Why did Shanahan bench McNabb for Grossman?
Donovan McNabb has been to six Pro Bowls, has been named the NFC Offensive Player of the Year and has led a team to a Super Bowl.
Rex Grossman has never been to a Pro Bowl, has never been the NFC Offensive Player of the Year and although he did lead a team to the Super Bowl, it was primarily due to his defense and Devin Hester’s return abilities – not his play at quarterback.
So it’s natural that Mike Shanahan would choose Grossman over McNabb to run his two-minute offense down a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
I’m not kidding. You think I’m kidding? I’m not kidding.
With just under two minutes remaining in the Lions’ 37-25 win over the Redskins on Sunday, Shanahan benched McNabb for Grossman, who promptly fumbled on his first play, which led to a 17-yard touchdown return by Ndamukong Suh to ice the game for Detroit.
The details are sketchy at this point, but McNabb definitely wasn’t hurt. He had taken six sacks and threw an interception that led to the Lions’ go-ahead touchdown with just over three minutes remaining in the game, but his offensive line and running game didn’t do him any favors either. Suh, Corey Williams, Kyle Vanden Bosch and Cliff Avril completely dominated the interior of Washington’s offensive line so there wasn’t much McNabb could do. The interception was ill timed, but he still completed 17-of-30 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown. Those aren’t Hall of Fame numbers but he wasn’t Jay Cutler out there either.
Unless McNabb was turning the ball over at a Brett Favre-like pace, there’s really no reason to ever sub Grossman into the game – any game. What did Shanahan think, that Grossman was going to lead the Skins back with a heroic touchdown drive? Grossman hadn’t taken a snap all season and yet there he was, in for McNabb at the most crucial moment in the game.
Look, I could see Shanahan making a move if he had a better option at backup. But this is Rex Grossman we’re talking about. It’s not Kerry Collins, Charlie Batch or even Chris Redman – it’s Rex Grossman. Just why…what the…huh…are you serious?
Shanahan has some explaining to do as the Redskins gear up for their bye.
Follow the Scores Report editors on Twitter @TheScoresReport. You can also follow TSR editor Gerardo Orlando @clevelandteams and @bullzeyedotcom, and you can follow TSR editor Anthony Stalter @AnthonyStalter.
Improve your game today!
You've got to brush up on your game to get the girl! Find your hookups with this online dating guide.
Taking McNabb out for Grossman is beyond stupid. It is illogical. When games tick down to under two minutes and teams have a chance for a dynamic victory, it is a rip-off for NFL fans to have the coach bench the starting (and uninjured) quarterback for a back-up quarterback who hasn’t even snapped a ball in the current season. Not only was it a letdown for the Redskins-Lion match up, but I spent half the Vikings-Patriot’s game in frustrated disbelief. By the time I came around, the Patriots started to pull away. I should have watched the free NBA League Pass preview!
Wow! Because McNabb is black he will never get the Brett Favre treatment.
Clearly handing the offense over to the guy who hasn’t thrown a pass all season (and only attempted 9 last year) was the smart play.
How Shanahan manages to somehow avoid coming up in overrated coach discussions is beyond me. This is his 11th season as a head coach since Elway retired, do you know how many playoff games he’s won in that decade? One, one game. In the last decade he has exactly as many playoff wins as Wade Phillips.
It is over 8 hours later and I still have the “what the hell” look stuck on my face.
I have taken a while to try and understand the move that Shanahan made, and the only thing i could come up with is this. Shanahan noticed how poor of an offensive line the Bears currently have and realized, “hey maybe Grossman is used to poor o-line play and getting sacked”, maybe i should put him in the game and he can make something happen. Shananhan obviously did not watch tape on Grossman before, because if he did he would know that Grossman’s tiny hands can barely hold the ball to begin with, and he craps his pants under pressure……….worst move ever!