Is Tampa The Most Important Game of the Season So Far?

I think our previous malfunctions have made this a must win. Realistically, I can't see making the playoffs if we lose this game. I don't think we have a chance to win 5 straight which we would have to do if we lose.

This game is critical.
1) We must not lose 3 in a row. We need momentum for the stretch run if we are going to finish 4 - 2 to have a chance at the playoffs.

2) If Tampa wins their division, (based on how NO & CAR are playing that should happen). The tiebreaker against them isn't an issue, but if NO or CAR gets hot we will need the tiebreaker against TB.

3) Philly at 5-5 appears to be the biggest threat for the last wildcard. Their remaining schedule is no cakewalk though; @ NE & Dallas, Seattle, NYG, NO, Buffalo. 3 - 3 for them is realistic, but 4 - 2 is not impossible. Obviously it is critical to stay ahead of them and finish at least 9-7.

4) To finish 4 - 2 we need this game, we still have to play @ NYG and Dallas again. Minn, Chicago and Buffalo are all very winnable, but as we all know anything can happen.

After the Cowboy game, we came away with a lot of good stuff (even thought it was an L). I think we shift into the next higher gear, and put it on Tampa.
AND.........we gotta' have it

Yes, I'd say this game is critical. Critical in the sense that if we lose this one, I'd say our season is effectively over.

I personally thought the Philly game was the real critical one. I thought if we could win there, build momentum going into Dallas and get a win there, all this wild card talk would be pointless since we'd be fighting for the division title.

It's now a fight to stay in it as opposed to a fight for supremacy.

Every game from here on out is just the next playoff game. Every game is a MUST win, we probually don't have but one more lose to give up down the stretch.

In my opinion we NEED to finish with 10 wins to have a shot to make post season.

I think you're right there, skinsfan. This feels a lot like 2005..."six in a row or we don't go."

I think our previous malfunctions have made this a must win. Realistically, I can't see making the playoffs if we lose this game. I don't think we have a chance to win 5 straight which we would have to do if we lose.

I agree, its unfortunate that the team has squandered leads and opportunities and are now in a very precarious position. IMO, if they lose this game the playoffs are pretty much out of the question because I see no way this team can run the table the rest of the way.

Yes this is a must win game. Really though any NFC opponents from here on out are pretty much must win. Tampa is just as much in the hunt for the wildcard spot as we are and this is a great chance to get up there with them and hold the tiebreaker on them too, because the way it's looking that tiebreaker more than likely will come in handy.

This week's focus is on stopping Garcia, Graham and Galloway, while finding holes in their front 7 with our RBs. There is only one team who has given up less points this year thus far, and that's Pittsburgh.

To add to skinsfan_nn sentiments (minus the spelling of course ;)), this game is the most important because it's the next game. With 6 games to go, and the playoffs on the line, each game becomes the most important of the season. While we do have some breathing room, it's very little, and if the Skins revert to their 2nd half woes, 3 weeks from now, we could be complaining about our 5th straight loss and what the season once was...

I wouldn't be so quick to say that. 9-7 could easily get us in considering we have the tie breaker over the Lions & Cards. Nobody is exactly jumping up and taking hold of that last wildcard spot just yet. It's still wide open and even at 5-5 the Skins are in a good spot to claim that last playoff berth.

It honestly doesn't matter how the other teams in the NFC do, this team still needs to win games and to be honest I don't see them beating the teams that are beatable.


@Buccaneers - L
Bills - W?
Bears - W?
@Giants - L
@Vikings - W?
Cowboys - L (our chance may come down to whether the cowboys choose to rest their players).

I'm thinking it is for several reasons:

1) The playoff picture. Both Detroit and Philly should lose this weekend so a win in Tampa puts us right there in the wildcard picture. Also, we need to get on a winning steak now to build momentum for big games against NY and Dallas (again).

Washington cannot control the outcome of any games other then their own. So the best would be to hope for a Detroit loss. But I would say that the Tampa game is a must win for the Redskins no matter the outcome of other games. Because 3 consecutive losses puts the Redskins firmly in a "losing streak" and all the haters will emerge again.

2) Jason Campbell. The guy became "the man" last Sunday against Dallas. He is the most solid QB in Washington since Mark R. of 15 years ago, and he's finally being allowed to run his offense. Sunday saw him make one mistake that eliminated the possibility of a comeback, and reports have JC sobbing afterward at his locker. I don't think this is any reason to belittle him, it actually shows his passion for professional football and his commitment to arguably the greatest franchise in football. Could JC's emotion spark the guys, offense and defense, to approach the rest of the season w/ playoff intensity?

Yes Campbell had some good things to take from his performance against Dallas. Not to discredit his efforts, but it is what it is. And that is YES he did pass for in excess of 300 yards. But the reality of that is he did it with 54 attempts. That is a lot of attempts. Any NFL starting QB that throws the ball that many times (54) and does NOT exceed 300 yards has a problem. Campbells completion percentage in that game was 61% and his season average is 60%. The only difference is he threw more than he ever has. ANd he did turn the ball over twice.

3) It's Tampa, possibly our biggest rival outside the East. Could playing a huge game in Tampa spark a playoff run?

IMO this game serves as an indicator for the rest of the season, and I will not be surprised in the least if we blow the game wide open.

Hail!

Very winnable game for the Redskins. Tampa is very good against the pass, but very mediocre against the run. This is a Gibbs type game, on the road where he can run successfully and eat up the clock. IF Portis does not exceed 150 yards, I will be surprised. Do not expect Campbell to repeat the number of passing attempts he did in Dallas because of this. And yes the win is a must for Washington, you do not want a 3 game losing streak after the middle of the season. Washington has always played extremely well in December in the past and they have to keep that trend up if they are to have any hope of a WC.