Sports Dogs Podcast: A Look Back At 2024

The Sports Dogs are barkin’ again after the long Holiday break, and gathering forward momentum into 2025. But not before a look back at some of our favorite sports stories, both local and regional. Enjoy our “Best of 2024” and Happy New Year from The Dogs!

Kick ‘Em When They’re Down

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Greetings from The Booth!

For fans of the Cowboys and whatever you want to call the Washington football franchise (a lot of Redskins swag is still being worn at Northwest Stadium), it’s Dallas Week, which hasn’t meant as much in the last 20 years. But, with the recent success and relevance of the Commanders, a new shot of life has been injected into the rivalry, especially for the burgundy and gold. Going into today’s Cowboys-Commanders clash in DC, there is somewhat of a role reversal between the two teams.

Under new ownership, front office leadership (and competence), and new head coach Dan Quinn, not to mention exciting young quarterback Jayden Daniels, 7-4 Washington is in the thick of the NFC playoff hunt, and if the season ended today, would be playing postseason football. Gone is the clown show culture of Dan Snyder and emotion-less, out-of-touch head coach Ron Rivera (“oh, we can be eliminated?”), replaced by a fun, almost college-like vibe under Quinn.

The Cowboys, meanwhile, are in free fall. Dallas sits at 3-7, and are on track for their worst season in 35 years. Owner Jerry Jones is the subject of national ridicule, quarterback Dak Prescott is lost for the season after signing an historic contract going into 2024, star receiver Cee Dee Lamb has been injured in recent weeks, and head coach Mike McCarthy is on the hot seat. Things are not well in Big D.

All the more reason to be worried. I take you back to 1991, when the 11-0 Washington Redskins were derailed by a Dallas team that was barely above .500 and coming off two consecutive losses. The 24-21 loss was only a bump in the road to a Super Bowl Championship that year, but at the time was a head-scratching defeat that ended the Skins’ dream of an undefeated season.

Today’s game is a must-win for the Commanders, in my humble opinion.  Washington is coming off 2 straight losses, and needs to get it’s mojo back. Jayden Daniels has not looked like the quarterback we saw in the team’s 7-2 start, and fans are anxious to see the early season version again. 3 losses in a row would feel like a return to the recent past.

Some experts have made the Commanders 10-point favorites for this afternoon’s contest, and today offers an opportunity to kick the Cowboys when they’re down. It’s a rivalry game, and strange things can happen. But you only have to go back to last season’s Dallas-Washington Thanksgiving game to remember the Cowboys having fun at the Commanders’ expense, pulling turkey legs out of the inflatable Salvation Army kettle at AT&T Stadium as they celebrated a 45-10 drubbing.

It’s time for a little Texas turkey today in the Nation’s Capital.

Until the next visit from the Booth, Happy Thanksgiving and Hail Commanderskins!

RW

All Is Not Lost

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Greetings from The Booth!

It’s been a tough week for the Washington Commanders. Going into last Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Commanders were the talk of the pro football world, leading the NFC East at 7-2, and already exceeding the over-under win total of many “experts.” Rookie franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels was not only being mentioned in Rookie of the Year conversations, but the word M-V-P was being uttered by some. Everything was going right for Washington in a 180-degree culture change in the Nation’s Capital.

Cue the The Twilight Zone theme. Against the Steelers, we were suddenly taken back to the previous regime, as a number of Dan Snyder-esque things began to materialize. First, a large portion of Northwest Stadium (I still have a hard time with the name of the venue–how about Joe Gibbs Field at NW Stadium?) was filled with Terrible Towel-waving Pittsburgh fans. It’s great to see the home stadium filled again, but too many times in the Snyder years, most of the fans at Fed-Ex were wearing the other team’s jerseys. There were times Sunday if you closed your eyes, you would think the game was being played in the Steel City.

Then, there were mistakes like 2 muffed punts, blown coverages by the secondary, and watching a 10-point 4th quarter lead melt away. Still, the game was not over until an unforced error–a penalty on a play where the Steelers were simply trying to draw the Commanders offside–gave Pittsburgh the hard-earned 28-27 victory. Disappointing for sure, but not the end of the world. A one-point loss against a potential Super Bowl contender was not a reason to drive into the Anacostia. A big opportunity was just four days away in Philadelphia.

Under the harsh glare of the Thursday Night Football lights, the Commanders traveled to the City of Brotherly Love and Lincoln Financial Field, one of the most hostile venues in the NFL, to take on rival Philadelphia. With first place in the division on the line, Washington hung in there, again taking a 10-6 lead into the final period. Then, it all unraveled. The Eagles took a 12-10 lead as momentum shifted its fickle allegiance to the Dirty Birds. With a chance to take a 13-12 lead, Head Coach Dan Quinn decided to pass on a makeable field goal and go for a 4th and 2. The gamble failed on a busted play, and 2 touchdowns later the Eagles put the game out of reach.

