The Redskins outlasted the Jaguars to defeat them in O.T. yesterday.  It was not looking good when the Jaguars won the coin flip and got the ball first.  But, cornerback Kevin Barnes intercepted a David Garrard pass and returned it all the way to the Jags’ 14-yard line to set up Graham Gano with the game winning field goal.  LB Rocky McIntosh (7 tackles), CB Carlos Rogers (3 tackles, 2 passes defensed and a 1 interception) and CB Kevin Barnes (3 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception) led the way for the Redskins’ D in this game.  The Jaguars finished up with 78 yards rushing on 23 carries (3.4 ypc) and they also completed 22 of 38 passes for 258 yards in this game.

The offense didn’t look too good in this game.  Rex Grossman completed only 19 of 39 passes for 182 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 INT yesterday.  Ryan Torain pitched in with 65 yards rushing on 20 carries (3.3 ypc) with a TD run and he also caught 2 passes for 4 yards.  WR Santana Moss (5 rec, 85 yards), TE Chris Cooley (5 rec, 48 yards) and TE Fred Davis (2 rec, 10 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game for the Redskins yesterday.  The Redskins finished up with 79 yards rushing on 24 carries (3.3 ypc) and they also completed 19 of 39 passes for 172 yards in this game.  The Redskins are now 6-9 on the year.

In 1987, running back Timmy Smith played in 7 games (0 starts) for the Redskins during the regular season and he carried the ball 29 times for 126 yards (4.3 ypc).  He also caught 1 pass for -2 yards that season.  So when the Redskins advanced to Super Bowl XXII to face the Denver Broncos no one was expecting much out of Timmy Smith.  While QB Doug Williams got the MVP of the Super Bowl by completing 18 of 29 passes (62.1%) for 340 yards with 4 TD passes and 1 INT (127.9 QB Rating), Timmy Smith was just as good as him….if not better.  Smith carried the ball 22 times for 204 yards (9.3 ypc) with 2 TD runs and he also caught 1 pass for 9 yards in Super Bowl XXII.  The 204 yards rushing by Smith established an NFL record that still stands for Super Bowls!  Smith only played two seasons with the Redskins playing in 22 games (9 starts) in which he carried the ball 184 times for 596 yards (3.2 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  He also caught 9 passes for 51 yards (5.7 avg) in those 22 games.  Despite the fact that Smith was only with the Redskins for a short time, he will always be a part of both NFL and Redskins’ history for the big game he played on the league’s biggest stage!

The Redskins have placed DE/DT Kedric Golston on the Injured Reserve List due to elbow and groin injuries.  Golston played in 13 games for the Redskins this year and he had 35 tackles and 1 pass defensed.  Golston has now played in 73 games in his first five years in the NFL and he has 152 tackles, 7 passes defensed, 5.5 sacks and 1 forced fumble.  Golston didn’t help much this year for the Redskins so they won’t miss him too much the last two weeks of the year.

The Redskins have lost four games in a row and six of their last seven games.  That being said they played hard last week with Rex Grossman at QB and the Jags don’t exactly have much of a D.  The Jaguars are 5-2 at home this year and they are tied atop the AFC South with the Colts, so this is a very big game for them.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Redskins have the ball:  The Redskins might throw caution to the wind and let Rex Grossman chuck the ball around the field.  The Jaguars don’t have much of a pass rush which will give Grossman time to take deep shots down the field.  The Jaguars are giving up 255.6 yards passing per game this year and opposing QBs have a 100.2 QB Rating against them.  They will also give the ball quite a few times to Ryan Torain to keep the offense somewhat balanced as the Jaguars are allowing 115.9 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry.

When the Jaguars have the ball:  The Redskins will need to tighten up the chinstraps because the Jaguars are averaging 151.4 yards rushing per game and 4.7 yards per carry.  That means the front seven is going to have to deal with Maurice Jones-Drew and Rashad Jennings all game long.  The Redskins are going to need big games from their corners and safeties in this game because they don’t have much of a pass rush.  David Garrard is very effective off playaction and he likes to take shots down the field to Mike Sims-Walker and Mike Thomas.  The Redskins’ safeties are going to also be challenged by TE Marcedes Lewis who is having a breakout season for the Jags.

PREDICTION:  JAGUARS 26, REDSKINS 23

The Washington Redskins have lost 31-year old DT Maake Kemoeatu for the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury.  Kemoeatu played in 14 games for the Redskins this year and he had 29 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss.  The D-Line hasn’t played too well for the Redskins this season so they won’t miss Kemoeatu too much.

