Playoff Push
 

I'm seeing a lot of pessimism about our playoff chances in spite of where we currently stand. If you take a look at the schedules of our playoff competitors we have BY FAR the simplest road to the post season. If we go 3-2 down the stretch (I think we're going to go 4-1) then we should be in as the 5 or 6 seed..

Current playoff standings from the Washington Times. NYG and Arizona are not listed as they are virtual locks to win their divisions.

2. Tampa Bay 8-3

Remaining: N.O., at Carolina, at Atlanta, S.D., Oakland

4. Chicago 6-5

Remaining: at Minn., Jacksonville, N.O., G.B., at Houston

5. Carolina 8-3

Remaining: at G.B., T.B., Denver, at Giants, at N.O.

6. Washington 7-4

Remaining: Giants, at Baltimore, at Cincinnati, Philadelphia, at S.F.

7. Atlanta 7-4

Remaining: at S.D., at N.O., TB, at Minn., St. Louis

8. Dallas 7-4

Remaining: Seattle, at Pitt., Giants, Baltimore, at Philadelphia

9. Minnesota 6-5

Remaining: Chicago, at Detroit, at Arizona, Atlanta, Giants

10. Philadelphia 5-5-1

Remaining: Arizona, at Giants, Cleveland, at Washington, Dallas

Re: Playoff Push
 

God damn NFC South. I am also worried that 10-6 might not be enough this year.

Re: Playoff Push
 

[quote=hooskins;503575]God damn NFC South. I am also worried that 10-6 might not be enough this year.[/quote]

Do you think Dallas or Atlanta is going 4-1 down the stretch or Minnesota is going 5-0? Otherwise it won't matter as long as we get to 10 wins. We will have tiebreaker advantages over all of them if we finish 10-6.

Re: Playoff Push
 

This weekend was my weekend to take our standings into consideration. 7-4 is not really bad if you think about the fact that we have a new coach/coach's, and a new offense. Usually when you do that it takes close to 2-3 yrs to be any kind of decent team. We all understand the learning curve.

Having said that 11-5 or 10-6 would be awsome. Making the play-offs is just the icing on the cake considering the Skins situation.

Also if I remember correctly someone said that our defense is not pass rush based but run stopping based. Everyone is wondering why we are not getting the pass rush or push and it's not designed that way. It's designed for run stopping. The CB's and S are supposed to be stopping the pass. before people start screaming for link...I thought I heard Blache state this in one of his pressers but it may have been simply announcers talking about our defense. So ....no link.

Re: Playoff Push
 

Why isn't Green Bay or New Orleans listed? They're both right in the thick of things as well.

Re: Playoff Push
 

[quote=RMSkins;503585]Why isn't Green Bay or New Orleans listed? They're both right in the thick of things as well.[/quote]

Based on the outcome of MNF neither team would rank higher than 9 but yes, the winner is in the thick of things.

Re: Playoff Push
 

[quote=Paintrain;503583]Do you think Dallas or[B] Atlanta is going 4-1[/B] down the stretch or Minnesota is going 5-0? Otherwise it won't matter as long as we get to 10 wins. We will have tiebreaker advantages over all of them if we finish 10-6.[/quote]

Sure I am worried, this is ATL's remaining schedule:

@SD
@NO
TB
@MIN
STL

SD is not that good, NO and TB will be tough but not impossible, and the Viks and Rams aren't great.

Re: Playoff Push
 

We play Giants then the Ravens next two weeks. We could, I pray not, lose the next two and end up with 3 must win games.

Not the best situation, and I don't know if Zorn has the ability to lead a team to win multiple games straight the way Gibbs did.

Re: Playoff Push
 

It also really depends on the QB situation in Philly as well...

Re: Playoff Push
 

[quote=hooskins;503590]We play Giants then the Ravens next two weeks. We could, I pray not, lose the next two and end up with 3 must win games.

Not the best situation, and I don't know if Zorn has the ability to lead a team to win multiple games straight the way Gibbs did.[/quote]

We may have to win 3 straight, I'm afraid. But it's do-able against cincy, SF, and the fading iggles at home. Still easier than what Gibbs faced.

