Photo from Google Images
Sunday was different kind of Sunday. Before the game, I had to tell three of my favorite friends that we could not be friends for the next few hours. They are die-hard Packer fans and there would be no love for cheese-heads when they are playing the Redskins. I also knew it would be difficult to watch my future baby-daddy (Aaron Rodgers) and know that I was rooting against him! Honestly, what does Olivia Munn have on me? (Insert sarcasm)
All week I had mixed feelings about the game. One day we could win the Super Bowl, the next day I remember who we were playing and thought we still have a chance.
Even walking into FedEx was different. For the first time in as long as I can remember, there were more fans in burgundy and gold than the visiting teams colors. The fans were excited, not just over-served from tailgating excited, but more “YouLikeThat” excited. And it was chanted LOUD and often. The stadium was full before kick-off and the fans were electric. The energy of RFK was restored in FedEx. For the first time in a long time, there was belief in a team and in a QB.
The wind was mean, but we had a chance to give the Packers a dose of Capital Punishment. 0-11 quickly turned into 17-11 as Rodgers lead with 17 unanswered points. Cousins ran a 3-yarder to take back the lead 17-18 early in the 3rd quarter. But the lead didn’t last long as Rodgers and those magical eyes put up 18 more points to advance with a 35-18 win.
DeSean Jackson trying to be cool on a TD run that was reversed, too many men on the field, a missed extra point, and bleeping flags all over the field against us will cost you the lead and the game real fast. We had a chance, but we had too many mistakes. So while my girls were singing “bang on the drum all day” (when the Packers score they play Todd Rundgren Bang The Drum All Day song) I was banging my head on the wall.
The truth is that before the season started, NO ONE gave the Redskins a chance and we won the NFC east and hosted a playoff game. This was a huge accomplishment for the first year GM and giving Cousins the starting QB job all under 2nd year head coach who was rumored to be in the hot seat. I’ve said it for two years, but I love Coach Jay Gruden and I know next year will be even more special.
Even the end of the game was different. Usually when the season ends in Washington the chopping block list of who is getting fired starts to grow. But this year ended and we are more focused on making sure Cousins knows he is our starter. After the loss, Redskins GM, Scot McCloughan embraced Cousins and I’m pretty sure he told him this will not be his last playoff game as the starter in Washington.
When Cousins was asked about the Redskins fan support he received during his first full year as the starter, Cousins said, “One of my biggest reasons to want to be back here is to be able to play for those people and to deliver them a winning team year in and year out, because they’re just phenomenal.” Well, Kirk, we think you’re pretty phenomenal too and we’re chanting We-Want-You-Back!