Photo from Bleacher Report

It Was Over When... On third and three with just over one minute left in regulation, the Redskin called TB Alfred Morris' number for the 22nd and final time of the game and he plowed over the left side of the offensive line, gashing through the Giants defense and diving forward for six yards. It was first down and the Redskins and Robert Griffin III knelt down the next play to end the game. Washington won 17-16, having finished a trifecta of victories against their NFC East opponents. 

Statistically Speaking... The Redskins are 5-1 in games this season when WR Pierre Garcon plays... The Redskins held the ball for less than ten minutes in the first half, as the Giants mounted long drives of 11 plays, 13 plays and 13 plays. However, the Redskins dominated the clock in the second half, using their power running game to grind out first downs and hold the ball for over 17 minutes. The Giants won time of possession but not by nearly as much as it appeared they would at halftime... Robert Griffin III threw 9 TD and 1 INT against their NFC East opponents the last three weeks... RG3 had a passer rating over 100 tonight for the sixth time this year, including each of the last three weeks... RG3 set an NFL rookie record tonight by rushing for 714 yards on the season -- with 4 games to play... TB Alfred Morris rushed for 313 yards on 66 carries [4.7 ypc] against their NFC East opponents the last three weeks. The Redskins are the first team in NFL history to have a 2000-yard rookie passer and a 1000-yard rookie rusher... TB Alfred Morris not only became the second Redskins rookie to run for over 1000 yards, he passed Reggie Brooks' record by gashing the Giants for 124  yards, giving Morris 1106 yards for the season -- with 4 games still to play... Morris is the first Redskins running back to rush for over 1000 yards since Clinton Portis in 2008... The Giants had a single tackle for loss in the game, proof the Redskins offensive line was controlling the line of scrimmage... This is the first time the Giants have lost after leading on the road aat halftime since 2006. 

Al Bello/Getty Images

I Liked That... RG3 bounces right back up after taking a hard hit from the defense. That's old school Art Monk never-let-'em-see-you-hurt toughness right there... The Redskins did not panic when they fell behind 16-10 in the second half. They went right back to their running game and gave the Giants a double dose of Alfred Morris - and the Giants couldn't handle it... The Redskins rushed for 207 yards, averaged 6.7 yards per carry and did not allow a sack. That's great work from the offensive line... A week after the Giants sacked Packers QB Aaron Rodgers 5 times and racking up for tackles for loss, they had zero sacks and only one tackle for loss against the Redskins... RG3 completed only 62 percent of his passes for 7.76 yards per attempt -- both below his season averages -- but he avoided the killing mistake and committing no turnovers... The Redskins defense gave up 5 catches for 82 yards and 1 TD to TE Martellus Bennett in the first half -- and zero in the second half. .. The Redskins defense stiffened in the second half, giving up only one field goal and allowing the Giants to run only 8 plays in the fourth quarter.

I Did Not Like That... Allowing your opponent to covert 9 of 15 on third down is horrible... The Redskins scored only one touchdown on three trips to the red zone... The Redskins defense really struggles against opposing tight ends and Martellus Bennett had 5 catches for 82 yards and 1 TD in the first half tonight... ILB London Fletcher had another tough night in pass coverage and the Skins have got to come up with an answer for that... Washington will struggle against tight ends until they find some safeties and inside linebackers who can cover... The Redskins pass rush was AWOL virtually the entire night, but particularly in the first half... TE Logan Paulsen had a tough night with a drop and two penalties... The fumble by Alfred Morris in the third quarter nearly cost the Redskins dearly. The rookie needs to cover up the ball better... Washington gave up 117 yards on the ground tonight. The Giants never controlled the game with their rushing attack, but the Skins won't often win games when they give up over 100 yards rushing AND get torched in the passing game, too. 

And It All Means... The Redskins are in a 3-way race for the NFC East with the 6-6 Cowboys and the 7-5 Giants, who still lead the division. Washington has won three in a row -- all against division opponents -- and have become a team capable of taking over a football game with a rushing attack that is brutally powerful one play and quick-as-lighning the next. The Redskins will continue to play important games in December, with a realistic chance at some kind of playoff berth. Most of all, it means hope has returned to fans of the Washington Redskins. No longer need fans look upon each season and each game with dread, awaiting the inevitable disappointment and embarrassment. The Redskins are fun to watch and root for again. We have two rookies, Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris, to thank for that. 

