First, I would like to apologize for taking so long with this piece. That sick feeling in my stomach after leaving Fed Ex Field on Sunday is just starting to leave…

Where to begin? Although I was furious after the game because we miss out on a huge opportunity at being one of six teams still undefeated, I am not worried. At least I keep telling myself that. Desperately trying to convince yourself that any lose is a good thing is damn near impossible to do, but like Kweli… I try.

Even though we are entering Week 4 of a very long season, I try to avoid writing about my beloved Washington Redskins during the season. I was afraid to praise them the first two weeks in fear of having it backfire in such a big game last Sunday. But now that it happened I am happy it did. I hate when the bandwagon articles start to surface and the DMV (DC/Maryland/Virginia, I hate this nickname, because who doesn’t hate the real DMV?) starts buzzing about my team. I read an article in the Washington Post last week about the team starting 6-0. I have co-workers and friends approaching me proclaiming they love Jason Campbell and we have a shot at the Super Bowl. This after everyone told me I was stupid for applauding the team for drafting Landry and arguing that Campbell is the truth. I hate that. It infuriates me that the Redskins are notorious for smelling themselves. Last year was a joke, so I am comparing this team to the 2005 team that made the playoffs.

In 2005, Gibbs entered his sophomore season of his second tenure. The Redskins flew under the radar to start the season quietly starting the season 3-0. Once the nation began to take notice what happened? We dropped two close games to Denver and Kansas City. After rebounding with a clobbering of San Francisco the stage was set for the biggest game of the season, the 4-2 Redskins against the 4-2 Giants. The Washington Redskins decided not to show up and got demolished 36-0. Do you remember that game? Tiki had 206 yards rushing! That was all I could think about as I walked to my car after the game on Sunday. Another statement game against the Giants where we don’t show up. The Skins eventually made the playoffs that season and will hopefully this year, but damn Gibbs, I need a big NFC East statement game to show me we are ready for the playoffs. I need to know we can handle a playoff atmosphere.

The 2007 Washington Redskins are a good team. Not a great team (yet), but a solid NFL team. We have a strong and capable defense, we can run the ball affectively, and have playmakers at receiver, tight end, and quarterback. There is no excuse for losing a game like we did on Sunday. When playing an offensive team such as the Giants we cannot afford to take our foot off the pedal in the third quarter. It is no secret that since Gibbs’ return the team has lacked the killer instinct. I want to see us run the score up on a division rival to say, “Yeh we kicked your ass, remember it because when we come to New York we are going to do the same thing.� Instead Gibbs showed that we can’t put teams away. If New York had fallen to 0-3 their season would have been over, any opportunity you have to end a division rivals season you do it. Instead we turned a two team race for the division (Washington & Dallas) into a four team race.

The Washington Redskins played too conservative in the second half. There was no urgency in the third quarter. Al Saunders and Gibbs were content with a strong first half and wanted to preserve it. Where were the screens? We have yet to run a screen for Santana all season. Where was the end around pass by Randel El? Why not work Lloyd into the offense? (I still like Brandon) Where was Cooley? Do Sanders and Gibbs watch film? When the Giants played the Cowboys tight end Jason Witten had 6 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. Against the Green Bay Packers the Giants allowed tight end Bubba Franks to have 4 catches for 20 yards and a touchdown. Even Green Bay’s backup tight end Donald Lee had 4 catches for 35 yards and a touchdown. Umm we couldn’t get Chris Cooley more than 3 catches for 19 yards? Todd Yoder couldn’t get a pass? He already showed he can demolish Weapon X up in Philly, you think Yoder couldn’t have done the same to Big Blue?

The Redskins only had the ball for ten minutes in the second half. Our offensive productivity was embarrassing. We had the ball for three minutes in the third quarter resulting in two three and outs. That’s too long for our defense to be on the field.

I have no problem with the last drive. I was impressed with how Jason got the team down to the one yard line during the two minute drill. I would have preferred to have Clinton in the game instead of Betts, but Clinton is still out of shape from skipping pre-season and practice.

I am taking this loss with a grain of salt. It was a great learning experience for our football team. Gibbs, Saunders, and Williams will not allow our team to lose a 14 point lead again this season. The Redskins fell apart right before the bye, leaving the taste of defeat in their mouths for two weeks instead of one. Coming off the bye the team faces the Detroit Lions, another team who can score in bunches and can’t be counted out of any game. Hopefully the Redskins have learned their lesson or my Week 5 synopsis might not come till the following Friday.