Rich Tandler's Real Redskins

Skins Social: Can the Redskins win it all?

Video: RG3 gets the guys pumped up

Need to Know: Alfred Morris makes history

Here is what you need to know on this Monday, December 31, the last day of 2012 and six days before the Redskins take on the Seahawks in the first round of the NFL playoffs. 

Alfred Morris fast facts

Here are a few things about Alfred Morris’ rookie season and his 200-yard game on Sunday night:

--He finished the season with 1,613 yards, breaking the team record for a single season. Morris broke the record held by Clinton Portis (1,516 yards, 2005)

--Morris finished the season second in rushing yards in the NFL behind only Adrian Peterson.

--He is the first Redskins rookie to rush for 200 yards in a game and the first Redskin to do it since Gerald Riggs gained 221 against the Eagles in 1989.

--And on a team level, his performance helped set a new Redskins team record with 2,709 rushing yards for the season. That bested the total of 2,625 compiled by the 1983 Redskins.

2013 opponents set

If you want the nitty gritty details on why the Redskins are playing who they are playing next year, check out my post from the other day. But here are the Redskins’ 2013 opponents:

Home: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Bears, Lions, Raiders, Chargers, 49ers
Away: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Packers, Vikings, Broncos, Chiefs, Falcons

Today’s schedule

3:00—Mike Shanahan news conference

Player availability TBD

In case you missed it

Morris carries Redskins

RG3 was “at a loss for words”

Days until: NFL wild card playoffs Seahawks vs. Redskins @ FedEx Field 6; Divisional round of NFL playoffs 12; NFC championship game 20

Redskins to host Seahawks in wild card round

By virtue of being the fourth seed in the NFC playoffs (the division champion with the worst record) the Redskins will host the Seattle Seahawks, the fifth seed (thanks to being the top wild card team).

The TV folks have decided that the game will take place next Sunday at 4:30 and will be telecast on FOX.

Should the Redskins get past the Seahawks, they would travel to either Atlanta or San Francisco to play in the divisional round. Where they would go depends on who wins the other wild card round game between the Vikings (the 6^th seed) and Packers (3^rd).

The lowest remaining seed will visit the Falcons, the top seed. The two middle teams play each other with the higher seed, which would be the second-seeded 49ers, getting the home field advantage.

So, if the Vikings win, they will be lowest surviving seed and would go to Atlanta and that would send a victorious Redskins team to San Francisco. If the Packers win, they play the 49ers and the Redskins would go to Atlanta.

The Redskins could theoretically host the NFC title game if they can win in the divisional round on the road. The only team they could host would be the Vikings so if they can win two straight on the road the road to the Super Bowl would go through FedEx Field. 

Redskins-Cowboys live chat archive

Need to Know: It's finally game day!

Here is what you need to know on this Sunday, December 30, the day that the Redskins and Cowboys clash at FedEx Fiel to decide the NFC East title.

It’s game day!

We’ve been pointing towards this game for weeks, ever since the Redskins beat the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. Enjoy the day, there is nothing like the feeling of anticipating a big game like this.

If you’re going, get there early to start taking in the atmosphere. The parking lots will open up at 3:30. If you’re watching from home, check out the pregame coverage on Comcast SportsNet starting at 5:30. Our coverage will be free of pro-Cowboys bias.

Chat starts at 7:30, Minute by Minute going on now

Tarik El-Bashir, Jen X, and yours truly will be in the press box at FedEx Field tonight to bring you the Redskins’ biggest game in years.

But we already have wall-to-wall coverage rolling. The Minute-by-Minute blog is live, and it’s bringing you news and nuggets all day today leading up to the 8:20 kickoff.

The chat will crank up at 7:30. Pull up a second screen and join in and navigate the three hours on the path to the playoffs.

See you then.

Who to root for, Week 17

The list has been whittled down to the point where the Redskins hope that it’s irrelevant. Win tonight and get the division crown is the much preferred route to the postseason. But it never hurts to have a Plan B and that alternate path to the postseason needs to have two obstacles removed.