Just hours before the 2012 free agency period began, the NFL penalized the Redskins with a $36  million salary cap charge spread over two years, this year and next year, for free agent contracts signed during the uncapped 2010 season. The Redskins are trying to use comments made by Giants co-owner John Mara as motivation tonight.

Mara, the chairman of the NFL's management committee, was among those who led the charge to take away $36 million worth of salary-cap space from the Redskins this past offseason.

In an article that was posted on ESPN.com on March 25, Mara was quoted as saying, "I think (the Redskins) are lucky they didn't lose draft picks" and "I thought the penalties imposed were proper."

In the days leading up to the Giants-Redskins game on "Monday Night Football," Washington coaches and officials had Mara's quotes hanging on sheets of paper on their office doors, according to team sources.

Based on the quotes, the Redskins are convinced that Mara tried to have enough draft picks taken away so that Washington couldn't complete its deal with St. Louis for the rights to select quarterback Robert Griffin III.

I think it is very likely Mara was trying to stop the Redskins from doing precisely what everyone in the NFL knew they were trying to do. My real problem with the entire affair is that it was an obvious case of self-dealing. as Mara, who had a hand in the final punishment handed down to the Skins, had an incentive to see his division rival punished as harshly as possible. 

As for whether this quote will motivate the Redskins players, that seems unlikely to me. This is a huge game for the Redskins and if they can't get geeked up for this game, there is no hope for this bunch. Besides, did the coaches use this quote before the first Redskins-Giants game this year? If so, I never heard about it. 

Via his Twitter account, new Washington Nationals center fielder Denard Span has learned quickly.   He has learned to fit into Washington, DC quite well.  Here is what he had to say. 

"I def gotta root for rg3 now."  OF Denard Span

Atta boy!

DISCUSS IN GAME THREAD

Here is the good news.  The inactive list does not include ILB London Fletcher or LT Trent Williams.  Williams took pregame wearmups in pads with NT Chris Baker and the Redskins offensive line coach.   Not only are both players active, but both will start tonight against the New York Giants.   Here are the Washington Redskins inactive players for tonight.

QB Rex Grossman

WR Dez Briscoe

CB Richard Crawford

OL Adam Gettis

DT Doug Worthington

LB Rooderick Muckelroy

OG Josh LeRibeus

Need a new car? How about the perfect Christmas gift?

If the Redskins shut out the Giants tonight, Lindsay Chevrolet is giving away eight free cars!

“It’s the first time that we’re doing it,” Lindsay Chevy’s general sales manager Coslyn Ceballos told D.C. Sports Bog’s Dan Steinberg on Thursday. “Our general manager is a Redskins fan, and the majority of our sales team are Redskins fans. We were saying, you know, what are the chances of the Redskins making something like that happen? People play the lottery all the time. The chances of hitting the lottery are, what, 1 in 175 million? But it’s fun, and it can happen, and if it did, why not make it interesting?”

There is a catch. The dealership will reimburse eight owners if the Giants post a goose egg, so to be eligible, you will have had to already purchased a car from them.

How did yesterday's games affect the playoff position of the Washington Redskins? Read this and find out. 

RG3 has been brilliant against the NFC East this year. Can he keep it going now that the Giants have had a good look at him?

Griffin terrorized the entire NFC East in his debuts against Washington’s three rivals. In the loss to New York and in wins over Philadelphia and Dallas, he was 54 of 71 passing (76.1 percent) for 256.3 yards per game, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. He also averaged 7.5 yards on 27 rushes. His passer rating was 138.4. ...

Injured LT Trent Williams [deep thigh bruise] must play and play at a high level tonight for the Redskins to have a realistic chance to withstand the ferocious Giants pass rush.

Determined to keep rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III upright and lead the Redskins back to relevance in the NFL, Williams has thrived this season, winning faceoffs with perennial double-digit sack specialists John Abraham, Jared Allen, Trent Cole, Jason Pierre-Paul and DeMarcus Ware.

Last Friday morning I took you on an exhaustive nature hike through the NFC playoff picture to demonstrate precisely where the Redskins were and what they would have to do to get to the postseason. Now, let's take a brief moment to consider the Sunday games and how they affect the playoff chances of the Washington Redskins. 

