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Pastimes : Dallas Cowboys fan thread -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Esway who wrote (56)	11/16/1999 2:41:00 AM
From: DSPetry	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 87

At least the Redskins are falling just as fast...I've never seen a year with so many KEY injuries to star players... Redskins' Season Slipping Away The Associated Press Monday, Nov. 15, 1999; 8:06 p.m. EST WASHINGTON –– The Washington Redskins are still tied for first place in the NFC East. That is about the only good news in the aftermath of the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. On the negative side following Sunday's 35-28 defeat was that Washington (5-4) lost for the third time in four games, signaling that the Redskins' once-promising season is unraveling fast. They opened at 4-1 and seemed on track for their first playoff berth since 1992. But losses to Dallas, Buffalo and Philadelphia – sandwiched around a victory over Chicago – have dimmed playoff hopes. To make matters worse, Michael Westbrook, one of the league's top receivers, broke his right wrist against Philadelphia and there's a 75 percent chance he won't play against the New York Giants next Sunday. Trainer Bubba Tyer said Westbrook's wrist is in a cast but that surgery hasn't been decided upon. The injury apparently occurred in the second quarter, long before Westbrook caught a 43-yard touchdown pass that gave the Redskins a 28-27 lead in the fourth quarter. If Westbrook isn't available against New York, 16-year veteran Irving Fryar will start in his place, coach Norv Turner said. "Hopefully, this will keep Michael out the least amount of time of any injuries he's had," Turner said. "It's disappointing, but there's nothing you can do to avoid it." Meanwhile, an atmosphere of urgency has set in at Redskin Park, where players seem aware that a loss next could dim playoff chances beyond repair despite that the Redskins are tied with the Giants and Dallas atop the NFC East. "I noticed it today, people are seeing that our season is slipping away and that our playoff chances could be gone if we don't start getting things done," wide receiver Albert Connell said. "We can't wait." Fullback Mike Sellers concurred. "Our patience is wearing thin," he said. "Everybody wants to win, but it's getting close to the end of the season, and we have plans to reach the playoffs." Meanwhile, Washington must diagnose how it practically gift-wrapped a game to Philadelphia. The Redskins, who committed six turnovers, were also plagued with crucial mental breakdowns on defense and special teams, all of which kept the Eagles in the game after Washington took leads of 14-3 and 21-10. Philadelphia brought a 2-7 record and the NFL's 30th-ranked offense into the game which the first start for rookie quarterback Donovan McNabb. The Redskins shut down McNabb's passing and running, but they self-destructed otherwise. Brad Johnson, the NFL's second-rated quarterback entering the game, had his worst showing this season. Despite going 18-of-33 for 313 yards and two touchdowns, he threw three interceptions and fumbled, miscues that led to 16 Philadelphia points. Washington's most costly mental mistake was its final one. Behind 28-27 with about five minutes left, the Eagles faced a third-and-8 on their own 48-yard line. Matt Stevens intercepted a deflected pass, returning the ball to the Eagles' 30. He was shoved out of bounds, and a flag was thrown for unnecessary roughness. But before McNabb threw the pass, cornerback Mark McMillian grabbed Charles Johnson's face mask, and offsetting penalties nullified the play. The Eagles then drove for the winning score, Eric Bienemy's 11-yard run with 3:17 left. That Washington committed six turnovers is an amazing statistic given that it allowed only nine in its first eight games. "You're not going to win in this league turning the ball over six times," Turner said. "If you give teams too many chances, they're going to find a way to win." Fryar feels the Redskins need an attitude adjustment – and fast. "We need to get ticked off and stop settling for what's been happening," he said. "We need to make up our minds that we're going to continue to play hard but be mad about the fact that we've lost four games."