When it comes to the Washington Redskins vs. the New Orleans Saints, it’s not about who wins or loses, it’s about respect.
What do I mean by that?
Both teams have dominated the airwaves since the NFL 2012 Draft: The Redskins made headlines with the acquisition of talent such as Robert Griffin III, Pierre Garcon, and Kirk Cousins. The Saints? Their fame came by a different path: Bountygate.
To say both teams really need to win Week 1 is an understatement.
The Saints need to prove to the entire NFL they can be trusted on the field to do the job of playing football. The Redskins’ road to respect begins with understanding that no one in the NFC East will allow them to forget their 5-11 season, no matter how different (and promising) their team looks now.
And when it comes to respect from experts and analysts? Forget about it.
Fox Sports experts this morning didn’t even mention the Redskins in their predictions. The NFC East is sitting back and allowing the Redskins to enjoy their new-found attention in hopes of complete embarrassment in the regular season.
That’s why they’ve been quiet.
No one has the Redskins on their radar.
The Redskins will take the field no different than Goldie Hawn’s Wildcats did in 1986: Underestimated and looked over.
That’s OK too, because the Redskins did this to themselves. The media will do their job and keep the light on RG3 each time he loses. They’ll question the leadership of head coach Mike Shanahan. When he wins, they’ll ponder if the Redskins will go to the Super Bowl.
You see where I’m going with this?
At the end of the day, both teams have a lot to prove to themselves and to the league. The only thing that matters is who will do it better.
Ricky Allen is a Washington Redskins Blogger with Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @UltimateRedskin.
Buy Washington Redskins Tickets | Buy Washington Redskins Apparel[...] Washington Redskins vs. New Orleans Saints: Respect, Redemption, Recovery – Rant Sports By admin, September 3, 2012 4:30 pm [...]
I would invite the author to tell me which of the matchups in Week 1 don’t involve winning to earn respect. That’s what the whole point of the article is, yet the point is, in a way, pointless because every single team in the NFL is vying for the same thing: respect. Let me go ahead and break down the matchups for you and you can respond in any way you’d like.
DAL @ NYG: The Cowboys are still trying to claim the talent they have on paper will not continuously let them down. The Giants are the least talked about defending Super Bowl champion in recent memory.
IND @ CHI: The Colts won the Suck for Luck competition and are desparately trying to make fans forget the fact they went 2-14 and let go or Peyton Manning. The Bears, they’re the forgotten ones in a division that’s more up for grabs than people recognize.
PHI @ CLE: Dream Team 2011? Enough Said. The Browns have been letting their fans for….forever.
STL @ DET: Jeff Fisher has too much pride to let the Rams crumble this season. The Lions are still the team ‘will never win one’ in many people’s eyes.
NE @ TEN: Sure, the Patriots are always on top, but that defense has a lot to prove after finishing as bottom feeders in 2011. Tennessee is trying to convince their fans that they are not rebuilding, just revamping. A poor start wouldn’t help with that.
ATL @ KC: The Falcons are pegged as having realistic Super Bowl aspirations this season. Many people want to see it before they believe it after seeing last year’s team. KC quickly returned to mediocrity and want to put 2011 behind them by blaming injuries.
JAX @ MIN: The Jags have been a laughing stock for years. The Vikings are quickly becoming one.
BUF @ NYJ: The Bills have never lived down their 4 consecutive SB losses and won’t until they win one. The Jets won the Tebow steepstakes and then didn’t score a touchdown in three preseason games.
MIA @ HOU: Miami got rid of their head coach, Brandon Marshall, and Vontae Davis. They drafted and have decided to start Ryan Tannehill. Things are going no where fast…so it seems. Are the odds of Houston making the post-season based on their talent or the fact they are in the weakest division in the AFC?
SF @ GB: Okay, I’ll give you this game, author. There isn’t much in regards to respect in this one. Perhaps Alex Smith and the Green Bay defense are searching for some specifically though.
SEA @ ARZ: Seattle thinks they are much improved, yet not one soul has them winning the NFC West. The Cardinals’ QB situation is one of the most laughable battles in the NFL.
CAR @ TB: Carolina is out to prove they are more than just the Fighting Newtons. TB tasted the playoffs not too long ago…then they collapsed and regressed in almost every way last year.
PIT @ DEN: Pittsburgh decided to let go of Arians and bring in Haley. The questions surrounding their offense and ability to score points and stay healthy are endless. When the Broncos get off to a poor start this year you won’t hear the end of ‘Why did we get rid of Tebow after beating Pittsburgh last year?’.
CIN @ BAL: Bengals made the playoffs last year? Fluke. Didn’t Flacco say he was one of the best QBs in the league this offseason?
SD @ OAK: Norv Turner is still coaching the Chargers. Justifiable? The Raiders have been searching for respect in any way shape or form since 2002.
I look forward to your explanation