Here is what you need to know
on this Tuesday, January 1, the first day of 2013 and five days before the
Redskins take on the Seahawks in the first round of the NFL playoffs.
Fast turnaround
You can debate whether the NFC
East is still one of the NFL’s toughest divisions or if it’s just living on its
past reputation. But you can’t argue that the Redskins’ sudden worst to first
takeover of the division is stunning and, in many ways, unprecedented.
Since the merger and creation
of the NFC East in 1970, only two other teams had gone from last place in the
division to first. The Eagles did it from 2005 to 2006 as did the Giants from
1996 to 1997.
The 2011 Redskins were last in
the division in yards gained, points scored, yards per play, yards per pass
attempt, passing yards and rushing yards. The offensive woes were due in no
small part to the fact that they had the worst quarterback situation in the
division.
When the Redskins drafted
Robert Griffin III most figured that there would be improvement in relation to
the rest of the division. Still, the conventional wisdom was that it would take
a while for them to catch up to the rest of the division with offenses being
led by Eli Manning, Tony Romo, and Michael Vick.
It took just one year. RG3
doesn’t have the career resume of Manning, Vick, and Romo but he had a better
2012 than any of them and he has a brighter future.
The additions of Griffin,
Alfred Morris, and Pierre Garçon helped boost the Redskins from last to first
in the NFC East in all but one of the key offense stat categories. The Redskins
were first in yards gained, points scored, yards per play, yards per pass
attempt, and rushing yards. They were still last in passing yards but that is
because they attempted almost 100 fewer passes than the Giants, about 150 fewer
than the Eagles and over 200 fewer than the Cowboys.
As you’ve read here before,
it’s an offensive league and if you can move the ball and score points, you can
win games.
Today’s schedule
Off day, no availability
In case you missed it
Six Pack: Jackson
takes advantage of his opportunity
Redskins Rewind: Dez
has quiet night before departing
Days until: NFL playoffs Seahawks vs. Redskins 5; NFC Divisional
playoffs 11; NFC Championship game 19; Super Bowl XLVII 33