The Washington Redskins have placed 37-year old DE Phillip Daniels for the rest of the year due to a abdomen/groin injury.  Daniels played in 14 games for the Redskins this year and he had 21 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 2 sacks.  Daniels has now played in 82 games in six years with the Redskins and he has 182 tackles, 23 passes defensed, 17.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles and 1 interception.  The Redskins will miss Daniels a little bit as he still had a little bit left in the gas tank.

The Redskins fought hard yesterday before falling on a late Cowboys’ field goal in this game.  Rex Grossman played perhaps the best game this season for the Redskins at QB.  Grossman completed 25 of 43 passes for 322 yards with 4 TD passes and 2 INTs.  He also lost a fumble so he was far from perfect despite playing well.  Ryan Torain carried the ball 11 times for 53 yards (4.8 ypc) and he also caught 5 passes for 48 yards (9.6 avg) with a TD grab.  WR Anthony Armstrong (5 rec, 100 yards), WR Santana Moss (8 rec, 72 yards and 2 TDs) and TE Chris Cooley (5 rec, 62 yards and a TD) led the way in the passing game for the Redskins yesterday.  The Redskins finished up with 55 yards rushing on 15 carries (3.7 ypc) and they also completed 25 of 43 passes for 286 yards.

LBs London Fletcher (11 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss) and Rocky McIntosh (7 tackles) led the way for the Skins’ in this game.  The Cowboys finished up with 134 yards rushing on 31 carries (4.3 ypc) and they also completed 25 of 37 passes for 300 yards yesterday.  The Redskins have fallen to 5-9 on the season.

The Redskins are spinning out of control as they have lost five of their last six games.  Now Mike Shanahan is changing QBs, deciding to go with Rex Grossman over Donovan McNabb.  The Cowboys are 3-2 with Jason Garrett calling the shots and they have scored 160 points in those games.  The Redskins won the season opener for these teams but that was a long time ago.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Redskins have the ball:  I have a feeling that the Redskins are going to come out running the ball against the Cowboys with Ryan Torain.  He should be able to find some running room against a Cowboys’ D that is allowing 112.7 yards rushing per game and 4.3 yards per carry.  If Rex Grossman has time to throw the ball he will look to get vertical in the passing game with deep shots to WRs Santana Moss & Anthony Armstrong against a Cowboys’ D that is allowing 254.4 yards passing per game.  TE Chris Cooley will also give the Cowboys’ secondary fits in this game.

When the Cowboys have the ball:  The Cowboys are likely going to come out running the ball against the Redskins this weekend.  Felix Jones & Tashard Choice will be taking aim at a Redskins’ D that is allowing 134.4 yards rushing per game and 4.9 yards per carry.  Jon Kitna will also get to take some shots at a Redskins’ D that is allowing 260.5 yards passing per game so far this year.  Jason Witten, Miles Austin and Roy Williams could all have big games if the Redskins don’t get much pressure on Kitna.

PREDICTION:  COWBOYS 30, REDSKINS 20

The Washington Redskins are turning to 30-year old Rex Grossman at QB starting this Sunday in Dallas.  Grossman has played in 1 game for the Redskins so far this year and he has completed 4 of 7 passes (57.1%) for 44 yards with 0 TD passes and 0 INTs (75.9 QB Rating).  Grossman has now played in 38 games in his NFL career and he has completed 528 of 978 passes (54%) for 6,241 yards with 33 TD passes and 36 INTs (69.6 QB Rating).  Grossman also has carried the ball 58 times for 89 yards (1.5 ypc) with 3 TD runs in his career.  The Redskins will likely be more vertical in the passing game as Grossman is more of a gunslinger type than McNabb is.

The Redskins have not only benched 34-year old QB Donovan McNabb, but they have demoted him all the way to the #3 spot behind both Rex Grossman and John Beck.  McNabb has played in 13 games for the Redskins so far this year and he has completed 275 of 442 passes (58.3%) for 3,377 yards with 14 TD passes and 15 INTs (77.1 QB Rating).  McNabb also has carried the ball 29 times for 151 yards (5.2 ypc) so far this year.  McNabb has likely worn out his welcome in Washington as his stay looks like it will be for only 1 year despite the big extension he signed just weeks ago.

UPDATE:  The Redskins will have to send a 4th round pick in 2011 to complete the Donovan McNabb deal with the Eagles.  That is because he isn’t going to make the Pro Bowl and the Redskins aren’t going to win at least 9 games with him playing 70% of the team’s offfensive snaps.  This really hurts the Redskins because the Eagles used the 2nd round pick they got from the Skins in 2010 on safety Nate Allen who has been a starter since Day #1 for the Eagles.