(AP photo)

Not every charity has a happy inspiration, but Redskins’ defensive end Stephen Bowen would like to provide peace to families that might not otherwise be so fortunate.

It was June 2011, shortly before signing with the Redskins, that Bowen and his wife Tiffany gave birth to twin boys, Stephen Jr. and Skyler.

The boys were born prematurely at just 24 weeks, and entered immediately into the fight of their young lives.

Weeks later, Skyler developed an infection that his underdeveloped immune system was unable to fight, and he passed away.

Understanding how fortunate they were cover the medical and funeral costs of their child, Stephen and Tiffany developed a plan to turn their loss into a saving grace for others.

That was the inspiration behind the Skyler’s Gift Foundation, which officially launched on Nov. 17, 2012, to coincide with World Prematurity Day.

“We started it last year,” Stephen explained. “What happened to me and my wife we wanted to just do something that would help people out.”

Bowen said the two have partnered with the March of Dimes, which is designed to lend support to families with premature births. Stephen Bowen and his wife want to take it one step further.

“The March of Dimes, they’re all about the health of premature babies. But people don’t talk about the bad side, a lot of people lose their kids,” he explained. “They can’t afford to have a funeral.  When you can’t afford to bury your child, they use them as medical waste, or mass cremation.  That is very traumatic.

“We try to give people the chance to bury their child, and be at peace with what has happened.  We pay for the costs of those things.”

Using the foundation’s website and his celebrity status, Bowen is hoping to spread the word about his foundation to families that find themselves in the same situation.

“We select people that go onto the website of myself or my wife’s.  We’ve reach out to so many hospitals, and when need help, they just reach out to us,” Stephen said. “We want to spread out.  We’re willing to help anyone in the U.S.”

.

Bowl-A-Thon Unites Washington Redskins And Dallas Cowboys

It isn’t very often that a cause or player can unite such historic rivals as the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins, but Bowen has the clout and history to do so.

Originally an undrafted free agent by the Cowboys in 2006, Stephen Bowen has had success in both cities, including being named a Redskins’ team captain in 2012.

Calling on his current teammates, past teammates and friends around the league, Stephen and Tiffany organized the first ever Bowl-A-Thon to raise money and awareness for the Skyler’s Gift Foundation.

The event will be held at Lucky Strike in Washington D.C. on Sat. May 4 at 6 p.m., and celebrity attendees are scheduled to include Redskins Barry Cofield and Brian Orakpo, Cowboys DeMarcus Ware, Jason Hatcher, and Miles Austin, free agent lineman Willie Colon as well as former Hofstra teammate and Saint  Marques Colston.

Bowen said the storyline of Redskins and Cowboys coming together sounds strange, but the event is really about friends coming together for a good cause.

“We just want to give people the chance to bowl with some of their favorite players.  I’m friends with a lot of guys around the league, and they just want to show support,” Stephen said. “It’s not about competition, it’s just about supporting the event and everyone having a great time.

“We want exposure and we want to raise awareness around the league. We are not pocketing any money. I don’t want anyone to pocket any money. This is just to help the families.”

So what kind of bowling game can we expect out of big Bowen? Well, it depends on the day.

“I’m OK at bowling,” he said with a humble grin. “I’m very inconsistent, so I have my good days and bad days.  For the most part, I just like having fun.

“It’s a good thing for everyone to have a great time, it’s just everyone being silly.”

Come on out if you can, but even if not, be sure to support Tiffany and Stephen Bowen with a donation to help support Skyler’s Gift Foundation.

.

.

.

(Washington Redskins’ Michael Westbrook (82) celebrates his touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the third quarter as back judge Bob Lawing (17) signals a touchdown Sunday, Nov. 4, 2001, at FedExField in Landover, Md. The Redskins won 27-14. [AP photo])

The Redskins have played the Seahawks 17 times in the regular season and postseason combined. Washington is 5-3 in home games against Seattle, with all eight meetings having come during regular-season play.

The Seahawks formed as an NFL expansion franchise in 1976. They’ve won one conference championship (2005), seven division championships and have had 11 playoff appearances overall. Seattle’s CenturyLink Field is located about 12 miles northwest of the team’s training facility in Renton, Was.

The Redskins won the first-ever matchup between the two teams, 31-7, on Sept. 19, 1976, at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. In that game, Washington scored the first 24 points before Seattle finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter. The Redskins had 273 rushing yards that day, led by 143 yards and a touchdown by Mike Thomas.

Seattle quarterback Jim Zorn completed just 9-of-20 passes for 128 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions – both by Jake Scott – while his counterpart, Billy Kilmer, threw for 184 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.

