Sports

You know how after a loss, athletes and coaches often make reference to the fact that the loss wasn’t attributable to any specific play but rather to a whole host of missed opportunities? Well, to a certain extent, that’s true. For example, against the Buccaneers, the Washington Redskins wasted numerous opportunities to put the match in a choke hold. We’re talking missed field goals, blown red-zone possessions, and untimely turnovers. But in a way, blaming a loss on missed chances doesn’t cut it. For example, against the Buccaneers, the Redskins fought their way back after being down by one score, only to lose the game because of one play that went horribly wrong (more on that later). Of course, either way, you’re still talking about a loss, so maybe the finer nuances of responsibility aren’t worth griping about. And on that note, I present to you the good and the not-so-good from Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers.

Add motivational speaker to Andy Reid’s resume. The Eagles head coach laid into his players after their “too little, too late” effort against the Chicago Bears. And considering that his NFC East-leading team responded with a much-needed 34-24 win over the Houston Texans during a short week, I’d say that whatever the big guy said made an impact. Here’s the good and the not-so-good from Thursday night’s game.

Once again, it looks like it’s going to be another tough offseason in Washington. That’s because, as is their custom, the Redskins are long on needs and short on draft picks. The team also has plenty of unproductive salary and old weight dragging on its roster. But for a team that’s been as poorly-managed as the ‘Skins have for the last decade, that’s par for the course. So no more stalling; here’s what the Redskins need to do this offseason to keep them on the path to contention.

Didn’t I tell you that NBC gets the best games? Depending on how the final six games of the season play out, Sunday night’s marquis divisional showdown between the Eagles and the Giants just might go down as one of the most memorable and important games of the 2010 season. This game looked like a blowout at first, and then saw two comeback efforts before it was all decided. But in the end, the red-hot Eagles took sole possession of first place in the NFC East. Here’s the good and the not-so-good from Sunday night’s exciting matchup.

The Washington Redskins are still alive. With a decidedly unpretty victory in Tennessee on Sunday, the “Gold Pants” Brigade evened their record at 5-5, ensuring that they remain two games ahead of a resurgent Cowboys team and at least one game behind either the Giants or the Eagles. But more importantly, they washed the stink of last week’s humiliating loss away. And while the team’s 19-16 overtime decision against the Titans might not have been the best bounce-back performance, the Redskins can still call themselves winners—at least for the next week. Here’s the good and the not-so-good from Sunday’s contest.