Win-Win Situation at Qwest

My brothers, Dan and Jeff, decided to buy Seahawk’s season tickets about seven years ago when they got out of college. They bought five seats to be able to bring guests with them every week.

It has become a tradition that each year one game will set aside as a family game. Win or lose, the games are always my favorite game of the year. The chance to see my brothers and my parents at the same time doesn’t happen very often, so I try to appreciate that no matter what is happening on the field.

I think that this Sunday is going to be my favorite family game of the year. The Seahawks (2-8) host the Redskins (6-4), in what will be a fun, if not confusing, game this week. All five members of our family have been fans of both teams at some point. I think it will be my father though, who lived in the D.C. area for over thirty years, will have the biggest decision to make.

“This year, it’s been really tough on Sundays to not care about the Redskins more than the Hawks,” said my father. “The way they have run the ball, it takes me back to the Washington teams from the 80’s with John Riggins and Joe Gibbs. It’s not only nostalgic; it makes you think there’s hope again in D.C.”

After a tough loss last week at home to the Cowboys, the Skins will need to get a win against the Seahawks to get back on track. The playoff push lies just ahead, and a victory at Qwest field could do wonders for Washington.

The real question for me isn’t who will win this weekend; it’s whether our row will be celebrating when the Redskins make a play. Either way, it will be a win for my family.

Zorn’s Roster Moves Show Northwest Influence

 

In 2005, it was the absence of MVP running back Shaun Alexander in the divisional playoff against the Redskins that was the big story.   This Sunday, when the Redskins play possibly their biggest game of the year, the Redskins will most likely have Alexander shouldering a bulk of the carries.

The usual heavy dosage of Clinton Portis that the Redskins give to opponents will most likely not be in affect this week when the ‘Skins face off against the divisional-rival Dallas Cowboys this Sunday.

Coach Jim Zorn’s handprints are shown already on the team’s offense, and are now seen on the team’s roster. Three former Seahawks from last year have been signed by the Redskins this year, as safety Mike Green, punter Ryan Plackemeier, and Alexander have been brought to D.C this year, presumably by Zorn, to help the Redskins.

At 6-3, The Redskins need this game against the Cowboys to stay in contention against the 8-1 Giants.  As is the norm for the Distrtict’s fans this year, they will be relying on players with ties to a placea country away for that big win, as former Seahawk’s will play a huge role this week. 

Hail to the Redskins!

Hail Victory!

[Former Seahawks] on the Warpath!

Fight for Old D.C.!

Redskins’ bandwagon has a Northwest feel

Pat (far right) is one of many who hope the Redskin

“It doesn’t make any sense to write a blog about the Redskins,” my roommate Pat said.

And it didn’t.

Why in the world would I write a blog about a seemingly mediocre team with a first-year head coach? The Seahawks had gone to the playoffs the last five years and won their division in the last four. A blog about them would not only be easier to write, but would most likely contain more positive content.

Nine weeks later, my decision doesn’t look so foolish. The Redskins are 6-3, and hope still springs even after an ugly 23-6 loss to the Steelers last Monday. The hope for the Seahawks is all but gone now after losing to the Eagles last week to fall to 2-6.

With the two teams heading in opposite directions, Seattle fans have an interesting decision to make. The bleak Seattle sports scene has not given fans much to cheer about, and a temporary transference of loyalty is expected from some. In an article by Seattle Times columnist Jerry Brewer a few weeks ago, Brewer counted the Redskins as a potential surrogate team considering the local ties with Jim Zorn.

My roommates, all native Washingtonians, are suddenly scouring score updates on Sunday morning, trying to find the latest score of the Redskins’ game. The Seahawks are still number one, but the Redskins’ bandwagon has some welcome additions to it from across the country.

“Next year, things should be different for the Seahawks,” said Pat. “Right now, it’s all about the Redskins for the rest of the season.”

Welcome to the warpath. We’re glad to have you with us.

Zorn’s past leads to Redskin’s bright future

Uncle Jamie was baffled by a Zorn-inspired offense.

