Redskins @ Detroit 4th quarter game review

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FOURTH QUARTER

3-4-WAS 30 (15:00) PENALTY on WAS-A.Hicks, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at WAS 30 - No Play.

3-9-WAS 25 (15:00) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short right to J.Galloway.

Hicks holds up pretty well against the rush from Suh, but once Suh sees he won’t get there he pushes off and makes a leaping tip at the line.

4-9-WAS 25 (14:57) H.Smith punts 45 yards to DET 30, Center-N.Sundberg, fair catch by S.Logan.

4.55 seconds – finally some decent punting from Hunter.

Detroit Lions at 14:48

1-10-DET 30 (14:48) M.Stafford pass short left to N.Burleson to DET 28 for -2 yards (L.Landry).

The Lions underestimate Landry again. Just because he’s 9 yards off the ball at the snap does not mean you have the kind of soft coverage that allows an easy hitch to your slot WR.

2-12-DET 28 (14:08) J.Best right tackle to DET 30 for 2 yards (R.McIntosh).


3-10-DET 30 (13:25) (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass short right to J.Best to DET 32 for 2 yards (D.Hall).

Landry shoots through the offensive left B gap to pressure Stafford, and the fact that Haynesworth (at RDE) had driven back the LT give Stafford nowhere to step up and escape, so he is forced to dump off to the RB who is the immediately subjected to a very good wrap up tackle by Hall.

4-8-DET 32 (12:48) N.Harris punts 49 yards to WAS 19, Center-D.Muhlbach. B.Banks to DET 46 for 35 yards (N.Harris).

Solid work by Rogers and Landry on the gunner. The guy is supposed to contain Banks to the outside, but if he does so Rogers and Landry are positioned drive him upfield and out of the play. Instead he tries to bounce inside and take Banks head on, which of course makes it an easy matter for him to break to the sideline and cut loose with the speed.

Washington Redskins at 12:35


1-10-DET 46 (12:35) D.McNabb pass deep left to A.Armstrong to DET 11 for 35 yards (A.Spievey).

Fred Davis handles himself well in a one on one matchup vs. RDE Vanden Bosch, and the LDE against Heyer conveniently falls down. So the rest of the line is able to double team both DTs and McNabb has plenty of time to sit in the pocket and wait for Armstrong’s deep route to develop.

1-10-DET 11 (11:54) K.Williams right tackle to DET 5 for 6 yards (A.Spievey).

Nicely blocked. Trent Williams manages to seal both the DT and RDE to the outside, and Fred Davis does a good job getting out to set up on a DB and keep him outside as well. Lichentsteiger and Rabach pin the LBs inside and you’re set up with a seal/seal/alley that would make Merril Hoge proud. Torain probably would have run through the DB’s diving tackle and scored.

2-4-DET 5 (11:20) K.Williams right tackle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

The Lions DTs get dominated. Trent and Lichtensteiger stand up Suh, then Lichtensteiger sheds off and nails a LB. Rabach and Hicks drive the other DT off the line and Keiland is able to cut back through the narrowest of lanes and squeeze up the middle for a touchdown.

TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. D.McNabb pass to F.Davis is incomplete. ATTEMPT FAILS.

McNabb seems to have an exaggerated sense of the pressure he’s facing and leaves his feet as he throws, causing the ball so sail high.

WAS 19 DET 14, 3 plays, 46 yards, 1:20 drive, 3:45 elapsed


G.Gano kicks 54 yards from WAS 30 to DET 16. J.Felton to WAS 47 for 37 yards (R.Williams, F.Davis).

Some perspective – this is a terribly short kickoff by Gano’s standards, but the kicks of Suisham and many other Redskins kickers over the last several years came down at this point routinely.

Detroit Lions at 11:15, (1st play from scrimmage 11:07)


1-10-WAS 47 (11:07) K.Smith right tackle pushed ob at WAS 35 for 12 yards (K.Moore).

A TE domintates Orakpo yet again, drawing him inside then taking him to the ground to open up the corner on the counter run.

1-10-WAS 35 (10:36) (Shotgun) K.Smith right tackle to WAS 32 for 3 yards (L.Fletcher).

Carriker stands up the RT, the RG, and the pulling LG.

