Redskins Reality Checks: Team loses game, Alex Smith, but not hope

No. 6 – Reality Is, Alex Smith and Adrian Peterson both seem due for a breakout.

Alex Smith had, in my opinion, one of his best games of the season this last week against the Buccaneers. With a couple of key drops, his stat line looked a bit puny, but he made some of his best throws and showed good pocket presence and confidence with both his feet and his arm.

This week was much the same, up until the injury. The pick-six was not his fault. Vernon Davis dropped a perfect pass that would have led to points. I expected Smith to break out. I expected Adrian Peterson to, being fully healthy, break out as well.

I predicted Peterson would rush for 120 yards on 24 carries and Smith would trow for 3 touchdowns and 265 yards on 24 for 35 passing. I also predicted the “home dog” Redskins would pull off the upset 28-27 to improve to 7-3 in time for the Thanksgiving tilt in Dallas.

Reality Check: Peterson had a pedestrian, but effective, 16 carries for 52 yards and 2 touchdowns, with the Redskins playing from behind all game. Smith and McCoy combined for 68 yards rushing to go with 189 yards passing, tossing 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions combined.

Once again, add in the drops, and the line looks just fine. As for the final score? If the Redskins had gotten the blatant pass interference call on their final drive, or had not been flagged for a phantom hold on the Texans’ final drive, I firmly believe the Redskins win this game 24-23. Instead, their gutsy comeback behind Colt McCoy came up short, and they face yet another key game on a short week in Dallas on Thanksgiving. Look for the pre-game Redskins Reality Checks later this week as you get ready for a classic. Until then, HTTR and, say it with me… We Want Dallas!

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