After the 25-17 win over Detroit this week that pushed the Redskins record to 6-2, it feels like a good time to look at how they got there.  Teams that play in one of the toughest divisions in the league don’t succeed with first-year coaches.  But then again, this is no regular first year coach.  The Redskins caught lightning in a bottle with Jim Zorn, and it wasn’t by accident.

 

 

            In 2005, the Redskins came to Seattle for a playoff game.  When Seahawk’s running back Shaun Alexander was put out of the game with an injury in the first quarter, it was obvious that Matt Hasselbeck would have to lead the Seahawks to victory.  Hasselbeck responded by throwing for over 200 yards and a touchdown, as well as running for another.  The Seahawks won that game, 20-10.

            Two years later, Hasselbeck struck again.  His touchdown pass in the third quarter to D.J. Hackett proved to be the game-winner.  My uncle Jamie, a life-long Redskins fan was in utter disbelief while leaving the stadium after the 35-14 Redskin loss. 

            “No matter what, Hasselbeck always seems to make the play to beat us,” he said.  “I don’t know if it’s him, or [Mike] Holmgren, or whatever.  It’s ridiculous.”

            It’s no secret that Holmgren is a quarterback guru, but I think that this year has shown that Zorn deserves some of the credit for Hasselbeck’s success.  With Zorn teaching Jason Campbell, Campbell has blossomed into a legitimate NFL quarterback.  Campbell’s success has trickled down to the rest of the offense, and the entire team has been playing inspired football. 

The Redskins saw the blueprint for a solid offense in Seattle, and decided to build it for themselves by taking the Seahawks’ top offensive lieutenant.  Instead of a talented offensive coach, they got one of the most promising new coaches in the game.

If you can’t beat ‘em, take ‘em.

On the Rebound

“A contender wins this game by 25 points.”

That’s what ESPN.com columnist Bill Simmons said while making his prediction for the Redskins-Rams game last week. In a league where the talent is supposed to be spread evenly because of the salary cap, a 25-point win is a statement, no matter how bad the lowly Rams are. After two straight NFC East road battles that led the team to a 4-1 record, the Rams game seemed like the beach vacation at the end of a long business trip.

Then the biggest upset of the week happened.

In front of 90,000 fans at Fedex field, the Redskins were beaten by a winless, hopeless team that had just fired their coach. Although the team fought hard, they fell victim to an amazing catch by Rams rookie wide receiver Donnie Avery to put Josh Brown into position for the game-winning field goal. Brown hit the attempt and the Redskins won 19-17.

The important thing about this to me isn’t the fact that they lost, it’s that it was the first game that Washington was supposed to win and failed to live up to expectations. After playing the underdog in wins against Dallas and Philadelphia, the Redskins came up short when they were favored.

While the players on this team have dealt with it before, Coach Jim Zorn will have to deal with it for the first time as a head coach. This week’s game against an improving Cleveland will be the perfect opportunity for a rebound from a bad loss, and a chance for Zorn to show his maturation as a first year coach. ALthough it wasn’t heard last week, tradition is tradition.

Hail to the Redskins!

Hail victory!

Braves on the Warpath!

Fight for old D.C!

Welcome to the Warpath

Welcome to the Warpath, a ne blog focused on the Washington Redskins! My name is Michael Jeremiah, a D.C transplant now living in Seattle, Washington. After growing up during the golden age of Redskins football, I kept an eye back on the Beltway when my family moved away from the area.

With the rise of the Seahawks over the past five years, it has been harder to keep any type of allegiance to the Redskins. With two playoff games in the last three years between the Redskins and the Hawks, the strain on the commitment increased.

That strain was alleviated this summer when my two National Football League worlds were brought together this summer when the Redskins hired former Seahawks quarterback and longtime quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn as their new head coach.

While this development is a positive for my world as a sports fan, it looked as if it could not come at a worse time for the Redskins.  The NFC East is easily the strongest division in the league, with the defending Super Bowl champions in the New York Giants, the talented Dallas Cowboys, and the perennially strong Philadelphia Eagles.  However, Zorn has his team playing well as the Redskins have won three of their first four games.  This blog will follow the Redskins through their season, the first of Jim Zorn’s head coaching career.

Hail to the Redskins!

Hail victory!

Braves on the warpath!

Fight for old D.C!

Jim Zorn is in his first year with the Redskins.

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