Getback: The Redskins Dynasty

[DJG]

'SKINS EDGE OUT SAINTS, ADVANCE TO NFC TITLE GAME

The moment ‘Skins fans have waited over a decade for finally arrived Saturday night, a home playoff game. This surely did not disappoint as Washington did everything they needed to do to stop the Saints from making a third straight NFC Championship game appearance. The ’Skins took a hard fought 26-19 victory & with that they will host the NFC Championship game for the first time in FedEx Field. Cam Newton had a decent playoff debut. He threw for 252 yards & 2 touchdowns, including the game winner to the man they now refer to as “DT” Devin Thomas.

The game started off smoothly for the Redskins, who struck first with Newton’s 49 yard TD pass to Malcolm Kelly. The veteran Saints however began to show their wisdom on the field. Led by Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees, he quickly drove them down field. They answered back with a 4 yard screen to Reggie Bush for the game tying TD. From here though it looked like a battle between the kickers as the next 8 combined scores between these teams were field goals. Both teams red zone defenses were evenly matched. Washington’s LaRon Landry unleashed a hard hit on Reggie Bush that forced him to cough up one of his two fumbles on the night. The Saints in return victimized Cam Newton throughout the 2nd & 3rd quarters. Forcing Newton to try & make something happen which resulted in a pick by Tracy Porter.

With both teams resorting to field goals it all seemed that one big play could send either team on their way to victory. Saints kicker Shayne Graham booted a 24 yard field goal to tie the game a 19 with 8 minutes left. The Redskin offense then began the long, grueling drive down field from their own 13 yard line. The Saints nearly got a turnover when tight end Chris Cooley fumbled the ball that thankfully went out of bounds. From that hiccup Newton began picking apart the Saints secondary. Devin Thomas accounted for 4 receptions & 45 yards of the drive, including the 6 yard touchdown. Drew Brees tried to get his team back in it, but the ‘Skins D proved to strong. Safety Chris Horton committed one of the four forced fumbles in the game to help claim the first postseason victory for the ’Skins in 6 years. Twenty years ago Washington was in the NFC Championship game, now history may very well repeat itself. The Redskins are one win away from a Super Bowl, Cam Newton one win away from becoming the first rookie QB to start in one.

Jan 14, 2012 - NO at WSH
TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Saints (11-7)	10	3	3	3	19
Redskins (12-5)	7	9	3	7	26

Team Stats Comparison
NO		WSH
318	Total Offense	322
75	Rushing Yards	72
243	Passing Yards	250
14	First Downs	13
33	Punt Return Yards	36
134	Kick Return Yards	75
485	Total Yards	433
4 (-1)	Turnovers	3 (+1)
5-16 (31%)	3rd Down Converstion	2-13 (15%)
0-1 (0%)	4th Down Conversion	0
0	2-Point Conversion	0
1/2	Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals	1/2
4-20	Penalties	4-47
25:35	Posession Time	22:25

Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING		NO	WSH
7:33	(WSH) M. Kelly 49 YD TD Pass from C. Newton (Gano Kick)	0	7
4:05	(NO) R. Bush 4 YD TD Pass from D. Brees (Graham Kick)	7	7
:21	(NO) S. Graham 43 YD FG	10	7
SECOND QUARTER SCORING		NO	WSH
6:27	(WSH) G. Gano 17 YD FG	10	10
1:51	(WSH) G. Gano 45 YD FG	10	13
1:30	(WSH) G. Gano 39 YD FG	10	16
:00	(NO) S. Graham 51 YD FG	13	16
THIRD QUARTER SCORING		NO	WSH
8:17	(NO) S. Graham 45 YD FG	16	16
:00	(WSH) G. Gano 33 YD FG	16	19
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING		NO	WSH
8:15	(NO) S. Graham 24 YD FG	19	19
3:08	(WSH) D. Thomas 6 YD TD Pass from C. Newton (Gano Kick)	19	26