The largest Redskins victory in the series was a 29-0 game Dec. 23, 1989, at the Kingdome in Seattle. The Redskins won with offense, defense and special teams — they got started with a Chip Lohmiller 29-yard field goal (he had two on the day); had 456 total yards of offense that afternoon; and the Washington defense forced a safety and limited Seattle to just 25 rushing yards and 201 total yards overall.

The Redskins and Seahawks have met twice in the playoffs, with Seattle claiming wins on both occasions. In 2005, the Seahawks avenged a 20-17 Redskins win earlier in the year with a 20-10 victory in an NFC Divisional Round game in Seattle. The Seahawks advanced to Super Bowl XL, where they lost 21-10 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In 2007, the Seahawks defeated the Redskins 35-14 in an NFC Wild Card Round game in Seattle. The Seahawks took a 13-0 lead into the fourth quarter when the Redskins made things interesting with 14 points of their own to take the lead with 12:38 left in the game. But Seattle responded with three late touchdowns – two of which on interception returns – to earn the victory.

The last matchup against the Seahawks saw a 23-17 Redskins victory on Nov. 27, 2011. The teams took a slow back-and-forth approach, leading to a 10-7 Seahawks lead going into the fourth quarter. That was when Washington scored 16 points and held off the Seahawks for the win.

Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman completed 26-of-35 passes for 314 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, while running back Roy Helu Jr. ran 23 times for 108 yards and a touchdown.

The Redskins lead the overall series vs. the Seahawks 11-6.

(AP photo)

When everything was on the line, the Washington Redskins turned to their young leader to guide them to their first NFC East title since 1999.

Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III orchestrated that performance last Sunday in Washington’s 28-18 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, a win-or-go-home matchup that led to Sunday’s Wild Card Round playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks at FedExField.

Griffin III was mic’d up for this critical NFC East championship game for NFL Films and the league’s show, “Sound FX,” much like middle linebacker London Fletcher was in this year’s Monday Night Football game vs. the New York Giants.

The Griffin III video is below; but first, here’s some of my personal favorites from the quarterback in this game:

- In a pregame speech to the team, Griffin III says: “This is our house! It’s our night, and it’s our division! It’s our job to go win it! This is it — put it all on the line! We’re going to start finish and finish strong. Here we go — work on three. One, two, three, work!”

- After getting the offense going in the first half, Griffin III tells left tackle Trent Williams: “Run the thing down their throat. Make them quit.”

- After Rob Jackson‘s fourth-quarter interception: “Finish it right now, baby. Like we said, second half is ours. We’re making it ours. Let’s finish it off. … Oh, y’all want the play? OK.”

- After the game, he tells running back Alfred Morris, “Hey, you’re my Terrell Davis, baby.” He also says, while looking in the crowd, “Hey, look at that, man. Ain’t been since ’99. We came here and did it in one year. Feel me?”

- Griffin III also runs over to Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. Click here for more about that exchange.

Here’s the full Robert Griffin III mic’d up video from “Sound FX:”

(AP photo)

If you were anywhere near a TV or a computer in the past few days, there’s a good chance you heard “Redskins” and “Cowboys” dozens and dozens of times.

After days of hype, the two teams and rivals met on national TV last night for NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” in a game that was turned out to be the NFC East championship. The winner moves on to host a playoff game; the loser goes home.

In case you forgot, the Redskins won 28-18 and will play host to the Seattle Seahawks Sunday at in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs.

Not surprisingly, the game performed very, very well ratings-wise, according to NBC Sports. Here’s some of their tweets from this morning:

Last night's @Redskins @DallasCowboys gm on @SNFonNBC drew 18.3 overnight rating, 30 share, best ever for a primetime reg-season gm on NBC.—
  (@NBCSportsPR) December 31, 2012

It is also best primetime reg-season overnight rating on ANY network in 15 years and best for a Cowboys-Redskins primetime game in 19 yrs—
  (@NBCSportsPR) December 31, 2012

Washington D.C. drew 44.6 overnight and 68 share, best primetime reg-season rating for DC market in Nielsen People Meter history (1987)—
  (@NBCSportsPR) December 31, 2012

Top Mkts: D.C. 44.6/68, Richmond 42.8/60, Norfolk 37.1/53, Dallas 36.9/55, San Antonio 28.4/44, Austin 28.4/48, Albuquerque 27.6/41—
  (@NBCSportsPR) December 31, 2012

The last time Redskins-Cowboys played in front of such a large audience was Sept. 6, 1993, when the Redskins defeated the defending Super Bowl champion Cowboys 35-16 at RFK Stadium on Monday Night Football.

I’m guessing the Redskins are going to be a primetime attraction come 2013. Stay tuned.

(.GIF courtesy of SB Nation)

You probably remember midway through the fourth quarter of last night’s game between the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys when Redskins punter Sav Rocca was called for a facemask penalty after bringing down Cowboys punt returner Dwayne Harris.