A palpable cloud of gloom hung over the DMV on Friday as we all felt like Cinderella at 12:01. Would we all wake up and discover that 7-2 had been a wonderful dream, and that Dan Snyder still owned the team? You could almost hear the maniacal laughter of the ghosts of Washington Football past–Bruce Allen, Larry Michael, Vinny Cerrato, Ron Rivera, and Snyder–mocking our newfound success. We were crashing back to earth.

OK, let’s take a breath. Yes, there is cause for some concern. Daniels has not been himself in the 2-game skid, as he battles an ongoing rib injury. The long break could not have come at a better time. And, on the other side are two winnable games at home against the now lowly Cowboys and the Titans, followed by a bye-week and the crucial 4-game stretch to end the regular season. As it stands now, the Commanders have a 76% chance of making the playoffs, and a record of 11-6 is entirely possible. Would you have taken that in March? You bet your burgundy and gold you would!

Until the next visit from The Booth…HTTC, HTTR!

RW

 

 

 

Remembering Pat

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Greetings from The Booth!

This past Sunday, the Washington Commanders had their 4-game win streak ended by the Baltimore Ravens 30-23. Since then, I’ve encountered several people who genuinely seemed bummed by the loss. Color me optimistic, but I don’t feel that way at all. For the first time in a long while, I actually came away encouraged for the future of the Burgundy and Gold.

Hear me out. When you looked at the schedule before the season , you would realistically have counted the Ravens game a loss. And so it was, as league MVP Lamar Jackson outdueled rookie phenom Jayden Daniels. Or did he? I would contend that Jackson had his way against a really bad Washington defense, while Daniels had pretty good numbers against one of the top defenses in the NFL. In fact, Daniels, with the exception of wide receiver Terry McLaurin, was basically a one-man show on Sunday. The Commanders were without running back Brian Robinson, and had no running game whatsoever. And yet, in the end, it was a 7-point game.

At the end of the day, the Commanders are still in first place in the wide-open NFC East at 4-2. Both the Eagles and Cowboys look human (especially the Cowboys, who were routed at home by the Lions 47-9!), and the Giants will reside in the division basement. Looking at the schedule, the Commanders have a real chance of winning the next 3, 2 of which are at home, where the fans have returned this season in droves. There is much to be encouraged about, and if you take a step back, did you really think the Commanders were going to make the playoffs this season? And yet, with a third of the season in the books, Washington is in the conversation. Take heart, my friends, good things are ahead…

Now, a few words about Redskins; great Pat Fischer. The diminutive cornerback passed away recently at 84. Fischer was part of the famed “Over The Hill Gang,” an aging group of castoffs and veterans who, under head coach George Allen, captured the hearts of DC in the 70s. Pat actually came to the ‘Skins from the Cardinals in 1965, and played for 10 seasons in the Nation’s Capital. At 5′ 9″, Fischer took full advantage of the NFL’s liberal rules that favored defensive backs. The so-called “bump and run” was, in reality, the “mug and run,” as cornerbacks were allowed to stop just short of criminal assault against opposing receivers. You might remember Fischer’s legendary duels with Eagles’ receiver Harold Carmichael, who was about 6′ 5″. Pat held his own in those battles.

Before coming to Washington, Pat played with St. Louis, where he formed a friendship with another local legend, the late great Sonny Randle. It was through that friendship that I got to play golf with Fischer several times in Sonny’s “Lowlife Tournament.” You always knew where he was on the golf course by his laughter, which rang out over area golf tracks. I’m not sure Pat Fischer ever had a bad time, and I can imagine him in Heaven with Sonny telling old football stories.

Back here on Earth, if you listen carefully, you can hear Pat Fischer’s voice echoing through the hills and dales of Jackson’s Chase. RIP, Pat!

RW

 

Sports Dogs Podcast: LLWS & Commanders Notes

In this edition of the SDPC, The Dogs’ make mention of the iconic Little League World Series, and look ahead to the Commanders’ preaseason matchup with the Fins. Will this be the “dress rehearsal” game for Jayden Daniels? How much will the starters play? Who is in the Commanders’ doghouse? The Dogs are barkin’!

Sports Dogs Podcast: Olympics & Commanders

In this Olympic-sized Sports Dogs Podcast, the Dogs highlight some Olympic athletes who have local/regional connections, and needless to say, the Dogs are excited about the Commanders’ preseason opener this Saturday…

Sports Dogs Podcast: Draft Day

The Sports Dogs are back together, and in this edition, R-Dog & The Duke break down the Washington Commanders potential picks this weekend in the NFL Draft, as the Burgundy and Gold try to get their franchise quarterback. Plus, possible middle-round selections for Washington as they look to the future…

“Jayden Daniels No Matter What”