Saints Boxscore
PASSING	RATING	C/ATT	YDS	TD/INT	AVG
D. Brees	83.5	21/38	243	1/0	55%
RUSHING	ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
P. Thomas	18	73	4.0	0	17
R. Bush	4	-6	-1.5	0	1
RECEIVING	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
D. Henderson	7	89	12.7	0	24
R. Meachem	5	74	14.8	0	25
DEFENSIVE	TACK	SACK	INT	PDEF	TD
S. Ellis	6	1	0	1	0
J. Vilma	5	0	0	2	0
D. Sharper	5	0	0	0	0
KICKING	FGM/A	PCT	LONG	XPM/A	PTS
S. Graham	4/5	80%	52	1/1	13

Redskins Boxscore
PASSING	RATING	C/ATT	YDS	TD/INT	AVG
C. Newton	84.5	21/37	252	2/1	56%
RUSHING	ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
L. Johnson	16	46	2.8	0	10
C. Newton	4	19	4.7	0	18
RECEIVING	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
D. Thomas	9	97	10.7	1	21
C. Cooley	4	44	11.0	0	19
DEFENSIVE	TACK	SACK	INT	PDEF	TD
L. Fletcher	9	0	0	1	0
A. Haynesworth	6	0	0	1	0
L. Landry	4	0	0	0	0
KICKING	FGM/A	PCT	LONG	XPM/A	PTS
G. Gano	4/4	100%	45	2/2	14

Notes:
-Redskins wideout Josh Reed left the game in the 3rd quarter with a knee injury.

[Gloves 82]

Nice win. Keep it up

[DJG]

Divisional Playoff Scores

SD 13
IND 35

PIT 17
NE 24

ARI 30
MIN 27

Championship Game Match Ups:

AFC Championship Game- 2Patriots @ 1Colts (Sun, Jan 22 2:30 PM)
NFC Championship Game- 3Cardinals @ 1 Redskins (Sun, Jan 22 6:30 PM)

[DJG]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gloves 82

Nice win. Keep it up

Thanks. Got the Cards up next, should be a good one. They beat my *** last time I played them & that was without Matt Lienart starting.

[DJG]

CARDS ARE DELT, 'SKINS MAKE IT TO FIRST SUPER BOWL IN 20 SEASONS

FedEx Field had an atmosphere like it was hosting the Super Bowl itself. They had every right to look that way after watching a team that was on the losing end of the spectrum for so long now finally be in the position that was familiar 20 years ago. At the top of the NFC headed to a Super Bowl. The Redskins handled the Cardinals with ease in the 33-13 victory. Cam Newton once again showed why he was the steal of a lifetime for the ‘Skins in the draft. Throwing two TD passes both to this draft classmate, Ryan Broyles.

Many believed this would be a much more competitive game, especially seeing that a little over 2 months ago Arizona embarrassed the Redskins on Monday Night Football. It was not to be tonight however, as the Redskins were in the drivers seat for much of this one. Cards QB Matt Leinart was pressured heavenly by the Redskins defense. ’Skins sack leader Adam Carriker contributed big, sacking Leinart three times. Cam Newton got off to a hot start, completing 12 straight passes including the first TD pass to Broyles midway through the 2nd quarter. Matt Lienart looked poised to lead Arizona on a scoring drive to end the half, but a ’Skins blitz forced him to squeeze the ball in between defenders. Allowing Leto Sheppard to pick him off & go 65 yards for a pick-six.

From here on the Redskins managed the ball successfully in the second half. Larry Johnson & Cam Newton both combined for nearly 100 yards rushing. Three field goals from Graham Gano as well as the second TD pass from Newton to Broyles all but sealed the NFC Championship. Matt Leinart finally put together a touchdown drive late in the 4th. In the onside kick try however the Cardinals botched the kick & got the penalty. Three Cam Newton kneel downs later the burgundy & gold confetti flowed in FedEx Field. Fans packed the field to see their beloved team finally claim another NFC Championship. Their next stop, perhaps the most odds any Super Bowl team has ever faced. Washington vs. Indy, with the Colts hosting Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium. The 15-1 Colts have already been named perhaps the best team Peyton Manning has ever had. With the reigning MVP & his team loaming, the Redskins have history to make. Cam Newton has a chance to be the first rookie to start & win a Super Bowl, & only the second african-american quarterback to win one as well. Doing it against arguably the best quarterback in NFL history could already seal a legacy that’s barely been written.

