January 7, 2013
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
A bad snap. A twist of the knee. A fumble. The Seahawks recover.
That is how the remarkable season of the Washington Redskins came to an end. If the snap had been less painful, Robert Griffin III’s knee healthier, perhaps there would be rejoicing instead of disappointment. Instead, players and fans alike are left wondering the same thing: what if?
It is easy to forget that the Skins were down by just one touchdown before RG3 injured his knee again lunging for a loose ball. It hardly seems worth remembering now. The ball was recovered by a Seahawk, setting up a first and goal. The Redskins defense held Seattle to a field goal, and, down ten points with five and a half minutes to go, left fans at FedEx with their hopes in the hands of backup quarterback Kirk Cousins.
But, unlike week fourteen against Baltimore, Cousins was unable to mount a thrilling late-game comeback. When he missed a receiver on the fourth down, fans began to file out.
The ending seemed surreal. Perhaps because the beginning had been so perfect. RG3 led his team on two flawless drives – two possessions, two touchdowns. Fox announcer Joe Buck said it “couldn’t have started any better for Washington.” Unfortunately, that was the end of perfection for the Redskins – in fact, it was the end of the offense altogether. The Redskins were unable to score a single point after the first quarter; by halftime, they had given up thirteen unanswered points and were hanging onto a fragile one point lead.
They held onto that lead until the fourth quarter, when Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch broke free for a twenty-seven-yard touchdown run. The Seahawks then had a successful two-point conversion to put them ahead by seven. The Skins were backed up by their goal line when Griffin went down, which set Seattle up for a short field goal and the insurance points they needed.
Questions are now being asked about the capability of RG3 during the game, and whether or not the outcome would’ve been different if Cousins had gone in earlier. It was clear, even in the beginning, that Griffin wasn’t operating at one hundred percent. It became increasingly clear as the game drew on, as he was ineffective. However, he stayed in and only left after he injured his knee late in the fourth quarter.
“I don’t think me being out there hurt the team in any way,” Griffin said in his post-game conference. “I’m the best option for this team and that’s why I’m the starter.” He admitted that he probably put himself at risk by staying in but added, “Every time you step on the football field in between those lines, you’re putting your life, your career, every single ligament in your body in jeopardy. My teammates needed me out there, so I was out there for them.”
Despite the criticism he is now facing, Coach Mike Shanahan stands by his decision, noting that he felt Griffin had earned the opportunity to stay on the field. “He [Griffin] said, ‘Hey, trust me. I want to be in there, and I deserve to be in there.’ I couldn’t disagree with him.”
While one cannot question Griffin’s dedication and fearlessness, one has to wonder if the decision was the best one for his health, as well as the team.
It was a heartbreaking end for a team that had hoped to continue their impossible run towards a championship. At 3-6, they went on to win seven straight games and earn a playoff berth for the first time in five years. While their playoff life was cut short, their turnaround season was still more than most fans had hoped for. “From the laughingstock of the NFL to the NFC East champs with a very bright future,” one fan said after the loss. “I’m okay with that.”
NHL
While many DC-area fans are still reeling from the Skins’ loss, there is one bright spot: hockey is back.
After 113 days, the owners’ and players’ union finally reached an agreement and put an end to the NHL lockout. It has seemed like an eternity.
So much has happened since the Capitals have been on the ice – both the Nationals and the Redskins have had successful seasons and a playoff berth – things that seemed unimaginable this time last year.
Several Caps players, including Jason Chimera and Mike Green, headed to the team’s ice complex in Arlington on Monday, with several more expected to join them soon. The season will likely start on January 19 and consist of forty-eight games.
While the season may have been greatly delayed and shortened, with the recent Redskins loss and the Wizards still struggling, it will be nice to see the Capitals back in center stage.
