After recently – and surprisingly to all but Redskins fans — beating their NFC East division rivals (the Philadelphia Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants); the Washington Redskins have put themselves in a good position to grab a playoff spot in 2012. It’s all rather unbelievable, especially to Redskins fans who have witnessed discouraging records over the past decade and because of the amazing transformation of the team with its rookie quarterback (Robert Griffin, III). But this real possibility exists and it’s up to the media and the fans to think about and discuss it, not the Washington players themselves. Right now, they need only to think about their next opponent… the Baltimore Ravens.
Defeating the Ravens will not be easy. Baltimore has guys that can make plays that must be accounted for, like future Hall of Fame veteran safety Ed Reed, running back Ray Rice and wide outs Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith. While the offense pretty much revolves around Rice and the ground game, the Ravens are one of three teams with a pass reception yards-per-catch average of 12 yards or more. This kind of yardage moves the chains and the Redskins will have a tough time defending big pass plays if they are not in the right coverage.
But Ray Rice , while not ranking as high as Redskins’ rookie sensation running back Alfred Morris, is still one of the best backs in the league and the Redskins will need to stop him and force Baltimore to throw on those obvious passing downs. The key will be to disguise their coverage while making five-year quarterback Joe Flacco as uncomfortable as possible.
I don’t see this game as any sort of trap game even with the recent wins of the team. It might be easy for the Redskins to become somewhat over-confident but it doesn’t sound like they are. In listening to the players, they know what they are up against and the Baltimore players they need to be careful of, including the Ravens’ quarterback.
“He’s a guy that goes out there and does what they ask him to do,” defensive end Kedric Golston said this week. “Sometimes a quarterback gets too much of the blame and too much of the credit. But, without breaking out all of the film, he can make all of the throws. He’s strong, tall and more athletic than people give him credit for… so it’s going to be a challenge for us to get after him up front and try to get him flustered.”
Rice has had a good year after making sure he got paid in the off-season. With a 4.4 yards per carry average and having gained 872 yards this season, stopping him is key to making the Ravens one-dimensional. Washington’s defensive front will have their work cut out for them – especially against the likes of left tackle Michael Oher and a stout offensive line. But they’re very aware of the danger that “Baby Ray” presents.
“Ray [Rice] is special, man,” Redskins cornerback Josh Wilson explained – as only he can. “I like to know all the guys I’m taller than in the NFL and Ray is one of them. But he gets low to the ground and he makes it hard. He makes it hard to tackle him and he can ball up and he’s strong… strong legs and strong upper body and he’s just as dangerous catching the ball as he is running the ball so, he’s definitely a major part of — if not THE major part of — their offense.”
Fortunately, Washington has had some success of its own and, all things considered, this game should be a really good matchup. As good as the Ravens’ O-line is, the Redskins’ has gotten very good as well. Alfred Morris can attest to that, having gained 1,106 yards rushing this season. Quarterback Robert Griffin, III has been sacked 25 times but most of those were earlier in the year. His own rushing yards are breaking records. Center Will Montgomery, left tackle Trent Williams, guard Kory Lichtensteiger and the other offensive linemen have really gelled and are doing their jobs with consistency and, in my mind, are the unsung heroes of many of the team’s wins.
“They’ve been our motor, honestly,” wide out Santana Moss said of the line recently. “I mean, without the offensive line we can’t do anything. I remember the years when we couldn’t throw the ball downfield because we didn’t have guys blocking for Jason and stuff like that. The offensive line is never going to be the guys that get the recognition but when you have guys that are being successful like the receivers and like Robert and like Alfred, they know that at the end of the day, we’ve got to pat them on the back. I know every time I make a play, I come to them and tell them, ‘Great block,’ because I know somebody had to hold somebody up for me to get the ball downfield. They never get recognition for it but they know that they’re our motor and our backbone.”
Ravens’ safety Ed Reed probably poses the biggest problem for the Redskins of any player on the Baltimore roster. The man comes out of nowhere at speeds you wouldn’t think a guy his age could run. The danger lies in what he can do after this ball hawk gets his hands on the pigskin. So far, in 2012, the ten-year Pro Bowler has four interceptions for 78 yards, three fumble recoveries for 30 yards, a touchdown and 11 passes defended. These stats may not sound like much but any quarterback or receiver who plays him knows to keep an eye out for him at all times.
“It’s real tough,” Moss said about the safety. “[Reed] is one of those guys that, regardless of what you’re doing on the field, you gotta make sure you see where #20 is. Probably, like every team you cover, when it comes to how you plan him, you gotta make sure you’re not letting him bait you into anything. And that’s what he does well. He will bait you and make you think he’s doing something else. And he’s smart… he watches a lot of film and when it comes to a quarterback, I’m glad I’m not a quarterback and don’t have to sit out there and play mind games with him. But you just gotta go out there and play hard because he’s going to give you his best.”
When comparing Washington’s situation now in December of 2012 to where it was this time last season, there are likely Redskins fans that feel like they have been transferred to a different city with a different team. Looking towards their Week 14 in 2011, the team had just played – and lost to – the New York Jets, 34-19. RedskinsNation was waiting for the New England Patriots to come to town and it was not optimistic. The team eventually lost to the Patriots 34-27 and, while they actually played quite well considering their opponent, no one really expected them to win anyway, except perhaps the players. Washington’s final record last season was 5-11.
The 2012 season, however, is a completely different animal. Going into this Sunday’s game against Baltimore on a three-game winning streak, there is a hope that quarterback Robert Griffin, III and his team might actually win the “Battle of the Beltway”… IF the team keeps its focus on the game and not the hype surrounding their status in the playoff hunt.
But it would be naive to think that the players haven’t considered the possibilities that await them with continued victories. A lot of the rookies or younger players came from winning programs and what it feels like to be successful is still fresh in their minds. But there are veterans on this team that have either never even gotten to the playoffs or have only gone once or twice, notwithstanding guys like former New York Giant defensive tackle Barry Cofield or linebacker London Fletcher, who both came from teams that went to Superbowls. Like it or not, whether it’s right or not, the Redskins know what is at stake with each and every game they play from here on out.
“It’s great,” linebacker, special teams’ beast and eight year veteran Lorenzo Alexander said. “I’ve been in the league for eight years now and I’ve only been to the playoffs once. To finally be playing meaningful games and having a shot at reaching that goal in December is a great feeling. You don’t feel like you’re just trying to prove yourself to the next regime or just trying to get through the season. You actually have something to play for which is great for a change. The fans are really excited and there’s just a great moral in the locker room and in the community right now. And it’s great to be a part of it.”
It would be gratifying for the team to succeed for those veteran guys as well as the youngsters. Despite the singular focus, they can taste it… it’s just so close.
As long as this team stays focused on one game at a time – which they appear to be doing – they just might get to those playoffs.
Hail.
Diane Chesebrough is Editor-In-Chief, writer and photographer for SportsJourney Broadcast Network. Accredited media with the NFL, she has been a feature writer for several national magazine/periodicals. Follow her on Twitter: @DiChesebrough