Re: Playoff Push
 

That's true, I just wouldn't want to be in that position and I feel Gibbs' style is more suitable for a run.

Re: Playoff Push
 

I applaud your optimism and bringing reality to the situation Paintrain. We have as good a chance as anyone to make the playoffs. It's not a sure thing but there's no reason for panic. Did anyone really think we'd be in the hunt at this point? I like our chances as much as anyone elses.

Re: Playoff Push
 

[quote=Paintrain;503583]Do you think Dallas or Atlanta is going 4-1 down the stretch or Minnesota is going 5-0? Otherwise it won't matter as long as we get to 10 wins. We will have tiebreaker advantages over all of them if we finish 10-6.[/quote]

I'm confused Paintrain: from their schedule I figure Dallas probably goes 9-7 and misses the playoffs, and if by chance they do go 10-6 and we go 10-6 then sure we get the nod. But Carolina or Tampa is sure to get the 5th seed (the other takes the division), and ATL has a cakewalk schedule. I do think ATL is likely to go 4-1, with a loss to Tampa almost guaranteed. The only other team I could see beating them is Minn... really, Minn? No, I don't think so. ATL should take it to the Vikings. Hard to imagine ATL 11-5 after last year's disaster but I won't be surprised by it.

Re: Playoff Push
 

....

Re: Playoff Push
 

First of all, anyone who has watched football for more than two weeks should know that it is nonsense to look at the remaining schedule and say, we'll win this one, they'll lose that one, so and so should go 2-3, etc. It never EVER works out that way. We'll likely lose a game we should win, win a game no one counted on, and everyone else will do the same. December is a time of insanity in the NFL

What Paintrain's analysis shows us is that we have as good a chance as anybody else. It'll be fun watching these games down the stretch with the playoffs seemingly on the line every week.

Re: Playoff Push
 

[quote=SBXVII;503584]This weekend was my weekend to take our standings into consideration. 7-4 is not really bad if you think about the fact that we have a new coach/coach's, and a new offense. Usually when you do that it takes close to 2-3 yrs to be any kind of decent team. We all understand the learning curve.

Having said that 11-5 or 10-6 would be awsome. Making the play-offs is just the icing on the cake considering the Skins situation.

Also if I remember correctly someone said that our defense is not pass rush based but run stopping based. Everyone is wondering why we are not getting the pass rush or push and it's not designed that way. It's designed for run stopping. The CB's and S are supposed to be stopping the pass. before people start screaming for link...I thought I heard Blache state this in one of his pressers but it may have been simply announcers talking about our defense. So ....no link.[/quote]

We haven't stopped the running game in the past 3 games. We are starting to look soft, especially on the edges. I miss Sean Taylor; in yesterday's game I noticed at least three plays where a big gain would have been prevented and possibly blownup in the backfield or at the LOS. Oh well, we cannot live in the past. I just hope that we sure things up this week against the Va Giants.

Re: Playoff Push
 

I want us to make the playoffs more than anyone, but if we continue to play like we did yesterday, we will get elimanated in the first round. We barely beat a 2-8 team. We need to put this into perspective. We are not playing very well right now.

Re: Playoff Push
 

[quote=hooskins;503589]Sure I am worried, this is ATL's remaining schedule:

@SD
@NO
TB
@MIN
STL

SD is not that good, NO and TB will be tough but not impossible, and the Viks and Rams aren't great.[/quote]



Atlanta did lose to Denver at home I think they will lose both those road games

Re: Playoff Push
 

So once again we're dancing to the same "oh shit we have to make a playoff run" music that we have for the past two times that we did make the playoffs. And this is where games like vs. the Rams and Cowboys at home (winable games) come and bite us in the @ss. If we had won those two games, we'd be right behind the Giants and sitting well at 8-2, way ahead of all these other teams (except TB). Instead, we need to play for our lives for the next 5 games, barely holding on to the 6th seed.

