It's not half-empty, it's not half-full. It's just half right now. It fills up a little bit with every win, and it loses liquid with every loss. But beware, the thing is fragile. There's a fissure. If the Redskins look inept next week, the whole thing may crack apart, spewing the water everywhere. And when the glass is empty, it takes longer to refill. (What's that to the left of the cracked glass, you ask? Oh, that's an empty mug. It had been full of Hatorade, but I sipped that sucker down in two weeks.)
The thing about Redskins fans is that they extol every win to a tremendous degree. Every loss, meanwhile, is catastrophic, forging an end-of-the-world mentality. I'm guilty of it. I admit it. Redskins fans are bipolar for 16 weeks a year, and we're fine with it. We don't need help. When you're a fanatic, there's no panacea. The people around you just have to learn to deal with the wild mood swings: the elation of a win or the depression of a loss that lasts days after a Sunday's let-down.
So here we sit, Redskins Nation, supporting a team that's 1-2 after a definitive 31-15 romp against Houston. Before we begin, though, let's step into the wayback machine (thanks Jimmy James) and remember Week One, when Philly beat the Texans. Recall that if you will. The Eagles handled Houston and media types went nuts with Philly Phever. It was crazy. All of a sudden, just because of a single win against an NFL doormat, the Eagles were contenders again. The favorites to win the NFC East. The standard for the NFC East. Hell, the benchmark, the exemplar, the touchstone of the NFL. Watch your backs, everyone. The Eagles were ready to ingurgitate all teams in their path. Step aside, the team that beat the Texans is coming to town. If that was the case then (and we're fastforwarding here to the present), why isn't it the circumstance now? The Redskins arguably played better offensively against the Texans than did the Eagles. So, shouldn't the 1-2 Redskins now be christened the Super Bowl champions. No need to get the field ready, Miami. The Skins will gladly take the trophy now. They beat Houston. Season over. Cancel all the games.
Obviously, you recognize the folly of reading too much into a win against Houston. (Did you notice the Eagles blow the following week's game against the Giants? They're not ready for the big time quite yet.) So let's pat the Skins on the back for a win. Let's shake quarterback Mark Brunell's hand for setting an NFL record for consecutive passes completed (22). And let's give some dap to running back Clinton Portis for exhibiting his toughness and really sparking the offense. Then, let's regroup and analyze the victory. Really, the scrutiny of Sunday's game stops with the opponent. They beat Houston. It's like being given a win for taking a bye week. (Incidentally, I don't think the Raiders covered the spread against the bye on Sunday.)
Who knows, maybe the Redskins offense is dynamic, finally, because Portis is back. Maybe the team has turned a corner because a win, no matter whom it comes against, always builds confidence. Maybe Shawn Springs is back next week and the Redskins defense is top-flight again. Maybe. Maybe. Mabye. We still have as many questions as we do answers after three weeks. Next Sunday's game against Jacksonville will give us a true indication of where this team is at the quarter-pole of the season.
I have faith. I won't lose the hope that this team will get better. That come Week 13, 14, 15, the Skins will be battling for a top seed in the playoff picture. But in order for that dream to become a reality, they have to address their glaring weaknesses right now. This week. No more fine tuning. Play the guys who have a clue. Avoid the needless mistakes. Get it together because three of the next four games are against the Jags, Giants and Colts.
Can they beat Jacksonville? Yes. And not because of that whole parity argument. None of that any-given-Sunday crap. They have a chance because Portis can make some stretch runs to tire the Jags' defensive line. They have a chance because the Jags probably boast the worst wide receiving crew the Redskins have faced all season. They have a chance because, in general, the Jags don't score with any great frequency. They have a chance because they'll run the ball 30-35 times, even if the run is being stuffed time and time again. Anticipate a low scoring affiar. Something in the 20-17 range, with either team being on the winning end of that barnburner.
Let's revel in the euphoria of the Houston win a couple of days more, fellow Redskins fans. Then, we can revert back to the worrisome, anxiety-ridden, disquieted bunch we so enjoy being.
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