The Washington Redskins were the underdogs once again this week.  They were also playing without 3 defensive starters in DE Jason Taylor, CB Shawn Springs and LB Marcus Washington, but you wouldn’t know that from how they played together.  QB Jason Campbell finished at 16/29 and 176 yards.  RB Clinton Portis had 29 rushes for 145 yards and 1 TD.  TE Chris Cooley had 8 catches, 109 yards and 1 TD.  Game ball would have to go to RB Clinton Portis, the defense or my boy TE Chris Cooley.  The Washington Redskins are still the ONLY team in the NFL to not have a turnover by the offense.  Quite impressive. 

 

After the first few minutes of the game, the outcome looked dismal for these Redskins.  The Philadelphia Eagles scored a TD on their opening drive and then proceeded to run a punt return into the end zone for another TD, giving them a 14-0 lead. 

 

The Redskins first drive, however, saw an almost picked off pass by QB Jason Campbell, a missed catch by WR Santana Moss, then a pass into the ground by Campbell.   It did not look good at all. 

 

In the second quarter, the Redskins are still down 14-0.  A bad snap by C Casey Rabach causes Campbell to take a knee and the Skins settle for a field goal by K Shaun Suisham.  14-3 Eagles.

 

This is when the Redskins defense really turned it on.  They allowed only 3 points to the Eagles for the rest of the game.  The Redskins manage 2 more field goals before the half to bring the score to 14-9 Eagles.

 

In the 3^rd quarter, we see the Redskins offense spark.  In thrilling turn of events, QB Jason Campbell tossed to WR Antwaan Randel El who then passed to TE Chris Cooley for a TD giving the Redskins the lead at 16-14.  Randel El is 2-2 for passing.

 

Early in the 4^th quarter, RB Clinton Portis runs in for a TD to give the Skins a bigger lead at 23-14.  The Redskins defense keeps the Eagles out of the end zone and they have to settle for a field goal:  23-17 Redskins. 

 

In an interesting turn of events, WR Antwaan Randel El catches a pass, falls, but is never touched by an Eagles player.  He gets up, starts to run towards the end zone, but the refs call the play dead, even though he was clearly not touched in the replays.  The Skins could have been up by more than 6.

 

In the last couple minutes of the game, the Skins are sitting at 4^th and 1 and are not within field goal range.  If they punt, they give the Eagles a chance to score.  If they go for it and fail, the Eagles get great field position.  Head Coach Jim Zorn makes the call and RB Clinton Portis gets the yards.  1^st down Redskins and they can then let the clock run down as the Eagles had no more timeouts.  Great call, although gutsy, by Jim Zorn. 

 

The Redskins have their difficult part of their season completed with the last couple of away games against great teams.  The Redskins next play the St Louis Rams at home, then the Cleveland Browns at home and then travel to play the Detroit Lions.  I can’t see them losing any of these games, so by the end of week 8, they should be sitting pretty 7-1.

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Last post (s) by Mercedes Green

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Tags: Antwaan Randel El, Chris Cooley, Clinton Portis, Jason Campbell, Jim Zorn, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins