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PART VIII : WASHINGTON |
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Monday Fed Ex Field - site of the 8th and final game of our 2002 tour. Last time we were here in 1998 it was Jack Kent Cooke stadium (see link). However owner Dan Snyder had yet to assert his ways over the franchise ... |
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Snyder to his credit had been out to Europe to watch a World Bowl, (checking up to see how his money is spent no doubt). We can only think that's where the idea for the Power Party esque stage (complete with drinking area and cheerleaders on stage) outside the stadium came from. |
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Inside the fireworks were kicking off for this big NFC East clash. After Skins new coach Steve Spurrier successful debut in Week 1 against the Cardinals, this Monday Night clash with the Philadelphia Eagles would prove to be the 1st real test for his Fun N Gun offense. |
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Another interesting sidebar in the game was Redskins LB Jeremiah Trotter, who was playing against his ex team. He had signed as a free agent in the off season after a major bust up over his contract. The Eagles fans in attendance let him know about it - and his trip to Veterans Stadium later in the year will be very interesting! |
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Spurrier tries to get the officials onside just before kickoff. |
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Spurrier's Fun N Gun would be run by his 2 ex University of Florida QB's Shane Matthews (left) and Danny Wuerffel (right). We last saw Danny winning World Bowl 2000 vs the Claymores. He didn't play then - and he wouldn't do much better when he go in the 2nd half here. Matthews started, but after some early success the Skins had to punt. |
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The Eagles had no such problems on their 1st drive. Donovan McNabb hit WR James Thrash (ex Redskins as well) for a 33 yard gain on their 1st play, and then fellow WR Todd Pinkston for 26 yards 2 plays later. Then on 3rd and 3 from the Skins 8, McNabb took off right and dived into the end zone carrying Trotter with him along the way. EAGLES 7 REDSKINS 0 |
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Plenty of Eagles fans made the short trip down to DC to see their side. And they were pretty vocal most of the night! Sadly ex-XFL player Rod Smart (he of the "He Hate Me" fame) is no longer with the Birds, but we liked the tribute. The Philly Cheese Steak Head was a nice touch too. |
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It seemed the Skins had held the Eagles to a FG on their next drive, but LaVar Arrington made another of his bonehead plays by jumping offsides. 2 plays later McNabb floated a perfect pass into the waiting arms of TE Jeff Thomason for a TD. EAGLES 14 REDSKINS 0 |
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Matthews threw an INT on the Skins next drive, and when the Eagles had to punt, an ex Gator finally made a big play. Skins WR Jacquez Green fielded the punt at his own 10 yard line and broke upfield dodging tackles, before heading up the left sideline to go-all-the-way! EAGLES 14 REDSKINS 7 |
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Eagles and ex-Thunder K David Akers would stretch the lead with 2 FG's (from 22 and 40 yards). The 2nd came after Spurrier had answered Redskins CB Champ Bailey's plea for some offensive snaps. A reverse to Bailey netted 4 yards, but Champ the Chump left the pigskin on the rug for the Birds to feast upon! EAGLES 20 REDSKINS 7 |
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Spurrier is known as a gambler but this was just stupidity. He went for a 4th and 10 in his own half with 1:02 still on the clock. When it failed, David Akers not surprisingly had another chance at a FG - and he converted from 47 yards. EAGLES 23 REDSKINS 7 (HT) |
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Matthews had a miserable 1st half, so Spurrier sent in Wuerffel. Too bad he never asked the offensive line to block for Danny! Here 3 members of the O-line stand and watch as he is sacked in the 3rd Q. All in all, he got sacked 4 times in his 9 pass attempts. |
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With the Fun N Gun misfiring completely, the Eagles dominated the 2nd half. In the 3rd Q, McNabb hit James Thrash (pictured kneeling) deep for a 39 yard TD. Then in the 4th, RB Dorsey Levens broke free for a 47 yard TD, and he is smothered by team mates in the end zone. EAGLES 37 REDSKINS 7 |
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(A) (B) |
Snyder watch Pair the picture of the Redskins tyrannical owner with the score and time of the game 1) 1st quarter (0-0) 2) 4th quarter (37-7 Eagles)
Answer: (1) A, (2) B |
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Just when we thought the 4th Q was going to be a snooze fest - we entered the bizarre again! Police sprayed pepper gas behind the Eagles bench to break up a fight. However it carried onto the sideline and some of the Eagles players starting chucking up. Suddenly they started streaming onto the field. Nobody had no idea what was going on. Given all the crap that's happened in this part of the world recently, it was a nervous situation. |
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This poor cop drew the short straw and had to inspect the crime scene. The fan that was causing the trouble is pictured. The jerk that really caused the trouble isn't. |
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Thankfully a national disaster was averted when it was revealed that Melissa Stark was mostly unharmed by the effects of the pepper spray. We all could breath easy again, and the game could resume. |
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Final EAGLES 37 REDSKINS 7 Game MVP: Got to be McNabb. He set the tone early, and finished 26 of 38 for 292 and 2 TD's as well as running for 36 yards and 1TD. |
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Tuesday Travel Recovery Day. With no more games and no more highways and interstates to navigate we could just chill in DC and do some sightseeing. All in all we had a successful trip covering almost 2,800 miles in less than 2 weeks! |
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