Louis Llovio is a newspaper reporter living in Maryland with his wife and son. His first novel "Degas Street" was published in 2002. He is currently working on his next book, "Infield Fly." It's that time of year again. There's a nip in the air, the malls are filling up, the faint echo of Christmas carols can already be heard and Washington Redskin fans all over the nation's capital are realizing that, yet again, their team is going nowhere.
It's that time of year again. There's a nip in the air, the malls are filling up, the faint echo of Christmas carols can already be heard and Washington Redskin fans all over the nation's capital are realizing that, yet again, their team is going nowhere.
The once promising season, like so many in recent years, is slowly slipping away. But, somehow, it's even more painful this season. This version of the Redskins had even the most hardened critics of a team Dan Snyder has systematically made a laughingstock almost believing… almost.
Even though early season success has been the calling card of this team in years past (Spurrier went 3-1 in 2003), with a rejuvenated Mark Brunell and a top-tier defense, even I tuned in wondering if this was it. If this team was finally the real deal.
An early season miracle finish against the hated Dallas Cowboys. A missed Seattle field goal. And a war against the resurgent Bears won in the final minutes. All of sudden, the burgundy and gold are 3-0 and the hunt for hotel reservations in Detroit is on.
However, yet again, cynicism was warranted. The miracle start wasn't as much miracle as mirage. Since starting 3-0 the Redskins have gone 2-5, beating the hapless San Francisco 49ers and a Philadelphia Eagles team that's on a faster downhill slide than Clark Griswold on a greased saucer.
In two of the last four games the much-vaunted defense gave up 36 points, while the offense, after scoring 52 against the 49ers, has only scored over 17 points once.
The nail in the coffin was Sunday when the dreadful Oakland Raiders came to FedEx Field and kicked a field goal with 1:08 left to beat the Redskins 18-16. As if to prove that the Redskin's biggest enemy is bad karma, guess who lead the Raiders to victory?
Norv Turner. Yep. The same Norv Turner fired by Dan Snyder. The same Norv Turner who led the Redskins to the playoffs the previous season and was 7-6 when he was told to pack his bags and go home.
The same Norv Turner who is the only head coach to lead the Redskins to the playoffs since 1992. And the same Norv Turner who is the only head coach with a winning record since the beginning of the Snyder-era.
However, the karmic stake in the heart hasn't quashed the hopes of all Redskin fans. This is Washington DC after all. One look at budget deficit shows that reality and numbers don't always go hand in hand.
Some Redskins fans and players are actually still talking playoffs -- though the talk is much more subdued than previous weeks. All the voodoo economics in the world isn't going to get this team in the playoffs though. The Redskins are two games back of Atlanta, the New York Giants, Dallas, Carolina and Tampa Bay in the wild card race.
With San Diego (and the also-fired Marty Schottenheimer), Dallas and the New York Giants still on the schedule, and a road game against the often-potent St. Louis Rams and a still powerful Eagles in Philadelphia looking to salvage their season, this team could be looking straight down the barrel of a 7-9 or even 6-10 season.
Now, of course, they could win out and prove me wrong, but judging by recent history, I wouldn't bet the mortgage on it. Then again, how much fun would this town be if people learned from past mistakes?
Did I mention Marty Schottenheimer, who was fired after finishing 5-3 after a disastrous start, is coming to town this week? How's that for history coming up and biting you in the tail?
Happy Holiday's Redskins fans.