Redskins Cinderellas or has the clock struck 12..

I was reading the WaPo's Michael Wilbon's article "All Things Being Equal, Game One Doesn't Add Up" this morning and I have to admit, I was asking myself the same profound question used to end the article, "If the Redskins are going to struggle this desperately with B-list receivers like Williamson and Taylor, how in the world are they going to stay within a mile of T.O. and Terry Glenn next week in Dallas?" The Redskins lost 19 to 16 last night against the Minnesota Vikings and former Redskins, Brad Johnson and Fred Smoot. Btw, in true historical Viking attitude, Johnson wore his old Skins jersey as he came out of the locker room after the game.

Opening the season on Monday Night Football (on Sept. 11th) against a paltry team and with all of the new hype the Press can put out about the Redskins this year along with Dan's new friends Tom-Kat and Jamie Foxx at the show, it would have been easy to assume the Skins would have held down the fort at Fed-Ex Field. Unfortunately, the game came down to a 48-yard missed field-goal by John Hall (thanks Sime for that ex-Badger) and that was to tie the game! Clinton Portis only put up 39 yards in 10 rushes (he did score the only touchdown), Veteran QB Mark Brunell went 17 of 28 for 163 yards (by the Grace of God he did not throw an Interception) and the off-season big money snag of Antwaan Randle El didn't really pan out.

And what about the always dependable Washington Defense’s performance? Granted Prioleau's injury at the beginning of the game was a shocker and Sean Taylor did get called on a questionable face-mask, but what about the other 4-Quarters. How many third-down conversions are the Redskins going to hand out? Well last night they gave out 9 of 17 3rd down treats. What if Troy Williamson hadn't dropped two end-zone passes? This game would have been a blow out. I am sure the Tuna is sitting down in the Big D and thinking wow, with corner Shawn Springs and safety Pierson Prioleau out, T.O is going to have a "hay-day" with (a San Fran-throw back) Mike Rumph. Viking QB, Brad Johnson, was sacked once and forced into throwing one bad ball. Come on! Granted Johnson won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay, and one of the most accurate passers in the league, but he is 38-put the pressure on and force him out of the pocket. I just can't help thinking, what's going to happen when the Skins face another veteran QB next Sunday? Is this a Cinderella Story with a minor hic-up to start our “happily ever after” season or did the clock just strike 12 and our Redskins just turn into pumpkins?