GAMES THAT DID NOT HELP THE REDSKINS

Dallas Cowboys 38 Philadelphia Eagles 33

The Redskins came into the weekend tied with the Cowboys at 5-6, but having a head-to-head edge which will be resolved when the teams play again in week 17. Dallas now moves to 6-6, which the Redskins must match by beating the Giants on Monday night. But the Redskins have to beat the Giants on Monday night anyway, so very little has changed. I think everyone expected Dallas to win this game and, finally, they did.  A good bit of news for the Redskins, though, is that the Cowboys defense proved completely vulnerable to Philly's rushing attack. The Eagles rushed for 183 yards and averaged 7 yards per carry against the Cowboys. That's a weakness Cowboys opponents will be sure to exploit. And remember, Dallas still has two division losses. The Redskins have -- to date -- only one. 

Seattle Seahawks 23 Chicago Bears 17 OT

Seahawks rookie QB Russell Wilson continues his magical mystery tour, shredding the vaunted Chicago defense in regulation and overtime. The Seahawks don't play the Redskins so there are no head-to-head advantages, but the win by Seattle improves them to 7-5 and puts them in fine position for the final NFC playoff spot. This was the most damaging game for the Redskins this weekend because the 'hawks have a better record than Washington and their remaining schedule -- Arizona and San Francisco at home sandwiched around a road trip to Buffalo and finishing with the Rams in Seattle-- is very friendly. It is not difficult to see the Sehawks winning all four of those games and finishing 11-5, far out of reach of the other NFC teams. Washington needed the Seahawks to lose at least two of those games and yesterday in Chicago was probably the best chance for that to happen. Redskins fans must now root for the Seahawks to be upset at home, something that has not happened this season.

St. Louis Rams 16 San Francisco 49ers 13 [OT]

These two teams tied when they met earlier this year and almost did it again on Sunday. The Rams win improves them to 5-6-1, forcing the Redskins to win on Monday night to stay ahead of them, which is something the Skins need to do for a variety of reasons anyway. The Redskins MUST finish with a better record than the Rams, though, because one of  Washington's six losses this season was to the Rams, all the way back in week two. 

GAMES THAT HELPED THE REDSKINS

Denver Broncos 31 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23

The Redskins beat the Bucs head-to-head and so hold a tiebreaker advantage with them. The loss to Denver dropped Tampa to 6-6, a record the Skins can match by beating the Giants on Monday night. Tampa has 5 conference losses, as well, which puts them in trouble with a number of other NFC teams. 

Green Bay Packers 23 Minnesota Vikings 14

The Redskins just need to finish with a record as good as the Vikings because they beat Minnesota head-to-head this season, thus ensuring Washington would have the tiebreaker advantage. That's not likely to matter because the Vikings have a brutal schedule down the stretch and this was probably just the first loss of several more to come. The Vikings got a huge game from Adrian Peterson, who averarged 10 yards a carry on 21 carries [that's 210 yards for those of you who don't do math] and still lost because Christian Ponder is just awful. 

SUMMARY

So, there you go. The Redskins needed help, but didn't get much. A win on Monday night keeps the Redskins very much in the playoff hunt, but Chicago's inability to defend its home field from a Seahawks team that has had very little success on the road this season, really hurt. Even winning out and finishing 10-6 may no longer be enough to get the Skins in the playoffs. 

The Nationals have reportedly non-tendered pitchers John Lannan, Tom Gorzellany and catcher Jesus Flores. All three players becoming free agents. Had the Nats tendered an offer, the players would have gone through the arbitration process.

Flores was expendable with the addition of catcher Kurt Suzuki and Wilson Ramos' pending return from injury.

Lannan lost his spot in the rotation last season with the addition of free agent Edwin Jackson and the breakout season by Ross Detwiler.

With Sean Burnett and Mike Gonzalez free agents, Lannan and Gorzellany's depatures leave the Nats without a left handed option in the bullpen. Burnett is receiving a great deal of interest from St.Louis and will not return on the cheap.