Lions over Bears, 1 p.m., FOX (@ Detroit, Chicago favored by 3)—Apparently you won’t be able to catch this game in the DC area without the DirecTV Sunday Ticket. According to the listings FOX 5 is going to show the Eagles-Giants game, a contest that has zero playoff implications for the Redskins. In any case, the Bears are 9-6 like the Redskins are but Washington would hold the tiebreaker over Chicago with a better conference record. That would make the Redskins the sixth seed.

Packers over Vikings, 4:25 p.m., FOX (@ Minnesota, Green Bay favored by 3)—This one is slated to be on FOX 5 so if the Bears do lose you can tune it to chant, “Go Pack Go” with rest of the Cheeseheads. The Vikings are also 9-6 and if they end up tied with the Redskins at 9-7 they would lose the tiebreaker based on losing head to head in Washington earlier this season. If the Bears win, this game becomes meaningless to the Redskins. If either the Vikings or Bears wins, or if both of them do, the Redskins lose their safety net and will have to win tonight to keep playing.

Today’s schedule

5:30—SportsNet Central, Comcast SportsNet
6:30—Redskins Kickoff, Comcast SportsNet
8:20—Cowboys @ Redskins, NBC 4
Immediately after end of game—Redskins Post Game Live, Comcast SportsNet

In case you missed it

Alfred Morris nears the team rushing record but he’s not concerned.

The Redskins’ 2013 opponents are nearly set.

Days until: 1^st round of NFL playoffs 6; Divisional round of NFL playoffs 13; Conference championship games 21; Super Bowl XLVII 35

Redskins-Cowboys Minute by Minute blog

Endless hours in the weight room and studying film, weeks of OTA’s and minicamps, days in the hot sun during training camp, almost 50 practices and 15 regular season games lead up to this. One game, the winner gets to continue practicing, studying film, and playing game; the loser likely goes home.

The Redskins and Cowboys will play in that one game Sunday night at 8:20. Until then, we’ll help you count down the hours and minutes until kickoff with this blog. We’ll update with the latest new, notes, nuggets, thoughts, and analysis right up until the start of the game. Check by frequently throughout the day and refresh the page for the latest.

Time is in hours and minutes until kickoff.

Join the chat

No more updates coming here, pick it up on the live chat we have starting now. Thanks for following and see you in the chat!

Inactives

DeJon Gomes is out with a knee injury. It looks like Tyler Polumbus will start. The full list of inactives:

DB Gomes, KR Banks, WR Briscoe, LB Muckelroy, LBSo'oto, OT Compton and OL Gettis

Potential opponent update

-1:40—If the Redskins win, they will face either the Seahawks or the 49ers. As of right now, Seattle is losing while San Francisco is winning. If eitheir of those results hold, the Redskins would host the Seahawks if they win. 

Tough guy

Here is Alfred Morris out of the field in shorts and a T-shirt. And it's flippin' cooold out there. (photo credit @TarikCSN)

Looks like Polumbus might play

-2:20—The word is that the Redskins expect Tyler Polumbus to be able to start at right tackle. We won’t know for sure until the inactives are announced about an hour from now, but it looks like the Redskins will start the offensive line alignment that they did for their first 14 games.

No word on safety DeJon Gomes, who suffered a sprained MCL last week. We will find out about him when the inactives go out. 

At FedEx Field

-3:20—OK, I’m here, a couple of quick updates:

--As of now, three and a half hours before kickoff, it’s pretty windy down on the field. Some TV light stands have blown over and the streamers on top of the goal posts are very active, especially on the far end of the field (the right side when you’re watching on TV).

--The parking lots are rather lively. I came in at about 4:30 and there was plenty of tailgating going on. They open the gates in about 30 minutes and it will be interesting to see how quickly the place gets filled up and how loud it will be when it does.

--As you’ve probably heard, the Bears won, taking away the Redskins’ safety net. Their only route to the playoffs now is to beat Dallas and take the NFC East crown.

On the way to FedEx

-5:50—I’m heading out to go to the stadium. We’ll pick this back up when I get there. You can still hit me with questions on Twitter @Rich_TandlerCSN or here in the comments section.

