'Skins Give One Away...

Joe Gibbs led his team into Lambeau Field today, where the Redskins proceeded to make the mistakes that have plagued the team since Gibbs' return to the franchise. The Redskins continually shot themselves in the foot with multiple mistakes, ranging from dropped passes to fumbles, as well as a disturbing and continuing inability by the coaching staff to manage the clock. At one point, Fox noted that the Redskins had dropped seven passes, the most egregious of which was Santana Moss' drop on a deep pass which ended up bouncing off of his face mask. This drop has been characteristic of Moss' season thus far, having dropped multiple passes. With at least two drops today (the one mentioned above, as well as one which, though thrown a bit high, as QB Jason Campbell has a tendency to do, is usually reeled in by Moss, which ended up being intercepted on the deflection), Moss further compounded his bad day by fumbling on a reverse. The fumble was picked up by Packer DB Charles Woodson and returned for a touchdown, putting the Packers ahead for good. Moss has struggled with injuries since the preseason (though the injuries that have been disclosed have nothing to do with his hands). Though he has battled through these injuries, missing only last week's game, it may be time for Moss to take some time and regain his health as his play is only hurting the Redskins at this point, particularly since WR seems to be a position at which the Redskins do have some depth.

In the fourth quarter, Fox analyst Troy Aikman was discussing an upcoming 3rd and 9 play for the Redskins during the timeout the 'Skins had just taken. With about seven minutes left in the game, Coach Gibbs took a timeout to contemplate the upcoming play. Aikman immediately started talking about the fact that, with the Redskins at GB's 37 yard line, the coaching staff should be thinking about whether or not they would attempt a field goal or go for it on 4th down, should they not make the first down on the play. After the play, a four yard pass to TE Chris Cooley, the Redskins took yet another timeout. Aikman wondered why the timeout was taken, noting that the coaching staff should have discussed the situation during the previous timeout and that this was a waste. A shot of Gibbs on the sideline showed him roaming around with an air of indecision. This look was similar to the confused look he exhibited at the end of the first half earlier this season against the Eagles, when the Skins again mismanaged the clock but were bailed out by a commensurately bad decision by Eagles coach Andy Reid. In this case, the coaching staff chose to forego a 50 yard field goal attempt by Shaun Suisham on a wet field, and went for it on 4th and 2. Campbell, with a bevy of options with approximately 6 players in the pattern, threw the ball to the only one who wasn't actually past the line of gain. RB Ladell Betts was unable to shake LB Nick Barnett on the swing pass and was quickly brought down. The Redskins failed to threaten the remainder of the game as, with no need to worry about the run, the Packers front four teed off and continually outplayed a depleted offensive line.

In the end, the Redskins went into a difficult environment, outplayed a good team, and gave a game away, taking away an opportunity to likely tie the Dallas Cowboys at the top of the NFC East (pending the Cowboys' result against the Patriots). Hopefully, this is the type of game that the Redskins will learn from and improve on, rather than an indication of another slide into the abyss.