After a Bye Week, and the mistakes made on offense, well, that was quite depressing. So who earns the thumbs up and thumbs down this week?
Advertisement
Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins warms up before the game. He was the only offense that appeared to arrive in New England.
To find one positive in an ugly game of football, the offensive line for the Redskins played well.
It was the sort of sequence that makes all the hours of grinding on the practice field and studying in the film room worth it, a moment when everything comes together the way it’s drawn up – a play where everyone does their jobs, if you will. However, his running backs and wide receivers simply let him down. The Redskins don’t have one of the all-time great coaches or arguably the best-ever quarterback.
During the Super Bowl run in January, the Patriots made a move that didn’t gain a lot of attention. We keep hearing that Jones is the future premier back for Washington. “During the run after the catch, Lewis grabbed at his knee before hitting the turf and then remained on the ground for several moments while being tended to by Patriots medical staff”.
Even for a game that the whole world expected us to lose, I was disappointed in the manner in which the Redskins came out of the gate against the Patriots. Despite getting targeted six times in coverage according to NESN.com, Chung held tight end Jordan Reed to two receptions. The only time they did not score in a quarter during the season was in the first quarter of the very first game of the team.
Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson returns for the first time since injuring his hamstring Week 1. Brady still threw for 299 yards with touchdowns to Edelman and running back Brandon Bolden.
Cousins was 22 of 40 for 217 yards. Cousins simply didn’t deserve what his backs and receivers gave him today.
Roethlisberger, who went 24 for 44 for 334 yards and two touchdowns, exited the field of play with a foot injury, but Boswell’s boot ensured it did not cost them dearly on Sunday. Carrier dropped it. Another was a flawless pass to Pierre Garcon for a nice gain on the opening drive. They were also favored to win by more than two touchdowns, but that was not enough for Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who chose to employ an onside kick leading 7-0 in the first quarter. Unfortunately, the skilled players were completely flawless. This wasn’t the first game he recorded drops.
Thompson has always been used more heavily in the passing game.
Advertisement
-Defensive end Jabaal Sheard (ankle) missed his third straight game and has not practiced since suffering the injury October 18 in a win over the Colts. The Redskins rushed for just 37 yards on 15 carries. The larger point being that they’re 8-0, have the best offense in the league and the biggest point differential by far, and still haven’t played to the best of their ability. Larry Brown gained more than 5,000 yards from 1969-73 before barely gaining 800 over his final three years. Putting the ball on the turf is a good way to land yourself on the bench. Alfred Morris is the latest in Shanahan’s legacy of short-term backs after Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Clinton Portis, Reuben Droughns and Tatum Bell reached 1,000 yards in Denver. If they don’t want to use him, then trade him and get something for him. He’s got good size, good run skills, good blocker, pass protection, catches the ball well. The Patriots were winning, but giving up an average of 114.2 yards per game to rank 22nd in the NFL.
