Jackson’s interception of Kellen Clemens pass attempt to Terrance Austin at the Baltimore 47 by forcing a three and out on the Ravens subsequent possession.
The first team jumped Baltimore for a two-score lead with two big first quarter plays. DeAngelo Hall intercepted Joe Flacco’s pass at the Washington 48 and returned it for the touchdown.
On his first rotation at quarterback, John Beck completed a 33-yard pass to Anthony Armstrong to advance the ball to Baltimore’s 37. Two plays later, Tim Hightower rushed from there for the score.
Baltimore managed two second-quarter touchdowns but Washington answered with Rex Grossman’s 24-yard scoring strike to Santana Moss to close out the half.
The likely starters stood up to a Ravens team that did not overlook them as the Steelers and Colts did. We are talking about some red-hot Redskins who passed the test we set for them just yesterday.
Do the offensive linemen legally hold blocks for 2.5 seconds? Without benefit of a coach’s camera, the starting offensive line held up well enough to win the game. They did give up a second-quarter sack on John Beck, offset by a defensive holding call on Baltimore. There were not penalized for holding in the face of pressure by Baltimore’s front seven. We grade them 3.0.
Does the quarterback average 7.0+ yards per pass attempt? Sure did. Rex Grossman averaged 7.5 yards and John Beck 10.8. The Redskins overall averaged 7.2 yards per attempt factoring Kellen Clemens’ performance. We grade them 4.0.
Did the defense make third-down stops and force turnovers? The Redskins stopped the Ravens on eight of 13 third-downs. That is a competitive performance. The Ravens stopped the ‘Skins on eight of 11 third-down attempts. That is an issue for Kyle Shanahan, but we are evaluating the defensive performance now.
Washington scored two turnovers, one by a fumble recovery, the other on Hall’s pick-six. For that alone, we grade the team 4.0.
Overall Grade: 3.67, B+
Player highlights:
Everybody is focused on the quarterback race and overlooking other important factors. The running game will be a plus over 2010 whether or not Ryan Torain returns to the line-up. I do not believe that Tim Hightower, Roy Helu, Evan Royster or Torain are the equal of Clinton Portis on his best days. They do not have to be to make Shanahan’s ground game work.
Only Wayne Fontes frustrated me as a fantasy football player more than Shanahan. Fontes stubbornly pulled Barry Sanders whenever the Lions were close to the goal line, depriving me of scoring opportunities. (Yes, I still resent it.) Shanahan used the feared running-back-by-committee, in fantasyese “RBBC.” RBBC will work for these rushers, but fantasy players should be wary of Shanahan’s RBBC approach.
Why aren’t people making more noise about punter Sav Rocca? The man is a freakin’ weapon. Rocca averaged 53 yards per punt. One went over 60 yards. Field position, people! Field position.
Lets show some love to safety Davonte Shannon who made the most of his second-half appearance with six total tackles, two for a loss, one sack, one QB hit and a pass defended. His performance mirrored Ryan Kerrigan’s, although it came against Baltimore’s third and fourth team. But, still….
Crossing my fingers that a MRI today shows DE Jarvis Jenkins’ knee to be no more than sprained.
That quarterback race? I now agree with Kyle Shanahan that the Redskins can win with either Beck or Grossman, as far as that goes. But, that’s what the regular season is all about. We shall see.
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