The Redskin Report

Most folks predicted our Redskins would lose this week, and most people would be right.  While there is much wailing and gnashing of teeth in Redskinville, we can take heart in two things:  the score was not indicative of how close the game was (nor was it indicative of how far apart the two teams were).  Washington missed an realistically makeable field goal just before the half, and nearly had a touchdown in the dying moments; those would have produced a more reasonable score of 23-17.  Poor performance in the defensive secondary, in the punting game, and way too many drops by the wideouts on catchable balls.  It didn’t help that Clinton Portis was injured, nor that Jason Campbell had a pedestrian game himself.  However, regardless of the Doom and Gloom in some quarters, Washington is nearly guaranteed a playoff spot if they win 4 of the last five, and have a reasonable chance at 3 of 5.  There are four games left; sweeping the table should get these guys in.  That said, we have two serious tests still ahead, one this week against the Ravens, and two weeks later against the Eagles.  Winning this week goes a long way, so go Skins!

Just as the Redskins game was neither as close as might be thought, nor as bad as the doom and gloom crowd are moaning, this week’s Pigskin Pick’em results are misleading; while there are four games separating this week’s winners from the lowest picks for the week, those picks in most cases made all the difference.   This week’s winners were A. Fishman’s picks, Star City Sportzcatz, Hot Stuff Coming Through, we want dallas, and lostnbigD with 11 points out of the 16.  That’s pretty good indeed, so props to our weekly winners.

Upset pick of the week was last week’s “Hottest Team in the AFC”, the New York Jets, losing to the erratic Denver Broncos.  The old adage of “don’t believe your own hype” seems to have been in full force here!  I miss Schroeder to Bryant and Tidewater Picks didn’t believe the hype; both of them correctly predicted Denver’s humiliation of Brett Favre’s team.  Kudos to both of them for the Upset Pick of the Week!

Last, but definitely not least, is our stretch run at the championship.  This week saw the first time this season where our season leader has had a distinct separation between him/herself (yes, some of the players are female) and the pack, with Hot Stuff Coming Through taking his already decent lead and expanding it to four points, at 123; while that’s still surmountable, it’s starting to become a winning edge, and is only a mere three points below the full season total for the season champion from two years ago, we want dallas.  However, below that we have a little bit of a shakeup in the (for the last two weeks) solid ranking at #2 and #3.  chris horton hears a who is still in second, but with a tenuous one game lead for the position at 119.  At #3, we now have a tie, with last season’s champion A. Fishman’s picks pulling into a tie (and owning the tiebreaker) over 22209 at 118; a number of other players are close behind, with 9 more players in the next 6 points.  It’s still possible for nearly anyone to win who has been playing all season, but some of the folks who haven’t been as diligent are already, like the Lions, out of the picture.  As we make our way through these last four weeks, we’re setting up for a furious finish!  However, props to our season winners, and I’ll pick up next week again.

It’s Week 13 of the season, which allows us to see our week 11 results.  After this weeks win over the Seahawks, we’re now 7-4, and once again in control of our destiny (for at least another week), and in the sixth and final playoff spot in the NFC.  With 2 tough games in a row facing us, though, we may need a furious finish (going 3-0) to cement that final wildcard spot; this week looms very large, as an upset win over the Giants would put us way out ahead in the drivers seat for that final spot.  An excellent performance this weekend could be the key to victory.  In last week’s Pigskin Pick’em, that excellence propelled Texas Redskin to his second week this season as our weekly winner; that’s the kind of performance that really helps a player!  Props to Texas Redskin for his excellent week.

Upset pick of the week is an easy choice, for me; while I knew that the Jets were decent, I didn’t think they had any chance of beating Tennessee this week; very few people did.  However, a few of our players did, including Texas Redskin, Fletchskins, Veretax’s picks, Java_woman, Sundayisforfootball, I miss Schroeder to Bryant, and Pizzatown.  Kudos to those who knew Brett Favre would carry the day!

Last but not least, we have our Season Leaderboard.  There is no change in the order at the top this week, though the scores have tightened up slightly (especially for those that are just off the pace at the top).  Hot Stuff Coming Through is still in first, with 112 points, followed by chris horton hears a who with 110 and 22209 with 109.  There are a number of players still within easy spitting distance of those players, though, and with five weeks left, there’s still a lot of movement possible.  At any rate, once again, Props to our season leaders!  Remember there are THREE games this Thursday, so get your picks in early.