Once again, I will gladly take my foot out of my mouth if the team proves me wrong, but nothing in the past three weeks tells me that this is a team that wants to go to the playoffs. And sadly, if we do, we'll be in the same situation as we've been before when we were bounced in the first or second round. Next week's game against the Giants we'll be the last true test of whether this team really has it in them to run the table and make the playoffs.

Re: Playoff Push
 

7-4 not bad. We're not an elite team right now. However, we're good enough to make it to the playoffs. We've got a good shot at it. We don't have to win 5 in a row like a couple years ago.

We'll see. If we can somehow get a win next week we'll be in excellent shape. Next week is one of those games we just need to win. Win ugly, win pretty...doesn't matter, just a win. We're due for a good home performance right?

Re: Playoff Push
 

[quote=Ruhskins;503629]So once again we're dancing to the same "oh shit we have to make a playoff run" music that we have for the past two times that we did make the playoffs.[/quote]

This year is much different than 2005 or 2007. We're not in must win mode at this point as we were in those years. 3-2 in these last 5 games would likely get us in.

And other than the Giants and Titans, there are plenty of teams facing a playoff push right now. I don't see what the big deal is.

Re: Playoff Push
 

[quote=Mattyk72;503646]This year is much different than 2005 or 2007. We're not in must win mode at this point as we were in those years. 3-2 in these last 5 games would likely get us in.

And other than the Giants and Titans, there are plenty of teams facing a playoff push right now. I don't see what the big deal is.[/quote]The Skins are in a much better position to make the playoffs this year than they were in 2005 or 2007. Heck, in 2005 the Skins were 5-6 after 11 games. The complicating factor for Washington is that the conference is better. The NFC South is very good and could send 3 teams to the playoffs, just like the NFC East. I can't remember the last time I had to root against the Falcons.

Re: Playoff Push
 

[quote=Spence;503648]The Skins are in a much better position to make the playoffs this year than they were in 2005 or 2007. Heck, in 2005 the Skins were 5-6 after 11 games. The complicating factor for Washington is that the conference is better. The NFC South is very good and could send 3 teams to the playoffs, just like the NFC East. I can't remember the last time I had to root against the Falcons.[/quote]

This is where the conference records come into play. Here's how the conference standings stack up right now among the teams the Skins will potentially be competing for a wild card spot for.

Bucs 7-2
Skins 6-3
Panthers 5-3
Falcons 5-3
Dallas 5-4
Bears 5-4
Packers 4-4
Vikings 4-5

Re: Playoff Push
 

After reading this thread and some other negative stuff, I think this applies:

What were your expectations for JZ's first year as a [B]Rookie head coach[/B]?
Have we made a good showing to date?
Beaten pre-season predictions?
Are we good enough to unseat the Giants? ....no, seriously

If you had been offered (before the season began) our current position in the standings with the games we have on the horizon to finish, you would have said Y/N?

We HAVE made a damn good showing with a realistic shot at the playoff's
S-bowl? realistically........not this year
Next year................maybe! I do expect to scare some people next year!
HTTR

Re: Playoff Push
 

I feel the same way the whole..." Whatever # in a row or we won't go" is getting old even if it's not quite at that point yet but we are getting close.

Angry- I totally agree with you. If our defense is supposed to be based off of run stopping then why weren't we able to stop the run? Maybe cause we game planned to defend the pass knowing Seatle is pass oriented and I think the announcers even said that, that Seatle is playing a chess game by running instead of passing. Also I could atleast count one O-linemen for Seatle holding on almost every run play. If not pulling on an arm they were pulling on the back of the jersey. On every kick off return I counted atleast one push from behind. The refs were not calling a lot of penalties. Apparently they were not calling any cause people wondered why Moss was not thrown out of the game for hitting the other player.

I know in little league and high school the ref's ask the coach's how they want the game called in reference to penalties so I wonder if the pro's do the same thing. Decide prior to the game if they want it called close or let the players play?

As for the Giants we need to pull a hat out of our bag. The defense has to play like the 8 games after the first time we played them. The offense needs to find its passing attack. I keep praying that Zorn is holding something back in order to use against the Giants....is it going to be Kelly?, Thomas?, Davis?.....the two TE sets? I just hope we pull a huge rabbit out of our hat and win the game.

