Holy [expletive]. Holy [expletive, expletive]. The Redskins’ season opener is just actually, seriously, truly almost here.
Few things in the NFL are better than Week 1, and for Washington, that is especially so: Optimism hangs in the air like a Tress Way punt, and the devastating locker room leaks are still a few months away from leaking.
So to honor what feels like should be a national holiday, let me review for you the Redskins’ last five debuts. This recap will bring back memories both good and bad, but in the end, I want it to give you something you probably don’t need much more of: some excitement.
Because kickoff is now roughly 72 hours away.
Week 1, 2010
The opponent: The freakin’ Dallas Cowboys
The score: Redskins 13, the freakin’ Dallas Cowboys 7
The one word that describes it: Satisfying.
Thoughts on the game: This was the start of the Mike Shanahan era, and ooooohhhh boy, did it start off with a bang. First there was this play right near the end of the half:
And then there was this play, right at the end of the game:
As far as ranking the times where I personally freaked out during a Skins game at a level that most people in society would call “utterly embarrassing,” the miracle Hall scoop-and-score and the wondrous last-second holding call rank about No. 4 and No. 3 respectively. I’ll never forget the sheer joy I felt in the aftermath of either highlight.
The score in this game was ugly, McNabb’s premiere in Burgundy and Gold was ugly, and the way they won it was ugly. But there’s nothing ugly about a win over Dallas, and having it come on the national stage and in such insane fashion made it all the more sweet. One of the best openers I’ve had as a fan of this franchise.
Week 1, 2011
The opponent: The New York Giants
The score: Redskins 28, Giants 14
The one word that describes it: Surprising
Thoughts on the game: This victory — a pretty easy one for a team that’s not really used to that — kind of came outta nowhere. Rex Grossman actually played like an above average quarterback which was nuts in its own right, while newbies Tim Hightower and Anthony Armstrong chipped in with strong efforts as well. But this is the thing that’s most memorable from the 2011 opener:
Not a bad first game for the then-rookie, huh?
Eventually this season would become a disaster (they almost always do, don’t they?), but for one week at least, the Redskins looked formidable. Hell, that sure beats starting off 0-1.
Week 1, 2012
The opponent: The New Orleans Saints
The score: Redskins 40, Saints 32
The one word that describes it: ;ALSDEIPEUTPBNA;SDFJA;EIJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thoughts on the game: The zenith of Redskins’ openers. The first chapter in Griffin’s legendary first season. The day this beautiful image spread around the country:
Forget all of the poop that’s hit the fan since this game, and just remember how happy we were in September of 2012. How cool was that? How much fun was that? The highlights of this opener are still on my DVR to this day, and I don’t ever intend on changing that.
Week 1, 2013
The opponent: The Philadelphia Eagles
The score: Redskins 27, Eagles 33
The one word that describes it: *Fart noise*
Thoughts on the game: This game sucked. What I have now labeled the “All in for Week 1 Game” really, really sucked. Don’t let the score fool you, either; it wasn’t that close. Chip Kelly’s new offense had the Redskins on their heels all night, and as a fan, it was helpless watching LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson dice up Washington’s defense with ease.
Looking through a broader scope, this was the first sign that all was not well with #10 after his ACL injury against Seattle, but of course, we didn’t know it then. We simply thought it was a bump in the road, that eventually he’d get right, but nope, this was actually a sign of things to come.
Good things never happen when the Eagles travel to FedEx Field and play the Skins on Monday Night Football. (cough cough, 59-28, cough cough). Let’s stop scheduling those games, OK NFL?
Week 1, 2014
The opponent: The Houston Texans/The Houston J.J. Watts
The score: Redskins 6, Texans 17
The one word that describes it: Nightmarish
Thoughts on the game: This was the worst kind of season opener. We waited eight months for the 2014 campaign to start, and the Redskins rewarded us by coming out and putting up a six spot on the scoreboard. Niles Paul had a crucial fumble on his way to a sure touchdown, JJ Watt rejected an extra point, and Alfred Blue blocked a Tress Way punt and returned it for a score. This matchup was terrible to watch from kickoff to the final snap.
So, all in all, the Redskins are 3-2 in their last five Week 1 games, but have lost the last two. Miami presents a tough matchup for them this year, especially with their defense, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Washington come out with the win. After all, it’s not the beginning of the season that’s the problem for this team — it’s the middle and end that they’ve always had trouble with.
MORE FROM PETER HAILEY, THE CEO/LEAD WRITER/SOCIAL MEDIA OPERATOR/CREATOR OF BARELY IN BOUNDS:
–Alfred Morris has a new set of wheels, and it’s completely different from almost every other NFL player’s (via CSN Mid Atlantic)
–My “Can’t-Miss NFL Team of 2015,” featuring Odell Beckham, Eric Berry, and DeSean Jackson (via the Left Bench)
–An analysis of the most intriguing games on this year’s schedule (via Breaking Burgundy)
Let me know on Twitter @BarelyIn. You should also like the blog’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/barelyinbounds), because it will make me really happy, but more importantly, because I can relate to the struggles that you’re going through, DC sports fan.
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