Redskins Week 7 Reality Checks – The Shanahan Revenge Game
By Tim Payne
The 49ers are flying cross-country for an early Sunday game, coming off a big win, riding a 5-0 start to their season. They are doing so against the Redskins, one of the worst teams in the league. Does anyone smell a trap game?
If you do, you’re missing one key ingredient. Kyle Shanahan HATES the Washington Redskins organization. He hates what they did to his father. He hates what they did to him. He hates how they handled RGIII. He literally hates everything about this organization. When someone that talented has that much animosity toward your organization, you can bet they’re not letting their team ease up in preparation for this game.
Trap games happen when a good team takes a week off against an opponent seemingly beneath them. Check.
Trap games happen when a good team has a more important and apparently difficult game facing them the following week. Check.
Trap games happen when a good team subconsciously moves past this week into next week. Ain’t happening this week against the Redskins.
With that said, all is not totally lost. The 49ers, even if they aren’t overlooking the Redskins, and in spite of being off to a hot start, are still a normal NFL team. Which means, any given Sunday, there’s always a chance to compete against and even to beat them. So, on that positive note, let’s take a look at this week’s Redskins Reality Checks.