2-7-WAS 32 (9:56) (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass incomplete short right to B.Johnson.


3-7-WAS 32 (9:51) (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass short middle to C.Johnson to WAS 19 for 13 yards (K.Moore).

The RB picks up Rocky’s blitz and flips him head over heels, causing enough of a mess that it slows up Landry’s trail blitz as well.

1-10-WAS 19 (9:13) K.Smith left tackle to WAS 7 for 12 yards (K.Moore).

The TE easily seals Orakpo inside yet again, and instead of taking on the block of the pulling RG Fletcher slips inside him, which lets the RB bounce to the outside. He then cuts inside a solid TE block on Landry and runs through a missed tackle by Rocky, and a WR’s block on Hall opens up the big gain. Solid tackle by Moore to prevent additional yards.

1-7-WAS 7 (8:25) (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass short left to C.Johnson for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Hall is playing too soft again and Stafford fires it to him immediately right at the goal line. I can only assume that one of the LBs – either Fletcher or Orakpo – was responsible for the short outside coverage that would have cut off that passing lane. It’s the only way Hall’s setup makes sense.

TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. M.Stafford pass to N.Burleson is incomplete. ATTEMPT FAILS.

They try the quick slant against Rogers’ soft coverage but Orakpo jumps outside to cut off the passing lane and picks it off.

WAS 19 DET 20, 6 plays, 47 yards, 2:54 drive, 6:39 elapsed


J.Hanson kicks 66 yards from DET 30 to WAS 4. B.Banks for 96 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on DET-C.Houston, Offside on Free Kick, declined.

Banks benefits from an illegal-ish block in the back by Doughty (as I say all the time, every long kick has illegal blocks in the back and it’s pretty much luck whether or not they get called) and then Westbrook’s block sets the edge so Banks can turn upfield. Good hustle downfield by Darrel Young cuts off the last defender and allows Banks to cut across the field after running through the kicker’s tackle attempt.

Washington Redskins at 8:21


TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. D.McNabb pass to F.Davis is incomplete. ATTEMPT FAILS.

Davis is open on the short out, but McNabb throws behind him for no visible reason.

WAS 25 DET 20, 0 plays, 96 yards, 0:16 drive, 6:55 elapsed


G.Gano kicks 67 yards from WAS 30 to DET 3. S.Logan to DET 26 for 23 yards (H.Blades).


Detroit Lions at 8:05, (1st play from scrimmage 7:59)

1-10-DET 26 (7:59) (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass short left to B.Johnson to DET 35 for 9 yards (P.Buchanon).


2-1-DET 35 (7:25) (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass short right to K.Smith to DET 38 for 3 yards (C.Rogers; L.Fletcher).


1-10-DET 38 (6:49) (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass short right to C.Johnson to WAS 43 for 19 yards (R.McIntosh). PENALTY on DET-D.Raiola, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at DET 38 - No Play.

Despite the complete lack of an underneath threat Hall lets Johnson past him way too early, and long before safety help can arrive.

1-20-DET 28 (6:22) (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass short left to N.Burleson to DET 37 for 9 yards (D.Hall).


2-11-DET 37 (5:45) (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass incomplete short left to T.Scheffler.

Four man front here – Chris Wilson is at RDE and draws the RT, allowing Haynesworth to stunt outside him. But the LT recovers just in time to get outside and box out Haynesworth, allowing Stafford to step up and avoid the sack.

3-11-DET 37 (5:38) (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass incomplete short middle to K.Smith (K.Golston).

Golston gets hung up on the C but gets his hand up to tip the ball at the line.

4-11-DET 37 (5:32) N.Harris punts 44 yards to WAS 19, Center-D.Muhlbach. B.Banks to WAS 26 for 7 yards (J.Wendling).


Washington Redskins at 5:21


1-10-WAS 26 (5:21) K.Williams up the middle to WAS 26 for no gain (C.Williams).

Trent Williams gets blown up by the DT and the inside penetrations trips up Keiland before he can make it out of the backfield.

2-10-WAS 26 (4:40) D.McNabb pass short right intended for A.Armstrong INTERCEPTED by A.Smith at WAS 41. A.Smith to WAS 37 for 4 yards (A.Armstrong).

