LANDOVER, Md. — The Giants have to be kicking themselves. Beating the Eagles 42-7 yesterday in what proved to be their season finale at MetLife Stadium was hardly a fitting consolation to what was once a promising season.
Instead of looking ahead to defending their Super Bowl championship, the Giants had to join the rest of the nation in watching the Redskins and Cowboys battle last night for the NFC East title and a playoff berth.
Congratulations to the Redskins, who emerged with a 28-18 victory at FedEx Field and the right to host the Seahawks in the wild-card round. But they should thank the Giants for opening the door with a second-half collapse that ultimately cost them a chance to win a division they once controlled with a two-game lead.
Who knows? Maybe the Redskins can get on the kind of postseason run the Giants did last season. They are certainly one of the hottest teams in the NFL, having won seven straight. They won their first division title since 1999 and seem be just getting started on what could be a long stretch of success.
“I was 9 years old in 1999,” said Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III. “Now the Redskins are NFC East Champions. The sky’s the limit for this team, not only this year but the future. But we plan to capitalize on this year.”
After a 3-6 start, the Redskins ran the table, capturing seven straight wins with a determined spirit fueled by two rookies, Griffin and running back Alfred Morris. Griffin flushed the franchise with leadership and hope, while Morris gave it determination and strength. Rushing for 200 yards and three touchdowns, Morris put the offense on his back, helping Griffin (9 of 18 for 100 yards), clearly hobbled by a sprained right knee.
“We have everything it takes to do something special,” Morris said. “It comes down to how bad we want it.”
It wasn’t a classic game. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo completed 20 of 37 passes for 218 yards, but threw three interceptions, including a killer with three minutes remaining when the Cowboys had a chance for a go-ahead touchdown. Romo is now 1-6 in deciding games to get into the playoffs or in the playoffs. His failures will be talk of this game as much as the Redskins victory.
Still, the surprising ending to the regular season bodes well for the future. An NFC East that once looked mediocre is now positioned to be football’s premiere division with the Redskins, Cowboys and Giants all led by premier quarterbacks — if Romo hasn’t worn out his welcome in Dallas.
The division always has been known as one of the strongest in the NFL, with the Redskins and Giants claiming Super Bowl wins in the 1980s and the Cowboys claiming three Super bowls in the 1990s. The Giants have won three more Super Bowls since then, and there was a period when the Eagles seemed to go to the NFC Championship every year.
But the current state of the division is unique in that the Giants, Cowboys and Redskins should all be legitimate Super Bowl contenders next year and beyond. That is a rarity that sure to benefit the league and its fans.
The rookie quarterback who was voted to the Pro Bowl figures to keep the Redskins competitive for the next decade and beyond. Morris, who set the team rushing record with 1,613 yards, hasn’t even scratched his prime. The Redskins’ offense, which came into last night’s game averaging 27.2 points and 384.7 yards this season, only figures to get better.
“I think people are starting to realize there’s something special here,” Griffin said.
The Redskins could feel special last night. They could call themselves champions.