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This past Saturday’s game between the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles had plenty of plots and subplots that would play themselves out with precision. Unfortunately for the Eagles, they were supposed to be the team to have things go their way… they didn’t.
The Redskins, behind a rejuvenated Robert Griffin III and a motivated DeSean Jackson, knocked the high flying Eagles from this season’s playoffs (now that the Dallas Cowboys have won their Game 16), beating them 27-24 just weeks after the green and silver were thinking they could make a run to the Super Bowl.
For Washington, this win showed the loyal fans who braved the cold on a rare Saturday evening game just what this team could become quickly if a few things were to fall in place. But the obvious question is whether Griffin is indeed the true quarterback-of-the-future for the burgundy and gold.
Griffin’s play Saturday seemed to squash any talk of the team needing to part ways with the former 2012 NFL Rookie of the Year. The concern about him is whether he can develop into an elite passer, displaying the necessary tools to effectively stay in the pocket and be “the” guy.
I have argued all year while covering this team that Griffin must have an effective pass-blocking line in front of him to become what his skill set says he can become. Yesterday he showed the poise and pocket presence that has been lacking at times. This was not due to stellar blocking up front. The Redskins’ make-shift line needs major overhauling at guards and possibly at right tackle, even though Tom Compton has played well at times. It was because Griffin trusted what was given to him by a porous Eagles’ defense that looked like they wanted nothing to do with this critical game that he was able to do what he needed to do at the quarterback position.
Jackson, who came over to the Redskins after being unceremoniously released by Philadelphia head coach Chip Kelly, had another game against his former team wherein he let them know what they are missing. The receiver’s big-play ability has made him a major factor for Washington, now and into the future. He and Griffin connected on several beautiful deep passes that I’m not sure another tandem in the NFL could consistently produce. Jackson, who surpassed the 1,000 yard mark in the game, became the fifth member of the Redskins to post 1,000 receiving yards in his first season with the team (Bobby Mitchell did it in 1962, Henry Ellard in 1994, Laveranues Coles in 2003 and Santana Moss in 2005).
Griffin would finish the game completing 16 of 23 passes for 220 yards and one interception. However, his willingness to stay in the pocket, not force throws and take what the Eagles’ defense game him was the story of the game. He distributed the ball to seven different receivers and looked comfortable getting the ball to this offense’s two bell-cows in Jackson (four catches for 126 yards) and Pierre Garçon (four catches for 61 yards).
Redskins’ head coach Jay Gruden made a concerted effort to run the ball as well. When you have a featured running back like Alfred Morris, this is a smart move and it seemed long overdue. Morris, who by the game’s end would become only the fourth player in Redskins history to post three career 1,000-yard rushing seasons with the team (Clinton Portis had four, John Riggins had four and Stephen Davis had three) was used early and often. Gruden would go back to Morris late in the game and he produced. He finished the game with 83 rushing yards on 21 carries, breaking the 1,000-yard mark on the season with the effort.
Morris would reach some rarified air in this game, joining Stephen Davis (1999-2001) as the only players in Redskins history to rush for 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. But he alone owns the distinction of being the only player in Redskins history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first three NFL seasons. He also became the second NFL player with 1,000 rushing yards in each of the last three seasons, behind only the Seattle Seahawks’ Marshawn Lynch.
One player that looks to have secured his place as a future leader — if not a current one — is rookie cornerback Bashaud Breeland. He has continued to battle some of the game’s best wide outs. Last week was a game that most would run from with a poor showing against New York Giants’ rookie sensation Odell Beckham. But Saturday, Breeland battled the Eagles’ Jeremy Macklin, Riley Cooper and Jordan Matthews all game long and ultimately made perhaps the most important play of the game. With the Eagles in position to score and take the lead, the rookie picked off a Philly quarterback Mark Sanchez pass with the game tied at 24. The timely interception was Breeland’s second of the season.
Gruden, who understands the rookie’s importance to the team and where he is headed as a player, described what he thinks Washington has in Breeland in his post-game press conference.
“No question, no question,” he said. “This guy is a great competitor. He wants all the action. He doesn’t want to have any safety help. He wants to be manned up and that’s the type of guy he is — very tough, very physical. He obviously came up huge for us today. As a rookie, he’s one of the guys we’re already leaning on as a leader back there. He’s a great competitor and a great find for us. He’s just going to get better and better.”
Did Gruden know his defensive back was going to be a star in the making?
“No, we’re very smart,” he joked. “If we knew he was that good, we wouldn’t have drafted him in the fourth [round]. We would’ve drafted him in the second [laughter]. But no, he just came in… let’s talk about guys stepping up when [veteran cornerback] D-Hall got hurt. Somebody had to step up and take those reps and it was Bashaud.”
The guy who should be team MVP and who is Pro Bowl-bound — linebacker Ryan Kerrigan — continued his special season, leading the defensive effort with another forced fumble and a sack. He improved upon his career-high sack total this season to 13.5 with the move, tying Ken Harvey (13.5 in 1994) and Dexter Manley (13.5 in 1984) for fourth in team history. Kerrigan also tied Harvey for the most sacks by a Redskins’ linebacker in a single season.
The 2011 first-round draft pick has now notched a full sack in five consecutive games for the first time in his career, becoming the first member of the Redskins to record accomplish the feat since Fred Stokes in Weeks One through Five of the 1991 season.
Washington played the role of spoiler for Philadelphia with this win and they now set their sights on their arch rival Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have locked up the division with this Eagles loss and their win Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, but the Redskins could still strike a blow to the Cowboys’ playoff seeding with a victory.
More importantly, however, this team can serve notice as to what they can become. A season-sweep of their hated rivals would work wonders out at Redskins Park and would carry some positive momentum into an offseason of uncertainty.
This next game could go a long way for Gruden, Griffin and several other players. Fans of the team need to see improvement and positives for next year.