Keiland has a good pickup on a blitzing safety but despite a solid block the safety retains his footing and recovers to get in McNabb’s face, forcing him to throw off his back food.

Detroit Lions at 4:32


1-10-WAS 37 (4:32) (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass incomplete deep right to C.Johnson [A.Carter].


2-10-WAS 37 (4:26) (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass short left to K.Smith ran ob at WAS 24 for 13 yards (R.McIntosh).


1-10-WAS 24 (4:20) (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass incomplete deep right to C.Johnson [V.Holliday].

Holliday absorbs a solid blow from the RG, but recovers and manages to slip past him due to the space opened up by the double team on Haynesworth. He gets his hand in the air and forces Stafford to throw high.

2-10-WAS 24 (4:13) (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass incomplete short right to B.Johnson. PENALTY on WAS-K.Moore, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at WAS 24 - No Play.

Haynesworth attacks the RG, allowing Orakpo to stunt behind him and rush through the right B gap, forcing yet another high throw from Stafford.

1-10-WAS 19 (4:08) (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass incomplete short right to J.Best.


2-10-WAS 19 (4:04) (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass short left to C.Johnson to WAS 10 for 9 yards (R.McIntosh).

Another 4 man front, this time with Golston and Carriker as the DTs.

3-1-WAS 10 (3:23) (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass incomplete short right to N.Burleson (K.Moore).

Carter steps over the attempted cut by the RT, but Stafford gets the ball out before it can matter. Fortunately Stafford is staring down one receiver at the goal line and he puts it up where Moore can knock it away.

4-1-WAS 10 (3:17) (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass short right to C.Johnson for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN [A.Carter].

The pressure very nearly gets there – Carter stunts inside Holliday, who has occupied the RG, while the C is too busy keeping an eye on the LG’s matchup with Haynesworth. Carter gets his hands up and buries Stafford, but the ball is out just in time and despite good double coverage Calvin Johnson uses his exquisite body control to make the catch.

TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. M.Stafford pass to B.Johnson is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.

A simple rollout with what amounts to trips right after a WR motions over just before the snap. He has WRs at three different levels, and one of them is bound to briefly come open. Stafford finds the guy before Fletcher can close.

WAS 25 DET 28, 7 plays, 37 yards, 1 penalty, 1:20 drive, 11:48 elapsed


J.Hanson kicks 46 yards from DET 30 to WAS 24. M.Sellers to WAS 28 for 4 yards (J.Wade).


Washington Redskins at 3:12, (1st play from scrimmage 3:06)


1-10-WAS 28 (3:06) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short left to K.Williams to WAS 34 for 6 yards (J.Wade). PENALTY on WAS-T.Williams, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at WAS 28 - No Play.

The hold probably saves McNabb’s life – Trent was beat on the edge by Vanden Bosch.

1-20-WAS 18 (3:00) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short left to S.Moss to WAS 28 for 10 yards (J.Wade).


2-10-WAS 28 (2:29) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete deep right to A.Armstrong.


3-10-WAS 28 (2:22) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete deep right to C.Cooley (C.Houston).

Heyer is beaten badly by the RDE but McNabb shrugs off an arm swipe and resets, but it’s too high for Cooley.

4-10-WAS 28 (2:15) (Shotgun) D.McNabb sacked at WAS 20 for -8 yards (C.Avril).

Suh lines up at LDE and rushes inside, occupying Heyer and Hicks and allowing the DT to stunt outside, and McNabb steps up right into his arms when he is forced to evade the edge pressure given up by Trent.

Detroit Lions at 2:10


1-10-WAS 20 (2:10) K.Smith up the middle to WAS 23 for -3 yards (B.Orakpo).

Orakpo stays at home against the counter action and makes a sound tackle in the backfield.

Timeout #2 by WAS at 02:07.


2-13-WAS 23 (2:07) K.Smith up the middle to WAS 15 for 8 yards (K.Moore).

Haynesworth is at nose in a 3-4, which I thought wasn’t supposed to happen anymore but we saw it a couple of times in this game. He is driven off the line, but Golston and Carriker hold their ground and the LBs shoot the gaps, forcing the RB to cut back across the field. Unfortunately no one is keeping contain on the backside (Orakpo and Rogers share blame for this, I think) so once he gets outside he has a big gain open to him.