Now, thanks to the .GIF above, this play can live in the Redskins-Cowboys rivalry lore.

Rocca sheds the block of free safety Sterling Moore and promptly grabs Harris by the facemask with his right hand and, with his left hand, grabs the returner’s long hair at the Washington 31-yard line.

OK, so the tackle wasn’t completely legal within the NFL rules. But after tight end Niles Paul whiffed while attempting to take Harris down, Rocca was the last line of defense between the returner and the end zone in a critical NFC East championship game.

Rocca, as you probably already knew, is a former Australian Football League legend, so tackling isn’t anything new to him. He’s also a certified masseur.

Let’s just say Harris might need a massage after that hit.

The Washington Redskins’ Goal No. 1 is accomplished.

The team claimed its first NFC East title late since 1999 Sunday night with its 28-18 win over the Dallas Cowboys. When they got back into their locker room, they found their NFC East Division Champions hats waiting for them.

But, as head coach Mike Shanahan has reiterated the past few weeks, only one team is happy at the end of the season. A divisional title off the heels of seven straight wins is nice, but it won’t mean anything if it doesn’t translate into a Super Bowl ring at season’s end.

For early this morning and into the day, however, the Redskins can celebrate their victory over the Cowboys. Then it’s on to the Seattle Seahawks, the Redskins’ opponent in Sunday’s playoff matchup at FedExField.

Here’s a collection of the Redskins players celebrating Sunday night’s win via Twitter:

Quarterback Robert Griffin III:

NFC EAST CHAMPIONS!!!—
Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) December 31, 2012

Safety Reed Doughty:

NFC East Camps. Lets keep it rolling. instagr.am/p/T5I81vvCSu/—
Reed Doughty (@doughty37) December 31, 2012

Wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe:

HTTR all day!!!!! NFC east champs!—
Dezmon Briscoe (@DezBriscoe89) December 31, 2012

Defensive end Stephen Bowen:

Yeaaaaa http://t.co/Rba1jMak—
Stephen Bowen (@stevebo72) December 31, 2012

Wide receiver Pierre Garcon:

See you next Sunday! fb.me/1sCW3LtL0—
Pierre Garcon (@PierreGarcon) December 31, 2012

Running back Keiland Williams:

Big time win tonight but that was just the first step. 4 more to go!!! #RedskinsNation—
keiland williams (@kwill35) December 31, 2012

Safety Jordan Bernstine:

FedEx was ROCKIN tho. S/o to all of #Redskinsnation. "At the top it's just us…"—
jordan bernstine (@JBernstine) December 31, 2012

Offensive tackle Tyler Polumbus:

Playoff bound with the old squad coming into town next weekend!
#httr #hail—
Tyler Polumbus (@Tyler_Polumbus) December 31, 2012

Linebacker Chris Wilson:

Wore this hat from the stadium!!!
#httr #redskins instagr.am/p/T4-HzCOtf2/—
Chris Wilson (@CWil51Flint) December 31, 2012

Defensive lineman Kedric Golston:

NFC Champions!—
Kedric Golston (@Golston64) December 31, 2012

Long snapper Nick Sundberg:

The streak is alive! 8-0 and NFC champs baby! What an amazing night! #HTTR—
Nick Sundberg (@NickSundberg) December 31, 2012

Running back Evan Royster:

love this team… bring on the seahawks! HTTR!—
Evan Royster (@Evan_Royster) December 31, 2012

Running back Javarris Williams:

NFC EAST CHAMPS 2012 #HTTR—
Javarris Williams (@JavarrisWill30) December 31, 2012

Linebacker Keenan Robsinson:

We NFC East Champs #NoQuestion✋—
Keenan Robinson (@KeenanRobinson1) December 31, 2012

Defensive lineman Chris Baker:

At the top it's just us baby #nfceastchamps it feels sooo good instagr.am/p/T46ZxvLHCt/—
Chris Baker (@cbaker92redskin) December 31, 2012

Defensive tackle Dominique Hamilton:

We do it… *Big Sean Voice* #HTTR—
Dominique Hamilton (@Underrated_Dom) December 31, 2012

Running back Tristan Davis:

Great team victory #Redskins #httr—
Tristan Dion Davis (@TDDADON) December 31, 2012

Defensive lineman Chigbo Anunoby:

Great win!!! #NFCEASTCHAMPS #PLAYOFFS #HTTC—
Chigbo Anunoby (@datquelondon) December 31, 2012

Kicker Kai Forbath:

NFC East Champions!! Playoffs here we come!! #HTTR http://t.co/otRjrU3N—
Kai Forbath (@KaiForbath) December 31, 2012

Offensive lineman Adam Gettis:

Defensive lineman Chris Neild:

#BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM #HTTR #HAIL #HailYeah #Redskins #NFCEastChamps #NFCEastChamps #NFCEastChamps—
Chris Neild (@TruckNeild) December 31, 2012

Offensive lineman Pat Boyle:

Redskin nation #HTTR—
Patrick Boyle (@PatBoyle79) December 31, 2012

Defensive end Adam Carriker:

Bring on the playoffs!!! #NFCEastChampions #HTTR #RedskinsTalk—
Adam Carriker (@AdamCarriker94) December 31, 2012

(AP photo)

Just 15 minutes remain until this win-or-go-home, nationally televised game is complete.

