By Ryan O’Halloran
Up-Downs from the Redskins’ sixth consecutive home loss, a 33-26 decision to Minnesota on Saturday:
UP
Evan Royster’s debut
Making his first NFL start because of Roy Helu’s injury, all Royster did was rush 19 times for 132 yards. The Redskins don’t have a Franchise Back on the roster but they do have some depth with Tim Hightower (if he re-signs, Helu and Royster … not to mention youth).
DOWN
Home-field advantage
A sixth straight home loss made the Redskins’ record at FedEx Field this year 2-6. Just dreadful. Period.
UP
The third quarter
Minnesota entered 2-12, the Redskins 5-9 and what the teams produced was 23 points and nearly 300 yards of offense.
DOWN
Costly penalties
A tough day for Darrel Young. He was off-sides on a punt return that gave Minnesota a first down (and touchdown) and was called for holding Jared Allen that wiped out Brandon Banks’ touchdown run. We also agree with the officials who thought Reed Doughty hit a sliding Christian Ponder.
UP
Graham Gano’s comeback
The Redskins’ kicker was good from 23, 53, 25 and 47 yards and the last four games, he’s 13-of-13. It’s a nice job-saving performance.
DOWN
Run defense
The Redskins allowed Minnesota to rush for 241 yards … and Adrian Peterson had only 38 of those yards before sustaining a knee injury.
UP
Jabar Gaffney’s season
Acquired from Denver for a guy (Jeremy Jarmon) that wasn’t going to make the Redskins’ roster (and didn’t make the Broncos’ roster, either), all the veteran receiver has done is set a career high in receiving yards (919) and tied the mark for TD catches (five).
DOWN
Referee John Parry
Just a pathetic job on the microphone. On several penalties, he failed to identify who the penalty was on. Kind of important on plays like who was off-sides on a Redskins punt return that equaled a Minnesota first down. (Mike Shanahan said it was Young).
UP
The weather
Game-time temperature of 45 degrees, wind chill of 40 degrees, no snow = good commute home.
DOWN
Mike Sellers
Young had a tough game and as the media waited at his locker while he got ready to leave, it was Sellers – who is supposed to be a mentor for the second-year fullback – telling the group Young wasn’t talking. What a non-leader. D.Y. did his duty and was a professional/accountable for his penalty. A flag should have been thrown on Sellers.
Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@comcastsportsnet.com
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