Ouch this hurts...

[mheisig]

Yeah, I know power rankings don't mean much, but this just hurts.

"That early start was a mirage. This team is nothing better than a .500 club -- and that could be stretching it."

I don't usually listen to this stuff, but it's hard when you almost agree...

CBS Power Rankings

[irish]

The skins are a .500 team. Maybe they will finish 9-7 (but I doubt it) but that is still basically a .500 team. The skins are a middle of the road team that is nowhere close to the the elite teams like Indy.

[VTSkins897]

that is partially correct in my opinion. the problem with all these close games is that you're just as close to being bad as you are being good. we could just as easily be 8-3 as we could 3-8. therefore you are a .500 team give or take.

that being said. i still feel we are worlds better than we were the previous year. if we can make 8-8 or 9-7 then we are definitely on pace for the playoffs next year.

let's not forget that we are not out of it yet this year and if we do sneak in... well we all know that it's a new season once playoffs start.

[MTK]

The truth does hurt.

The fast start inflated our expectations, when in reality this was a 8-8 or 9-7 team all along.

At this point if we can get to 8 or 9 wins I'd be pretty satisfied with this season.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

I still hate the press. I also dislike Snyder for making our franchise so disliked (via guilt by association with Snyder).

[scowan]

You are what your record says you are no matter what anyone else says. The Skins are 5-6.... Sometimes they show up to play but more recently they haven't!

[Beemnseven]

At the time, I think we were all in la-la land with the 3-0 start. But upon further reflection, we were two miracle touchdown throws against Dallas, a goal post bounce against the Seahawks, and a just barely good enough performance against the struggling Bears offense away from an 0-3 start.

My initial thought was that this is an example of a team finding ways to win. In reality, the offense was still struggling, and the defense was showing signs of the symptoms they're suffering from now in terms of not getting turnovers and pressuring the quarterback.

All of those things were recipes for disaster that have come to fruition.

[GB1]

Sounds like an accurate eval... But you never know what can happen in the crazy NFL anymore. They COULD finish 10-6 and make the playoffs. !!!

[Master4Caster]

Before the season started, I would have been satisfied with a two game improvement over last year. At 8-8, I figured that would show progress. What hurts now is that the Redskins found an offense, inconsistent though it is, and were competitive in every game except the Giants.

I still like the progress and the Redskins still control their fate. Hooray for Gibbs. I got to say though, if the Skins are just going to play 3/4s of a game, I'd just as soon they not make the playoffs. That would be too wrenching to watch.

[scowan]

What we need to hear from the players are statements like" I am looking at what I can do to not let the team down!" I will make a play and not wait for someone else to make it for me." and stuff like...." I am trying to concentrate better while I am on the field". I need to hear some ownership out of our players and some resolve. The Skins need to play like they are are going to dictate things and make things happen and not let things happen to them, like they have in the 4th Qtr the past couple of weeks.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Ramseyfan

I still hate the press. I also dislike Snyder for making our franchise so disliked (via guilt by association with Snyder).

What has Snyder done to make the press hate us. He has tried very hard to make this team a winner but has failed so far in his attempt. If they disagree with how he has tried thats OK but you cannot knock the guy for his efforts. He is learning and I think when its all said in done he will leave as a winning owner. I would rather have an owner who wants win and will spend the money to win than an owner who is just in it for the money and does not realy care.

[memphisskin]

The truth is the Skins are a decent team, good but not great. Upon further review, our defensive struggles can be traced right to our offensive struggles. In all of our last three losses, we've had the ball late in a game with the lead and been unable to run out the clock. Even in the Philly win we gave them the ball back with a chance to at least tie. Conversely, when we have the ball with a late shot to tie or win we've come up short. Maybe it's just that we have to learn how to win close games, we've lost five games by seven points or less. So as a squad we are right on the cusp, I think we're a pass rushing defensive end and a big wideout away from being a contender.

[FirstandTen]

As of this week the Skins have played the 5th hardest schedule in the league.

[skinsguy]

I don't think our team is heading towards disaster at all. We are just having to go through the growing pains of working out the bugs and filling th void where we need it the most. This team is heading in the right direction, and I do not believe our current slump is any indication of a team heading into turmoil.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

I don't think our team is heading towards disaster at all. We are just having to go through the growing pains of working out the bugs and filling th void where we need it the most. This team is heading in the right direction, and I do not believe our current slump is any indication of a team heading into turmoil.

I agree and think the biggest problem people are having is keeping that positive attitude. Year in and year out for the past 13 years we have been saying the same things and nothing changed. The only difference is now with Gibbs things realy should turn around for us and it would be a big boost to end on a positive note.