The main reason the Skins lost to the Eagles?

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

That's definitely true, but we put up 25 points on only 8 drives yesterday.

Point is, if a team loses a shootout, you still have to look at the defense for not stopping the other offense. Obviously in a loss, neither unit was perfect, but if one is close, and one is nowhere near close, which unit needs to be corrected first?

I don't disagree that the defense didn't play well yesterday, but at some point, the offense needs to win the game without the luxury of the defense playing lights out. Even with the defense making several mistakes, they managed at least one big play (forced fumble) and kept the game within range.

Just look at the eyes of the offensive players at the end of the game - does that look like fire, hunger, and confidence in their eyes? The only player that may have that look is Portis right now.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

I don't disagree that the defense didn't play well yesterday, but at some point, the offense needs to win the game without the luxury of the defense playing lights out. Even with the defense making several mistakes, they managed at least one big play (forced fumble) and kept the game within range.

Just look at the eyes of the offensive players at the end of the game - does that look like fire, hunger, and confidence in their eyes? The only player that may have that look is Portis right now.

A 5 point lead with 4 mins to go should hold if your defense is any good whatsoever. One of the biggest advantages you have is that FG range is eliminated from the consideration. As they get closer to the end zone, it gets tougher and tougher to score.

You just have to HAVE to stop the big play. The game was calculated PERFECTLY until that point. GW made the wrong call, the players made a bad play and we lost, just like that.

The execution just has to be better.

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

A 5 point lead with 4 mins to go should hold if your defense is any good whatsoever. One of the biggest advantages you have is that FG range is eliminated from the consideration. As they get closer to the end zone, it gets tougher and tougher to score.

You just have to HAVE to stop the big play. The game was calculated PERFECTLY until that point. GW made the wrong call, the players made a bad play and we lost, just like that.

The execution just has to be better.

Like I said, of course the defense didn't play well. And I know there's no convincing you, but there has to be a point where the offense just wins the game when given the chance. You can't rely on the defense at the end of the game to hold the other team, especially the way they were playing yesterday.

I think the expectation for the offense to just score enough points to get by and let the defense win the game is bullshit. For all the yards and points the offense scored yesterday - it doesn't mean shit until it can actually win a damn game. The frustation comes from patiently waiting half of a season without seeing that.

[warriorzpath]

I understand the defense did not play well yesterday, but bottomline - the offense had a chance to win the game and just didn't.

For a good confident offensive team, that's all you can ask for. The offense just isn't good or confident enough right now.

[Texanskin]

we have NO F$$%^$# Heart!!!!
The Patriots showed us how to do it with a lead and we cant mimick that attitude.
We have had a lead in almost EVERY game at the half. NO KILLER INSTINCT!!!!

[warriorzpath]

Of course the redskins are playing to win, but they just don't have (and I know it's an old cliche, but true) enough heart at the end, specifically the offense. An offense without heart at the end of a close game is a liability.

And I know I shouldn't be sticking up for a defense that allowed McNabb and Westbrook to burn them, but at least they made a big play(McNabb's fumble) near the end of the game and have been making big plays all season.

[Skinsfan1967]

A lot of the big plays that the defense gave up were the penalties.

[MTK]

The offense did enough yesterday to come away with the W.

Sorry, but the D blew it with countless DUMB penalties and a couple of back breaking big plays.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Simma down now. I see this thread headed down the wrong path.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Simma down now. I see this thread headed down the wrong path.

I doubt it. Warriorzpath doesn't seem like the kind of guy who will attack people who disagree with him. I think he's dead wrong, but he's made his case civilly.

[RMSkins]

The penalties were huge, but the red zone playcalling was absolutely horrendus.

[hail_2_da_skins]

When you are up by two points and a little over 5 minutes to go in the fourth quarter and you have a first down inside the five yard line, your offense has to find a way to score a touchdown. To me, that was the critical point in the game. The Redskin play calling was ultra-conservative, as if scoring a field goal was all that was needed. A five point lead with four minutes to go is not enough against Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook. These guys have historically killed the Skins in the past, you cannot give them a opportunity to beat you. A draw on 3rd and 7. Un-fu#king-believable.

[irish]

Everyone knew the D was supposed to be the strength of this team while the O has a young QB and would struggle. That means the D was supposed to do the heavy lifting, unfortunately they drop the ball when they need to step up.

They are an average D for an average team.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by irish

Everyone knew the D was supposed to be the strength of this team while the O has a young QB and would struggle. That means the D was supposed to do the heavy lifting, unfortunately they drop the ball when they need to step up.

They are an average D for an average team.

The D is definitely starting to look less than formidable. The losses of Taylor, Washington, and Rogers and the nagging injuries to Griffin and Smoot don't help, but I didn't expect this kind of downturn. They could return to form, but things don't look as good as they did a few weeks ago.

[Campbell17]

It's hard to tell, because all of them had their fair share. If we pass once or twice more on the stretch on the goal line, we win. If we don't make penalties, we get to have a chance on the D, and the defense played sub-standardly.