Like everyone else, I’m depressed today.  The Redskins could have, and probably should have, won this past weekend against Dallas, but consistently found ways to fall just shy of what they needed to do, allowing Dallas to stick around long enough to take the lead, and then grind out a Marion Barber loss for the Skins.  Later this season, this may be the game that costs us a playoff spot; it’s definitely the game that cost us (almost certainly) the NFC East.  On the other hand, as far as the Pigskin Pick’em is concerned, many folks had decent weeks.  Leading the way, with 12 wins each, were TheDudesRug and A. Fishman’s Picks.  That qualifies for this weeks Props for the week.  A full dozen other players managed to pull out 11 wins, as well, so for many of the pickers, it was a good week.

Upset pick of the week this week is Dallas beating us; sure, I could go with Cleveland’s upset of Buffalo, or Atlanta’s loss to Denver, but let’s face it, that’s the upset that upsets us the most.  Three players thought Dallas would beat our Redskins, earning this weeks Upset Pick of the Week Kudos.  Those players are El Gaupo, I miss Schroeder to Bryant, and theofilidies.  Kudos guys.

Last but not least, we have our weekly leaderboard.  There’s not that much change at the very top of the leaderboard, as the players in the top three were in the same position last week, though the race has tightened slightly.  Leading the way, with 101 points, is Hot Stuff Coming Through, closely followed by chris horton hears a who with 100, and A. Fishman’s Picks at 99.  It’s still tight at the top, though, as fully 13 more players are within 10 wins of the leaderboard; it’s still very much up in the air as to who will win, as no one has pulled away from the pack and achieved separation.  Kudos to our season leaders, though!  Remember, we have yet another Thursday night NFL game this week on NFL network, so get that Thursday game in early.

Well, the Bye week is over, and the Redskins are practicing again.  While we ponder the implications of possibly no Clinton Portis for the big NFC East showdown, we can also look forward to the Sunday Night game this Dallas Week, while pondering how poorly the Redskins seem to play when on National TV.  And we can ponder our picks this week in the Pigskin Pick’em.  At this point, we can start to say that certain teams (to use the new in-vogue catch phrase) “Are who we thought the were”.  So here are this weeks Kudos and Props.

It pays to go large when most of the players stumble, as it amplifies the effects of a move.  This week, one player went larger than the rest; in the last 14 week game, Hot Stuff Coming Through was able to score an outstanding 13.  In any week, that’s a real keeper week.  Following close on his heals, Java_woman, Tidewater Picks, and that Bill guy came in with almost as good 12 pick weeks.  Props to all four of them, but especially to Hot Stuff Coming Through for their week 9 picks!

Upset pick of the week is VERY hard this week…. I honestly don’t see any big upsets this week.  Obviously, there a few minor upsets; Pittsburgh losing to Indy was a VERY minor upset, as was Green Bay losing to Minnesota, I suppose (the two I missed, actually).  Strictly from the Vegas lines, though, Cleveland losing to Denver is probably the biggest upset, though, so that’s the one we’ll use.  Hot Stuff Coming Through, Java_woman, Tidewater Picks, coooooley, Star City Sportzkats, BRAGGIN-RIGHTS, smyke, Veretax’s Picks, and Bill all picked Denver, and therefore pick up this week’s Upset Pick of the Week Kudos. 

Finally, our season leaders after week 9.  When you’re near the top, and you have the best week of everyone that week, you can expect you might move into sole possession of first place, and you’d be right, well, if your name was Hot Stuff Coming Through, who leads this week with 90 points.  Hard on his heels, all alone in second place and one game back at 89 points is chris horton hears a who.  Last weeks leader, El Gaupo, last years season winner A. Fishman’s Picks, and the perennially tough 22209 are in a three way tie for 3, with 87 picks.  Props to all of these players as our season leaders, but remember that a single good week when they falter can catapault anyone up into that leaderboard position; no one has moved substantially ahead of the pack yet, and with three prizes, it’s anyones season still.

As always, make sure you get your picks in early; this past week’s Thursday night game caught a few players unready for the week, but remember to get in it to win it!