One note on the way out, we do have a ballgame in Detroit. The Lions scored a touchdown just before halftime to pull to within 20-10 of the Bears. If the Bears do hold on, they only way they will be able to play next weekend is by winning tonight.

Walt Anderson is the referee

-6:20--The referee for tonight’s game will the Walt Anderson, who has been officiating games since 2000 and has been a referee since 2003. His crew officiated last years season ending, winner take all game between the Cowboys and Giants.

The last Redskins game Anderson worked was their 2010 win in Chicago, DeAngelo Hall’s four-interception game.

It seems like his crew lets them play. They have called double digit penalties on one team three times in 12 games this year. They have called five or fewer infractions on a team 13 times (some doubling up there with games where five or fewer called against both teams.

Need to Know: Redskins' 2013 opponents almost set

Here is what you need to know on this Saturday, December 29, One day before the Redskins and Cowboys meet to decide the NFC East title.

Minute-by-Minute starts today, chat 7:30 Sunday

We will be at FedEx Field with bells on Sunday night, ready to bring you all of the action from Cowboys vs. Redskins. Tarik El-Bashir, Jen X, and yours truly will be in the press box to bring you the Redskins’ biggest game in years.

But we’re not waiting until Sunday night. Later this morning the Minute-by-Minute blog goes live, bringing you news and nuggets and answering your questions all day Saturday and Sunday leading up to the 8:20 kickoff.

The chat will crank up at 7:30. Pull up a second screen and join in and navigate the three hours on the path to the playoffs.

See you then.

2013 opponents

Since we have a moment to breathe here, let’s take a look at what teams the Redskins will be playing in 2013. Of the 16 games, 14 are already set and have been for quite some time.

The divisional rotation has them playing the AFC West and the NFC North. Those games and the six NFC East games account for the 14 known games. They are:

Home: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Bears, Lions, Raiders, Chargers
Away: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Packers, Vikings, Broncos, Chiefs

The other two games are to be determined by how the Redskins and how the teams in the NFC West and NFC South finish. If they beat the Cowboys tomorrow they will host the NFC West champions, either the 49ers or Seahawks and travel to Atlanta. If they lose (perish the thought) they would still play San Francisco or Seattle at home (the second-place finisher) and would travel to play the Saints, Bucs, or Panthers, also depending on who finishes second in that division.

The opponents will be settled by the end of the night on Sunday; the times and dates of the games are usually announced sometime in April.

Today’s schedule

No availability

In case you missed it

The number crunchers say the Redskins are better

Romo wants to change his legacy, RG3 wants to build one

Days until: Cowboys @ Redskins 1; 1^st round of NFL playoffs 7; Divisional round of NFL playoffs 14; Super Bowl XLVII 36

Enemy Intel: Ware should play but will be limited

Cowboys linebacker and sack master DeMarcus Ware was listed as probably for Sunday’s game against the Redskins but it seems unlikely that he will play a lot.

Ware, just selected to his seventh Pro Bowl, will be wearing a harness to keep his shoulder from popping out of joint during the game. He is also still feeling the effects of a hyperextended elbow and a strained hamstring.

“I think we’re going to have to watch how many plays we give him, pick our spots and play our other players,” defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said. “We’ve got good payers here so we’re going to play them.  There’s only one DeMarcus Ware . . . We’ll do the best we can.  I know DeMarcus will play his heart out when he’s out there, and we’ll just see how much he’s able to give us.”

Alex Albright is listed as Ware’s backup. Presumably Victor Butler, who has 11 career sacks in four seasons, could move over from the left side to fill in for Ware. 

The number crunchers say the Redskins are better

If you believe the more noted number crunchers out there, the Redskins should beat the Dallas Cowboys and they should do so fairly easily. According to all of the most-cited services, the Redskins are the better team.

Here is a look around:

Jeff Sagarin ratings

Redskins 22.52
Cowboys 20.30

Adding in three points for home field advantage, the Redskins are favorites by about five points

Go here to read the rest of the post on CSNwashington.com