First-round selection Tom Wilson turned it on in November

Riley Barber

RW - Miami (Ohio) University - 18

After an incredible first month of his NCAA career, Riley Barber continued his outrageous play into November. The freshman appeared in seven games for his Miami RedHawks this month, scoring two goals and seven assists to go along with a +7 rating. Barber has now appeared in 13 games in his college career and has six goals, 11 assists, 17 points (which leads all NCAA freshmen and his RedHawks team), and is +10. Incredible numbers for a first-year…

Greg Burke

C – University of New Hampshire (NCAA) – 22

It was a solid month for New Hampshire senior Greg Burke until injury ended it. He had appeared in four games, and had two goals and one assist with a +2 rating, but suffered a shoulder injury and has not played since November 16. Nobody knows how long Burke will be out for, but it sure is tough to see the 22-year-old go down just as he was picking up his play. On the year, Burke has three goals and two assists in nine games and is +4.

Travis Boyd

C – University of Minnesota (NCAA) – 19

Travis Boyd has been a revelation for the Caps since he was drafted in the 6^th round in 2011, and continued to impress this month. In nine games, Boyd scored one goal and four assists, and had an even rating. On the season, Boyd has appeared in 14 games, racking up three goals, six assists, and a +2 rating.

Connor Carrick

D - Plymouth Whalers (OHL) - 18

Whalers defenseman and alternate captain Connor Carrick continued his solid offensive and defensive play into November after a good first month in the Ontario Hockey League. Carrick played 12 games this week, notching one goal and five assists for six points and a +3 rating, a performance which leaves Carrick with four goals, 10 assists, 14 points, and a +3 rating through 26 games in 2012-13.

Thomas DiPauli

C - University of Notre Dame (NCAA) - 18

It was somewhat of a slow month for 2012 4^th rounder Thomas DiPauli, with the freshman struggling a little after a good first month. Continuing in a top-six role with the Fighting Irish, DiPauli had one goal and one assist in eight games in November. He was also +2. Through 14 games this season, the young forward has two goals, two assists, and is +6.

Christian Djoos

D - Brynäs (Elitserien) - 18

It was another great month for the revelation of the Caps season, Christian Djoos. The Swedish defenseman, who signed his first pro contract earlier in the month, missed a couple of weeks and the opportunity to appear on international duty with Sweden after an operation to remove a torn meniscus in his knee, but did appear in seven games for his Brynäs. Though he was pointless (still no points this season) and -1, he saw his time on ice per game rise from 14:33 to 14:54. His confidence has dropped in the last few games, but his +3 in 25 games is a testament to just how good the 18-year-old has been in his first pro season.

Filip Forsberg

RW - Leksand (HockeyAllsvenkan) - 18

Injury derailed Filip Forsberg’s month. The Swede, who, like Djoos, missed the chance to participate in the 4Nations tournament with the Sweden U20s, also missed seven (and counting) matches with his Leksand due to a hip injury. The 18-year-old played in only two games for his Allsvenskan team this month, recording two assists. Through 19 games, Forsberg, who apparently is at no risk of missing the World Juniors later in December, has seven goals and seven assists for 14 points and is -2.

Garrett Haar

D –Western Michigan University (NCAA) – 19

Another prospect who did not have the strongest of month, WMU Broncos Garrett Haar struggled as his team’s offense sputtered. The 2011 7^th rounder appeared in seven games, totaling one goal and one assist. He was also -4. On the season, Haar, who remains a top Caps prospect, has three goals and two assists and is -1 through 11 games.

Caleb Herbert

C – University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA) – 21

After a Riley Barber-esque rookie season, Caleb Herbert has has been going through somewhat of a sophomore slump in his second NCAA season. In fact, if not for a three-point performance on November 30, Herbert would have gone pointless all November and been riding a 10-game points drought. We hope the performance snaps the youngster out of his funk. In seven November games, Herbert had just the one goal and two assists and was -2. He now has one goal and six assists through 13 games.

Patrick Koudys

D – Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) – 20

It was a quiet month for Patrick Koudys, but for a prospect who plays a stay-at-home, no-nonsense game, that is just fine. Koudys appeared in 10 games this month, going +1 with two assists. The biggest news of the month for Koudys, who turned 20 this month, came in the past few days, with his announcement that he will be joining the NCAA’s Penn State Nittany Lions for 2013-14. He has two years of college eligibility remaining, and they will need to be big ones if he wants to be an NHL player.

