It was Saturday, January 8th. The Redskins had won a playoff game for the first time since 1992. The first home playoff game ever to be played in FedEx Field. The Skins came out on top winners 27-13 over the Detroit Lions to take a trip to Tampa Bay in the divisional round. This was in the 1999 season, the last time the Redskins had a home playoff game. Until the 2012 season that is.
The Redskins were 3-6, down in the dumps, when Mike Shanahan, the head coach of the Washington Redskins said that he was already evaluating for next year's team. That was when Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris the dynamic duo rookies for the Washington Redskins lit it up and led the squad to 7 straight wins and the NFC East crown. Then it was Washington's first home playoff game since the '99 season with rookie QB Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks coming to town. In the past decade this would be the Redskins' 4th playoff game and 3rd against the Seahawks.
The Skins were up 14-0 after the first quarter with RGIII throwing 2 touchdowns, one to Evan Royster, 2nd year running back out of Penn State,and Logan Paulsen the 3rd year tight end out of UCLA. FedEx Field was rocking and it looked like the Skins were going to be playing the Atlanta Falcons in the Georgia Dome. Then the Redskins offense collapsed and the defense started a collapse and RGIII didn't look like the pro bowler that he did in the Redskins first 16 and 1/4 games. The Seahawks concluded the 2nd quarter with 32 yd FG for Steven Hauschka, a 4 yd TD pass by Russell Wilson and a 29 yd FG by Haushcka. Slowly approached the 4th quarter when Marshawn Lynch broke out with a 27 yd TD run, and with a 2 pt conversion, the Seahwaks were on top by 7 and the Skins divisional round hopes were looking bleak. Then after the kickoff, on the first play, RGIII was sacked. Then the most devastating thing happened. A low snap rolled in front of Robert Griffin III. He reached for the ball but hurt his knee and was down. The Seahawks recovered the ball inside the Redskins 10 yd line. After that the Seahawks made a field goal, Kirk Cousins came in for Washington and this magical season was history. The Redskins were eliminated.
Many may ask the question, Why did Shanahan leave Griffin III in the game when he was injured after the first quarter? I will give you an answer. Because this is a playoff game. No NFL coach who wants to win cares about ethics even when his star player says he is okay. Your team's season is on the line and your quarterback wants to stay in the game, don't take him out! Could Cousins do better than Griffin in the time when Griffin was hurt? Yes, very possible although he didn't show it at the end with a 3/10, 31 yd outing. This is ultimately nobody's fault as Griffin III wanted to put his all and Shanahan wanted to do what's best to win the game.
It was definitely a disappointing end to such a magical season but it was bound to end. This is a team led by a rookie quarterback and running back without two of their best defensive players, Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker, out during this game. What can you say? Of course we all wish we won and we couldn't believe it. You just have to look at it positively and take it in stride as a learning lesson for this young team so they are ready to take this Washington Redskins team to Super Bowl 49.
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