By Rich Tandler
Nobody is ever going to accuse Rex Grossman of being consistent. We got an extreme example of just how streaky he can be on Sunday in Seattle. Rex had started and finished the game well but he was pathetic in between.
Here is a look at his yo-yo kind of day:
First quarter: 12-13, 138 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 136.5 rating—Grossman went eight for nine in the Redskins’ opening drive to lead his team to its first opening-drive touchdown in almost a full calendar year. Fred Davis was the big target on that drive with three catches for 53 yards (he did incur a 15-yard penalty for taunting after one receptions but the yardage still counts) including the two-yard touchdown pass to finish the drive. Grossman was four for four on the second drive but a chop block penalty kept them from scoring.
Second quarter: 4-6, 37 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 43.8 rating—Things started to go downhill on the Redskins’ second offensive play of the quarter. On second and nine at his own 23, Grossman tried to throw it to Jabar Gaffney, who had cornerback Brandon Browner in is hip pocket. Perhaps Gaffney could have fought for the ball a little harder but he really didn’t seem to be in much of a position to do so. Browner picked off the pass at the 36, returned it to the 20, and Tavaris Jackson threw a touchdown pass to Marshawn Lynch on the next play. Grossman completed four of five on the ensuing drive. One pass that didn’t count went to Gaffney in the end zone but the TD was nullified because the receiver stepped out of bounds before coming back in to make the catch. The Redskins came up empty again when a field goal attempt was blocked.
Third quarter: 3-7, 30 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 16.1 rating—Grossman’s long interception when he tried to hit Santana Moss in triple coverage would have served as a good punt. But it happened on first down from good field position at the Washington 41. The Redskins did not get out of their own territory the entire quarter.
Fourth quarter: 7-9, 109 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 154.2 rating—Rex got going after the Redskins fell behind 17-7 with 12:45 left to play. After the kickoff, four straight completions got the Redskins from their own 30 to the Seattle 28. From there, Roy Helu made his jaw-dropping touchdown run to make it 17-14. After a Seattle three and out, a Grossman pass to Mike Sellers gained 15 yards into Seattle territory. A few plays later, Grossman uncorked a deep heave that gave Anthony Armstrong a chance to make a play. Armstrong did and the Redskins took the lead. Grossman threw just one more pass, a screen to Helu that gained just two yards.
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