PLAYOFF TIME!!!!

IT'S NO CINCH, BUT REDSKINS CLINCH

Sean Taylor scores the final touchdown off a fumble recovery.

16 games just aren’t enough. For the first time since 1999-2000, the Washington Redskins will be heading to the playoffs. By virtue of their 31-20 win over Philadelphia today, the Skins wrapped up the final playoff spot in the NFC. Their reward is a first round game on Saturday at Tampa Bay. What a way to start the new year!

I won’t lie to you. The game wasn’t pretty. For the first three quarters, everything about that game screamed let down and disappointment. Even when the Redskins did something right, they would come back and do something wrong. Every time they scored, they allowed the Eagles to march right back down field. Stupid penalties left and right helped Philly out tremendously. The facemask call on Rock on special teams was unnecessary. The pass interference call on Shawn Springs on a 3rd and 20 was inexcusable. For the first time all season, a team actually shut down Chris Cooley. And how frightening was it for Skins fans to watch all those sideline camera shots during the game and see the Redskins bench resembling the excitement one might see at a funeral. But like they have the past month, the Redskins came storming back in the fourth quarter. And it was set up by an equally dumb personal foul penalty on Jon Runyan. His penalty erased a first down, and forced Mike McMahon to throw the ball in a third and long situation. McMahon’s pass was picked off by Lemar Marshall. The next play from scrimmage resulted in a 22-yard touchdown run by Clinton Portis.

Then, for some inexplicable reason, Andy Reid benched McMahon and turned to Koy Detmer. What was Reid thinking? Up until that interception, McMahon had played a virtually flawless game. He was ripping the Redskins depleted secondary to shreds. Reid basically gift wrapped the game for Washington by putting Detmer in the ball game. Detmer came in and picked up exactly one first down in three drives. He committed the game ending fumble that was returned by Sean Taylor for the Redskins final score. He also threw an interception of his own. Brilliant move Andy. Almost as smart as suspending T.O. for the second half of the season. Just pure genius. I love it when crappy coaches assist their own teams in self-destruction.

Hey losers...hope you enjoy the view from home this season!

So to Donovan and Andy and the hideous Philadelphia fanbase: enjoy the playoffs from home this year…losers. To Jerry Jones, Tuna, MeShawn and Dallas: the same goes for you. To Brett Farve: don’t let the door hit you on the way out you alcoholic, pain-pill addicted bum. To Brian Billick and his Ratbirds: congrats on your solid Super Bowl run this season and another impending failure next year with the same coaching staff and horrible quarterback.

Live it up tonight Redskins fans. And enjoy the playoff ride. The Skins have just as good a chance to make it to the big game as any other team in the conference. They’ve already beaten Seattle. They’ve already beaten Chicago (And that was the first week of the season when the Redskins offense was horrible. They’ve scored 101 points in the last three weeks. Uh-oh, looks like Gibbs has an offense). They’ve split with the Giants. In fact, the only team on the NFC side they haven’t beaten is Tampa Bay. And that was a game that the Redskins should have won (and some in the organization still maintain that they did win the game except for the late questionable call). For the second time this year, the attention will be turned to Chris Simms and company as the Redskins make their return voyage to lovely St. Petersburg. More about that later in the week. Right now Skins fans, enjoy the run no matter how short or how long it lasts. It was an up and down season to be sure, but 5 wins in the division and a playoff spot has made it so memorable already. Can’t wait for Saturday.

Sadly, Pierson Prioleau becomes the first player in NFL history to give himself the "Gatorade bath".