RGIII Faces Homecoming on Thursday in Dallas

The Washington Redskins are at a crossroads, and if they go down the correct path, they could blaze a trail leading them to paradise.

Washington (4-6) has a Thanksgiving date with the Dallas Cowboys (5-5) on Thursday at 4:15 p.m. By the way, I recommend everyone stuff their mouths with turkey, collard greens, and whatever else you traditionally eat for Thanksgiving – before the game kicks-off. It will be a showdown and the stage gets no bigger than Jerry Jones’ “big screen store.”

The NFC East is up for grabs and it all starts Thursday evening.  The stakes are extremely high, as coach Mike Shanahan said in his Tuesday presser: “Our guys know there is a lot at stake and hopefully they will be ready to play and play at a high level.”

If Washington is able to leave the Dallas area victorious, they will have 11 days to relish an opportunity to fight for the division lead in their week 13 Monday night game against the  New York Giants (6-4). Of course, that depends on if the Green Bay Packers take care of business when they face New York in this Sunday’s match-up. But the Packers are on fire right now, and it’s highly possible that the Giants could enter their match-up against the Redskins with a 6-5 record, putting the division up for grabs.

Playing in Texas, the lone-star state, is nothing new to Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III, a Baylor grad, and he has experience in Dallas specifically.

“I think I’ve played there twice,” Griffin said. “Obviously everyone knows it’s a beautiful stadium. The screen is what everyone likes to talk about. The field is good. It’s just about playing on a big stage and playing at a high level. I think everyone on this team is ready to do that.”

Griffin and the ’11 Baylor Bears squared off against Texas Tech last November. Baylor won 66-42, but unfortunately, Griffin went down before halftime with a concussion. Griffin still managed to post a decent stat line, completing 7 of 11 attempts, for 106 yards and a TD. He also had 14 rushes for 62 yards and 2 touchdowns. Pretty good in just one half, eh?

Well now Robert Griffin III plans on making Jerry’s World his home. He and the few other Redskins’ players from the Texas area will have a large contingent rooting for Washington during Thursday’s game.

“It will be fun,” Griffin said. “I’ll see a lot of familiar faces. I have a lot of fans down there who got to see me grow up in Copperas Cove, Texas. They go to college at Baylor, so it will definitely be a good homecoming, more so of a homecoming than New Orleans was. Certainly looking forward to having fun, but we’re going there with one goal in mind and that’s to win.”

The stage is set, and the Washington Redskins have the perfect player at helm to conquer this situation. Robert Griffin III has said it himself, “No pressure, No diamonds.” If the Washington Redskins can seize this opportunity - watch out – they could have themselves a season.

Now, of course that’s all easier said than done. The Washington Redskins struggle in 3 key areas – they are only converting 30.8% of their offensive 3rd downs, they have 88 penalties on offense alone – accounting for 729 yards, and have an inconsistent defense. The Redskins proved last week against the Philadelphia Eagles that they can win with those shortcomings – and it was the first time the defense played well for a full four quarters. However, the NFC East could well come down to the team that self inflicts the least damage on themselves. If Washington can continue not turning the football over, playing disciplined football, and limiting big plays from opposing offenses – then they will have a legitimate chance at blazing the golden trail to a division title and slot in the post season.