Redskins vs. Championship Teams over the last 10 Years

It's interesting to note that while the Redskins have rarely made it to the post season over the last 10 years, they have more often than not (7 out of 10) beat teams that have made it all the way to the championship game.

What do you think this means - since the trend remains through different players, coaches and systems.

Is the major problem a culture of playing up and down to the talent level of the opponent?

2010

Beat Chicago and Green bay, both in NFC championship

2009

Almost beat NO - lost in overtime 33 - 30 who won Superbowl

2008

Beat PHI twice and ARI - both in NFC championship

2007

Split with Giants - who won Superbowl close in first game and beat them in second

2006

Beat NO who was in NFC championship

2005

Beat Seatle who won NFC championship

2004

Lost to PHI

2003

Beat NE who won Superbowl

Lost to NFC Championship teams:
Lost to PHI
Lost to CAR by 3 points with 3 minutes left

2002

Beat TENN who lost in AFC championship
Lost twice to PHI

2001

Split with PHI who lost in NFC championship

2000

Beat Baltimore who won the Superbowl
Split with the Giants who lost

More than anything I think it speaks to the parity of the NFL. I'd like to see how other similar teams stack up before trying to draw any meaning from this.

That would be great if we weren't consistently the team that lost to the best teams in the NFL (i.e. losing to Detroit twice)

I think all this means is that teams that go far into the playoffs aren't necessarily the teams that play the best football from week to week in the NFL. Also gives more meaning to the term "any given sunday." Many thought New England was the best team in the NFL this season, and they got dispatched in their first playoff game. It is easy to read into this too much and think that it might point to a sign that we aren't that far behind the truly elite teams in the NFL, but in reality all it means is that on one particular Sunday, we were better than a team that made it deep into the playoffs. The teams that reach the CC games and the SB are the teams that peak at the right time, which is during the playoffs.

I think it means that the Championship caliber teams know how to pace themselves during the season in order to finish strong where as the weaker teams tend to get beat up toward the end of the season.

Good timing on this thread, just last week L. Michael said that because the skins beat both GB & chicago that it was a sign of progress. Dan Steinberg made fun of this in his DC Spots bog & with good reason; Steinberg pointed out that Zorn's 08 team was 3-0 v. Nfc champ. teams.

When I look at the list, what stands out to me is how the Skins have been able to put together portions or snapshots of a good season, only to regress in the end. Other than Joe Gibbs getting his teams to put together dramatic playoff runs in 05 & 07, the decade has been defined by big hopes that were reinforced by some of these wins, only to lead to major disappoint.

The best example is the 03 win over NE when Champ forced a fumble to seal the deal. The ole ball coach was 3-1 at that point in his 2nd season. We finished 4-12 I believe & were totally embarrased by the pokes 27-0. The OBC left town never looking more humble in his coaching career.

And then again we are the team responsible for breaking the Lions 19 game losing streak. So we Redskins can do it all!

This argues that Steve Spurrier was a very capable NFL head coach.

A team that plays up and down to opposition is a sign of a talented but bad team. Starts with the organization and coaching and the culture created by them.

A team that plays up and down to opposition is a sign of a talented but bad team. Starts with the organization and coaching and the culture created by them.

I think the playing down to the competition has always been exaggerated by us, as we've overvalued the team's talent. In reality this team has for a no. of years been poor to mediocre, e.g. losing to the Rams 2 years in a row wasn't 'playing down', we just aren't any better than them.

I think more than anything this list shows that this decade of Skins' teams were not deep & not complete, but could put together a couple of wins every year that led us to believe otherwise, if only for a little while.