Evgeny Kuznetsov

RW – Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL) – 20

The most explosive player in the Caps prospect pool had a remarkably quiet November. He appeared in nine games for Traktor Chelyabinsk, scoring one goal and four assists. Kuznetsov also represented Team Russia at the Karjala Cup, where he notched one assist in three games. Through 29 games of his 2012-13 campaign, the top prospect in the Capitals’ system has 10 goals and 16 assists and is +2.

Jaynen Rissling

D - Calgary Hitmen (WHL) – 19

The 6’4”, 225-pound blueliner likely won’t blow anyone away with his offensive skills when he eventually reaches the NHL, but that side of Jaynen Rissling’s game has certainly impressed so far this season. His defensive play has been just as good. Rissling played in 11 games in November, and posted two goals, three assists, and +4. That leaves him with three goals and nine assists for 12 points through 23 games. He is also +7. Rissling is looking like a very solid selection in the 7^th round for George McPhee and his Caps.

Taylor Stefishen

LW - University of Calgary (CIS) - 22

Though he may still be a fringe prospect, Taylor Stefishen, who’s eligibility to sign with the Caps runs out in June, is certainly making his case to be an NHL player. He hasn’t scored much this season, but his playmaking has been sensational. Stefishen played in seven games in November, posting one goal and six assists and going +5. At the very least, it was an improvement after a bad first month. Stefishen now has 11 assists to go along with his one goal from 15 games. He is +9.

Chandler Stephenson

LW - Regina Pats (WHL) - 18

Chandler Stephenson missed all of November with a severed tendon in his foot, but is expected to be back sometime in December. He remains at four goals and six assists with a -6 in 12 games.

Steffen Søberg

G – Vålerenga (GET-Ligaen) – 19 

Steffen Søberg has very quietly become one of the Caps’ top-performing prospects early on in 2012-13. His move from Manglerud to Vålerenga has been nothing but beneficial. Søberg, who gained some brief international experience starring for Noway in a junior tournament this month, made seven appearances, of which five were wins. On the season, Søberg has started all of his team’s games, winning 17 of them by way of a sparkling 2.23 goals against average and .922 save percentage.

Patrick Wey

D – Boston College (NCAA) – 21

Patrick Wey has for years been the epitome of consistency on the Boston College blueline, and this month was no different. Wey appeared in seven games for the #1 ranked Eagles (who had won 10 straight before a November 30 defeat to rivals Boston University), scoring one goal and five assists. In that time, Wey was +2. Through 12 2012-13 games, Wey, who is a senior and will definitely be signed by the Caps at the end of the season, had one goal and seven assists and is +6.

Tom Wilson

RW - Plymouth Whalers (OHL) - 18

Only superhuman Riley Barber had a better month than 1^st round phenom Tom Wilson. From dominating in the OHL to wowing against Russia at the Subway Series, Wilson was sensational. After recovering from broken knuckle(s), Connor Carrick’s teammate played in nine games, scoring three goals and seven assists. He was also +8 and had 13 penalty minutes. On the year, Wilson has five goals, 15 assists, 20 points, +10, and 37 PIMs in 17 games. He’s looking pretty good.

Austin Wuthrich

RW - University of Notre Dame (NCAA) - 19

The latter of two Caps 4^th rounders from this summer, Austin Wuthrich has, like Caleb Herbert, had a slow start to his NCAA sophomore season. A possible concussion has not helped. Wuthrich appeared in just six games this month, recording one assist and going -1. On the year, the Alaskan has one goal and four assists with an even rating from 12 games. It is not known whether an injury Wuthrich suffered after taking an elbow to the face is serious, but Caps fans will know that the seemingly insignificant hits to the head are often the worst.

DC Pro Sports Report Three Stars of the Month:

1. Riley Barber (7Gms, 2G, 7A, 9P, +7)

2. Tom Wilson (9Gms, 3G, 7A, 10P, +8)

3. Patrick Wey (7Gms, 1G, 5A, 6P, +2)

Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III has won yet another award -- the Pepsi Max NFL Rookie of the Week, for his 20-28 for 311 yards and 4 TD performance in Washington's 38-31 upset victory over the Cowboys in Dallas on Thanksgiving Day. It was Washington's first win in Dallas on Thanksgiving Day. 

Grffin also won FedEx Air Player of the Week for that same performance in Dallas. 

Earlier this week, Griffin won Rookie of the Month honors for November. He previously won the same honor in September.