Re: Playoff Push
 

Come on guys, we are in very good shape. Our D has held 8 of 11 teams under 20. The D plans around the other teams strength, and usually does a good to great job adjusting, the only notable exception was the Pitt game when Ben went out.
Our offense has to step up, but it is better than when we played the Giants the first time, so I think we will be good there too going down the stretch.
The only thing I absolutely agree with is that the Rams game really is going to be our Achilles heel this year, and I don't know if we can overcome it with all the other teams that are playing above par.

I REALLY wanted Carolina to win yesterday. :(

Re: Playoff Push
 

A win over either the Giants or Baltimore puts us in great position if we take care of business against Philly, Cincy, and SF. Our DBs dropped 4 INTs against Eli in week one, including a pick-6 by Rogers. We need to make EVERY opportunity count to have a chance against the G-men on Sunday.

Re: Playoff Push
 

10-6 will get some teams in but not all teams. If you want to guarantee yourself a playoff spot you need 11 wins. It looks like ATL might be going to the dance and there will only be one slot open for the rest of the conference.

Re: Playoff Push
 

[quote=Ruhskins;503629]So once again we're dancing to the same "oh shit we have to make a playoff run" music that we have for the past two times that we did make the playoffs. And this is where games like vs. the Rams and Cowboys at home (winable games) come and bite us in the @ss. If we had won those two games, we'd be right behind the Giants and sitting well at 8-2, way ahead of all these other teams (except TB). Instead, we need to play for our lives for the next 5 games, barely holding on to the 6th seed.

Once again, I will gladly take my foot out of my mouth if the team proves me wrong, but nothing in the past three weeks tells me that this is a team that wants to go to the playoffs. And sadly, if we do, we'll be in the same situation as we've been before when we were bounced in the first or second round. Next week's game against the Giants we'll be the last true test of whether this team really has it in them to run the table and make the playoffs.[/quote]

Did you forget that we won yesterday, or that we beat the Eagles and Cowboys on the road, or taht we beat the division leading Cardinals, or that we also beat two other conference opponents in the Lions (granted, everyone beats them) and Saints? The Rams and Cowboys at home (who by the way also lost to the Rams) aren't the only two games we played this year.

Re: Playoff Push
 

[quote=Defensewins;503621]I want us to make the playoffs more than anyone, but if we continue to play like we did yesterday, we will get elimanated in the first round. We barely beat a 2-8 team. We need to put this into perspective. We are not playing very well right now.[/quote]Yeah, but the physical domination on the road, plus the disciplined attack we used was something that was lacking when we were inn Detroit. It's not easy to go and blow out an opponent on the road, no matter how bad they've been playing to date.

Now, if we didn't physically beat them up, I'd be way more worried because we should be/are more talented on the lines than they are.

Re: Playoff Push
 

we had a chance to win them all... except now the Ravens game has been flexed and moved to prime time so we are screwed there. LOL

[url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AgTpuEQRta_XwvoGxSxobW5DubYF?slug=ap-flexscheduling&prov=ap&type=lgns]Redskins-Ravens game moved to prime time - NFL - Yahoo! Sports[/url]

Re: Playoff Push
 

[quote=Hog1;503662]After reading this thread and some other negative stuff, I think this applies:

What were your expectations for JZ's first year as a [B]Rookie head coach[/B]?
Have we made a good showing to date?
Beaten pre-season predictions?
Are we good enough to unseat the Giants? ....no, seriously

If you had been offered (before the season began) our current position in the standings with the games we have on the horizon to finish, you would have said Y/N?

We HAVE made a damn good showing with a realistic shot at the playoff's
S-bowl? realistically........not this year
Next year................maybe! I do expect to scare some people next year!
HTTR[/quote]


Sounds like you're making excuses. If you knock on the door and someone answers I expect you to make the sale regardless whether you're a rookie or not. Or as I tell my woman don't tease me, please me!

Re: Playoff Push
 

[quote=GTripp0012;503774]Yeah, but the physical domination on the road, plus the disciplined attack we used was something that was lacking when we were inn Detroit. It's not easy to go and blow out an opponent on the road, no matter how bad they've been playing to date.