Jan 22, 2012 - ARI at WSH
TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Cardinals (12-7)	0	3	0	10	13
Redskins (13-5)	3	14	3	13	33

Team Stats Comparison
ARI		WSH
343	Total Offense	334
36	Rushing Yards	97
307	Passing Yards	237
14	First Downs	18
9	Punt Return Yards	27
150	Kick Return Yards	20
502	Total Yards	381
1 (-1)	Turnovers	0 (+1)
1-13 (7%)	3rd Down Converstion	5-14 (35%)
2-4 (50%)	4th Down Conversion	0
0	2-Point Conversion	0
0/2	Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals	2/2
6-35	Penalties	2-25
19:58	Posession Time	28:02

Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING		ARI	WSH
7:04	(WSH) G. Gano 47 YD FG	0	3
SECOND QUARTER SCORING		ARI	WSH
11:14	(ARI) J. Feely 30 YD FG	3	3
6:44	(WSH) R. Broyles 10 YD TD Pass from C. Newton (Gano Kick)	3	10
:57	(WSH) L. Sheppard 65 YD Int Ret TD (Gano Kick)	3	17
THIRD QUARTER SCORING		ARI	WSH
4:20	(WSH) G. Gano 37 YD FG	3	20
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING		ARI	WSH
10:38	(WSH) R. Broyles 11 YD Pass TD from C. Newton (Gano Kick)	3	27
8:50	(WSH) G. Gano 44 YD FG	3	30
4:57	(ARI) J. Feely 27 YD FG	6	30
2:48	(WSH) G. Gano 22 YD FG	6	33
2:24	(ARI) J. Blackmon 61 YD TD Pass from M. Leinart (Feely Kick)	13	33

Cardinals Boxscore
PASSING	RATING	C/ATT	YDS	TD/INT	AVG
M. Leinart	81.5	23/41	342	1/1	56%
RUSHING	ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
B. Wells	16	35	2.1	0	10
T. Hightower	1	-1	-1.0	0	0
RECEIVING	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
T. Toliver	5	72	14.4	0	20
L. Fitzgerald	4	17	4.2	0	9
DEFENSIVE	TACK	SACK	INT	PDEF	TD
G. Toler	6	0	0	2	0
D. Williams	5	0	0	0	0
D. Dockett	5	2	0	0	0
KICKING	FGM/A	PCT	LONG	XPM/A	PTS
J. Feely	2/2	100%	30	1/1	7

Redskins Boxscore
PASSING	RATING	C/ATT	YDS	TD/INT	AVG
C. Newton	98.9	19/34	250	2/0	55%
RUSHING	ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
L. Johnson	18	67	3.7	0	27
C. Newton	3	32	10.6	0	12
RECEIVING	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
C. Cooley	5	36	7.2	0	17
R. Broyles	4	45	11.2	2	15
DEFENSIVE	TACK	SACK	INT	PDEF	TD
D. Hall	5	0	0	2	0
L. Fletcher	5	0	0	1	0
A. Carriker	5	3	0	0	0
KICKING	FGM/A	PCT	LONG	XPM/A	PTS
G. Gano	4/5	80%	48	3/3	15

Notes:
-Matt Leinart was sacked a total 6 times during the game.
-For the first time this year, the Redskins started & finished a game without a turnover.

[DJG]

AFC Championship Game Score

NE 16
IND 27

Colts vs. Redskins
(Sun, Feb 6 2012 from Lucas Oil Stadium)

[CTP]

nice win over Zona. Good luck with Indy...maybe Cam can become the 1st rookie QB to win a superbowl!

[DJG]

2011 Redskins Pro Bowlers

(* Denotes Starter)

QB Cam Newton*
WR Devin Thomas*
TE Chris Cooley*
RG Mike Williams
LE Adam Carriker
CB Deangelo Hall
CB Kevin Barnes
CB Leto Sheppard
K Graham Gano*
KR Ryan Broyles