Game Girl

Admit it.  You thought it was crazy when the Skins drafted Kirk Cousins in the fourth round last April.  I mean, like wacky-crazy.

You did.  I know it. 

Let's review:  we drafted RG3 number two overall, and in the process, gave away nearly all of our draft collateral for the forseeable future.  We bet the farm on this guy.  Mortgaged our team's future.  Left us without a first-round pick till my oldest daughter hits middle school.  So, during the draft, just for kicks and giggles, weren't you thinking, "Hey, we couldn't at least grab a corner, a lineman or a safety in one of the late rounds, just to be safe?"

If you are like me, surely you thought the Shanahans, and Bruce Allen, had gone a little nuts during the draft.  Like maybe all the excitment of picking so high up had rendered them temporarily insane.  Seemed a bit Vinny Cerrato-like, actually.  (Ugh, remember him?)

Well, they all look like draft geniuses now, don't they?  Wow.  Think about it.  Kirk Cousins comes off the bench in the final minutes of a close game -- in what was shaping up to be a classic Beltway showdown -- and with ice water in his veins, the dude puts us into overtime!

Then, Richard Crawford does what our old pal Brandon Banks has seemed incapable of all season.  He runs a punt back for a big-time gain in overtime.  Nearly scores a touchdown all by himself.  (Thank goodness, because I was beginning to think the days of decent punt returns were gone forever.)

And the hits kept coming. Jordan Pugh let loose on a safety blitz that set up a Flacco sack.  Other seeming no-name draft picks were pressed into service, under pressure and with the game and a possible play-off berth looming down the road, and kicked it into high-gear. 

As far as I'm concerned, the depth of our bench suddenly looks pretty impressive.  Hell, our new kicker is still a perfect 13-0 since we brought him in!

All of this with a number of serious injuries, suspensions, and other issues that have sidelined a number of our best players.  The big men in charge managed to keep things intact despite having guys like Orakpo and Carriker out for the year, which tells me they have at least somewhat of a clue about what it takes to build an organization. 

Finally.  And without any Snyder-vention to mess things up.

With RG3's health in doubt for Sunday's upcoming game, I'm suddenly feeling like things might turn out OK for this team.  Aren't you? 

Yeah, uh, Vinny...I think we've got things under control now, buddy.

He did it during the draft.  During mini camp, training camp, and the preseason.  During our first few games this fall.  Against the Giants back in October.  And most recently, on a nationally-televised stage on Thanskgiving Day against the Dallas Cowboys, in one of the most revered and storied NFL rivalry games.

RG3.  Exceeding expectations.  Staring down the pressure under the glare of the national spotlight.  Succeeding in ever-impressive ways.  And tonight, on Monday Night Football, my bold (or maybe not-so-bold, considering his recent history) prediction is he will do it again.

He will rise to the occasion.  Facing a hated division rival on Monday Night Football, under the watchful eyes of Jon Gruden, Al Michaels, and an entire nation eager to see if he's for real, RG3 will do what he's consistently done since he was drafted last April (and really, since his football career began in his youth):  He will stay poised, calm, confident, and in control.  And most likely, he'll win.

He will answer the call.  Despite the pressure, or maybe because of it, he will continue to impress.  Against a formidable Giant's defense, he'll scramble, escape, maybe throw an unlikely bomb to an unlikely receiver like Santana Moss.

He will do it with grace.  With style.  With confidence. With leadership.  And unlike so many players in the league today, he WON'T need to toot his own horn while showcasing his talent.  His athleticism, his leadership, and his talent will speak for themselves.

After the Gruden interviews, the pre-game media hype, the unyielding scrutiny, he'll do what he always does tonight.

He will just get it done.