Burgundy & Gold Blog: Armstrong Emerges As Weapon In Victory Over Packers

For the second time in as many home games the Washington Washington Football Team gave their fans cardiac arrest and needed overtime to steal a game from a Super Bowl contender beating the Green Bay Packers 16-13. In a game that was a testament to their resilience, they won a war of atrition in where they took advantage of what had been plaguing them all season.

The Packers moved the ball at will and wasted every conceivable chance to bury Washington but couldn’t finish the deal. The Washington Football Team, however, were tougher and smarter and this time score 13 unanswered points ito keep them in a three way tie for first place in the NFC East.

Much of the buzz around pregame in Washington was about the fate of receiver Devin Thomas who was cut to make room for them to resign kick returner Brandon Banks and running back Keiland Williams. That set the tone for Anthony Armstrong to become the most popular man in Washington since President Obama’s inauguration weekend.

Armstrong’s stimulus package for their offense consisted of just three receptions for 84 yards. However, if this season morphs into a playoff march his 48 yard fourth quarter touchdown may be just the spark that ignites them. The Washington Football Team had been looking for a complement to Santana Moss who had been their only consistent outside threat and finally someone stepped up.

For a passing game that is still evolving the Washington Football Team lead the NFL in plays of 50 yards or more. This is the first year since 1987 where they’ve had at four consecutive games with at least one passing play that covered half the field. Now with Armstrong becoming a potential deep threat it should open the rushing game up even more.

Donovan McNabb had his moments in the first half where he missed open receivers and gave credence to why there has been no contract extension. However, with the rushing attack held to 75 yards he didn’t cost them by making bad mistakes until he could make winning plays in the fourth quarter and overtime. For the second time McNabb’s arm bailed them out with their rushing game was stifled by passing for 357 yards.

The Washington Football Team continued their trend of playing physical when LaRon Landry’s bone jarring hit on Donald Lee set them up in the Packers red zone after Kareem Moore picked up the fumble which killed the game’s opening drive. That would be the last time that Jermichael Finley would play which should have made things easier for the defense.

However, any hopes of taking an early lead slipped through McNabb’s hands when he whiffed on handling a snap while in the shotgun which set the tone for the day. After moving backwards on three straight plays they couldn’t attempt a field goal. The Packers the began chewing up massive chunks of yards rushing when Brandon Jackson got loose for 71 yards which set up their only touchdown.

Kyle Shanahan was overmatched early in the game of adjustments against the Packers defense as Clay Matthews spent as much time in the backfield as Torain. But as the war of atrition continued Matthews pulled a hamstring and was an innocent bystander as the Washington Football Team made this comeback.

Though not a thing of beauty the win gives the Washington Football Team a 3-0 mark in the NFC with their 2-0 record in the east division setting them up to be a factor in the run to the playoffs.