Two-Minute Warning


3-5-WAS 15 (1:59) K.Smith up the middle to WAS 14 for 1 yard (A.Haynesworth, R.McIntosh).

Haynesworth again at nose. He absorbs an initial double team, then spins around the RGs block to make the play. Probably not sound technique as he must have had 2 gap responsibility here and he blatantly abandoned one of them, but his athleticism allowed him to get the job done anyway.

Timeout #3 by WAS at 01:54.


4-4-WAS 14 (1:54) J.Hanson 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Muhlbach, Holder-N.Harris.


WAS 25 DET 31, 4 plays, 6 yards, 0:20 drive, 13:10 elapsed


J.Hanson kicks 50 yards from DET 30 to WAS 20. B.Banks to WAS 30 for 10 yards (J.Wade).

Lorenzo Alexander and Mike Sellers, two special teams stalwarts, each blow blocks that leave Banks with nowhere to run.

Washington Redskins at 1:50, (1st play from scrimmage 1:45)

1-10-WAS 30 (1:45) WAS #8-R. Grossman now in at QB. R.Grossman sacked at WAS 23 for -7 yards (K.Vanden Bosch). FUMBLES (K.Vanden Bosch), RECOVERED by DET-N.Suh at WAS 17. N.Suh for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was Upheld.


Hooooo boy. Trent gets caught in a backpeddle and Vanden Bosch gets under his pads, then manages to push him away and come inside, where he gets an easy hit on Grossman who can’t escape because the LDE has driven Heyer back into his face.

Timeout #1 by DET at 01:36.


Detroit Lions at 1:36


TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. M.Stafford pass to B.Pettigrew is incomplete. ATTEMPT FAILS.

Fletcher all over the TE in the end zone. He never turns his head but sees the TE getting ready for the ball and leaps to knock it away.

WAS 25 DET 37, 0 plays, 17 yards, 0:00 drive , 13:24 elapsed


J.Hanson kicks 72 yards from DET 30 to WAS -2. B.Banks to WAS 25 for 27 yards (L.Johnson).


Washington Redskins at 1:36, (1st play from scrimmage 1:30)


1-10-WAS 25 (1:30) R.Grossman pass incomplete short right to F.Davis.

Lichtensteiger fails to adjust to a stunt, allowing the RDE to get inside him and hit Grossman as he tries to dump it off to Davis.

2-10-WAS 25 (1:24) R.Grossman pass short right to F.Davis to WAS 34 for 9 yards (C.Houston).

Grossman is unable to step into his throw properly because Heyer is beat by the LDE’s spin move, but he still gets it to Davis who is wide open in the flat because of Detroit’s soft coverage.

3-1-WAS 34 (1:01) (No Huddle) R.Grossman pass incomplete short left to S.Moss.


4-1-WAS 34 (:58) R.Grossman pass short right to J.Galloway pushed ob at WAS 36 for 2 yards (C.Houston).


1-10-WAS 36 (:53) R.Grossman pass short right to K.Williams to DET 49 for 15 yards (J.Wade).

Suh puts a swim move on Hicks and blows past him, and Heyer gives up way too much depth out of fear of being beat by the LDE. From way back in the backfield Grossman is able to find Keiland short, and the deep zones give him room to run for the first down.

1-10-DET 49 (:29) (No Huddle) R.Grossman pass incomplete deep right to J.Galloway [Sa.Hill]. PENALTY on WAS-R.Grossman, Intentional Grounding, 10 yards, enforced at DET 49.

Hicks gets tied up on the inside and lets a DT stunt around his outside shoulder, pressuring Grossman. At this point my picture gives out for a few seconds and the next thing I see is a ball bouncing around, so no opinion on the grounding although I assume it’s that DT who hit him. Not sure if the problem was my TiVo or the Fox broadcast, so if you got a better look at the play let me know.

2-20-WAS 41 (:15) R.Grossman pass short middle to S.Moss to DET 41 for 18 yards (N.Suh).

An utterly futile quick slant to wrap up the game.