Now, if we didn't physically beat them up, I'd be way more worried because we should be/are more talented on the lines than they are.[/quote]

We barely beat a 2-8 team.
But my real point is.... it seems Pittsburgh, Dallas and Giants have shown the rest of the NFL our weakness on defense, namely our DE's are really weak against the run. Seattle who is not a good running team averaged 7 yards a carry. Luckily Seattle is stupid and only ran the ball 20 times.
But the numbers are not good, M. Morris only 14 carries for 103 yards and J. Jones 2 carries for 21 yards. Our DE's need to tighten up their chin straps because the remaining teams are going to try and exploit them.

Re: Playoff Push
 

[quote=Defensewins;503815]We barely beat a 2-8 team.
But my real point is.... it seems Pittsburgh, Dallas and Giants have shown the rest of the NFL our weakness on defense, namely our DE's are really weak against the run. Seattle who is not a good running team averaged 7 yards a carry. Luckily Seattle is stupid and only ran the ball 20 times.
But the numbers are not good, M. Morris only 14 carries for 103 yards and J. Jones 2 carries for 21 yards. Our DE's need to tighten up their chin straps because the remaining teams are going to try and exploit them.[/quote]

While I won't disagree that our DE's are weak against the run, Seattle's running stats are a bit inflated. 44 yards came on 1 carry where there was a flagrant hold that wasn't called. Although even without that 44 yard gainer, they still averaged over 4.5/carry against us. We can be beaten to the outside.

If the Giants are smart (which they are), they'll pound Jacobs up the middle a bit, and work Ahamd Bradshaw off the tackles. We're gonna have to play our best game of the season on both sides of the ball to win this Sunday.

Re: Playoff Push
 

[quote=Darrell_Green_28;503780]we had a chance to win them all... [B]except now the Ravens game has been flexed and moved to prime time so we are screwed there. LOL[/B]
[url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AgTpuEQRta_XwvoGxSxobW5DubYF?slug=ap-flexscheduling&prov=ap&type=lgns]Redskins-Ravens game moved to prime time - NFL - Yahoo! Sports[/url][/quote]

Sure, we're 0-3 this year in prime time, but there is actually another way to look at this. The last time we had a game moved to prime time by way of flex scheduling, we rose to the occasion and dominated on the road (that would be the game against the Vikings last year). So let's just look at this as the table being set for us in identical fashion.

Re: Playoff Push
 

When Jason Taylor was injured, we had a good run defense. Now that he's playing, we can't seem to stop anyone. Whatever we gave up for Jason was way too much, but that's what we've always done. By the way, we didn't let the Cowboys score but 14 points in the second game, so we should have won that one. Now we have to find a way to beat the Giants this week.

Re: Playoff Push
 

[quote=Mattyk72;503646]This year is much different than 2005 or 2007. We're not in must win mode at this point as we were in those years. 3-2 in these last 5 games would likely get us in.

And other than the Giants and Titans, there are plenty of teams facing a playoff push right now. I don't see what the big deal is.[/quote]

The NFC is much more competitive than it was in 2005 or 2007. For instance, a 9-7 record won't get us into the playoffs, unless a heck of a lot of teams loose.

Re: Playoff Push
 

Lets talk about a team that won't make it ....lol....the Eagles. Someone told me that after McNoodle got benched he cheared and clapped when the opposing team intersepted the ball. Did anyone else see this also?

Re: Playoff Push
 

Never mind it's on the NFL network where the coach names McNoodle to start. It shows Cobb throwing an interseption and McNoodle clapping afterward but it looks more like he is just clapping and shaking his head like "man we can't catch a break."

Re: Playoff Push
 

[quote=saden1;503807]Sounds like you're making excuses. If you knock on the door and someone answers I expect you to make the sale regardless whether you're a rookie or not. Or as I tell my woman don't tease me, please me![/quote]
I would suggest to you, your woman may have more experience than JZ, or is she a rookie as well?
Right now from JZ, I'm getting a little of both!