The Redskins Portal - ESPN 980

Before we get a chance to watch the game over again, and after getting a chance to slow down some  highlights - these are some 'Quick Snaps' thoughts I have on the Redskins 27-23 loss at Met Life Stadium yesterday.

***The rookie had a largely brilliant day - but the two turnovers for Robert Griffin III (four turnovers overall for the Redskins offense) have to be considered crucial. Griffin hesitated and pump faked on his third interception of the year, on a pass intended for Logan Paulsen. He took the blame after the game, saying the "interception was bad,"  as I felt he should have.  He talked about how he should have gone to his next read. It's OK, this is all part of the learning process.

***Griffin was sacked three times, but the killer play was officially ruled a run loss, and not a sack. Griffin motioned like he was running a bit of a draw, off the read option,  and he got popped by Jason Pierre-Paul for the turnover, a third consecutive series that Washington gave away their possession. The first one was a fumble by Alfred Morris at the NYG-41, the interception intended for Paulsen was picked off at the NYG-24, and the fumble occurred at the NYG-30.  Santana Moss' fumble occurred on the Redskins side of the field, but they were desperately on the move and searching for a crazy comeback win.  Turnovers are one thing, but to give away the ball three times inside the NYG-41, along with having four points taken off the scoreboard on a somewhat questionable penalty that negated Joshua Morgan's touchdown, that was the real problem.

***On the game-winning TD pass from Eli  Manning to Victor Cruz - the Redskins had double coverage and Cruz with his blazing speed just split Josh Wilson and Madieu Williams. It happens. It's not Jim Haslett's fault, and I will say this - it's not even Josh Wilson or Madieu Williams fault. The Redskins were playing their safeties in two deep over the numbers, to help try and take away the long ball. Maybe they weren't playing deep enough, with Williams' lack of big speed vs. Cruz or perhaps Josh Wilson could have got a jam off the line, and I thought I saw him take a bad step out of his break.

It's just a great talent in Cruz who was stifled most of the  day (6 -54 before TD), making a great play in rhythm with his QB, Eli Manning, despite a twist by Barry Cofield & Stephen Bowen, that led to Manning getting popped. Oh and there is this - these guys won a Super Bowl last year, and Eli has won two -- tip your cap to them -- champions make big plays when they need them the most.

***Chris Cooley will replace Fred Davis (as expected) on the roster, with Davis out for the year.  Cooley told Rich Campbell of the Washington Times & ESPN 980 that he is in "real good shape." It's a consolation prize for the pending free agent to be -- but he said (we'll wait for official word) that it was only a partial tear as opposed to a full tear. It has to be slightly easier for Davis to come back off of, than a full tear & might also increase his value to both the Redskins and other teams. Before Sunday, and after the game,  he was leading the Skins in receiving (catches/yardage) and finished at (24-325), with no scores.

Chris Russell -- www.twitter.com/russellmania980 -- SFTheRooster@Yahoo.com