Heading into the fourth quarter at FedExField, the Redskins lead the Cowboys, 14-7.

Here’s some key plays from each drive of the third quarter:

Kickoff: Returned by Dallas to its own 20-yard line where Reed Doughty makes a nice play.

COWBOYS’ FIRST DRIVE OF HALF:

1st and 10 <20: DeMarco Murray runs for three yards up the gut.
2nd and 7 <23: Murray again, this time to the left for six yards.
3rd and 1 <29: Murray, for a third straight time, gets the call, and falls forward for one yard to convert the first down.
1st and 10 <30: Murray makes some violent cuts and leaves several Redskins defenders behind and is finally tackled after a 21-yard gain.
1st and 10 >49: Felix Jones gets no gain on the run.
2nd and 10 >49: Romo’s pass intended for Dez Bryant is incomplete.
3rd and 10 >49: Romo is chased by Ryan Kerrigan and London Fletcher and throws the ball away. He appeared to be in the pocket, but the officials did not call intentional grounding. Nice stop by the Redskins’ defense.
4th and 10 >49: Brian Moorman’s punt covers 37 yards and is returned by Richard Crawford for three yards to his own 15.

REDSKINS’ ENSUING DRIVE:

1st and 10 >15: Alfred Morris gets five yards.
2nd and 5 >20: Morris gets three yards this time, getting to 100 yards on the day and within four yards of breaking Clinton
3rd and 2 >23: Robert Griffin III’s pass to Pierre Garcon is dropped. Right through the hands and to the grass — and would’ve converted the first down.
4th and 2 >23: Sav Rocca’s punt is taken to the Dallas 30-yard line.

COWBOYS’ ENSUING DRIVE:

1st and 10 <30: Murray gets the handoff and gets three yards up the middle.
2nd and 7 <33: Romo’s pass is incomplete, intended for Miles Austin. Romo was flushed out of the pocket, as Kerrigan nearly got a shoestring sack.
3rd and 7 <33: Another incompletion for Romo, who felt the heat from several Washington defenders.
4th and 7 <33: Moorman’s punt is fielded by DeAngelo Hall — and not Crawford — who drops the punt, but recovers at the Washington 18-yard line.

REDSKINS’ ENSUING DRIVE:

1st and 10 >18: Morris on the pitch play gets one yard. Three yards from breaking the single-season Redskins record.
2nd and 9 >19: Morris breaks Portis’ record with a 10-yard gain, giving him 111 on the day and 1,524 this season. Congrats, Alf!
1st and 10 >29: Josh LeRibeus replaces Kory Lichtensteiger at left guard, and Morris gets the carry again for a five-yard gain.
2nd and 5 >34: Another first down conversion by Morris, who gets six yards to the 40.
1st and 10 >40: Morris breaks free again. His fifth straight run, this time for 22 yards. Royster gives Morris a breather, who hears chants of “AL-FRED MOR-RIS” in the stands.
1st and 10 <38: Griffin III finally hooks up with Garcon for a big play, across the middle for 18 yards.
1st and 10 <20: Morris loses three yards on the run.
2nd and 13 <23: Griffin III’s screen pass to Garcon is complete for 13 yards and the first down.
1st and Goal <10: Griffin III takes the read option to his left and scores a 10-yard rushing touchdown. What a dangerous and confusing play for the opposing defense to have to cover — especially when Morris is having the game of his career.
Extra point: Kai Forbath’s kick is good.

3:10: Redskins 14, Dallas 7; Scoring drive: Nine plays, 82 yards, 5:14

Kickoff: Taken to the Dallas 35-yard line.

1st and 10 <35: Romo is nearly picked off by Fletcher. Falls to the turf.
2nd and 10 <35: Direct snap to Murray, who is taken down after a seven-yard gain.
3rd and 3 <33: With the defense bearing down, Romo cooly finds Witten across the middle for a 10-yard gain.1st and 10 <43: Jones gets eight yards on the run to his left.
2nd and 2 >49: Jones runs for three yards.
1st and 10 >46: Romo finds fullback Lawrence Vickers for an 11-yard gain, ending the third quarter.

CHIME IN: What are YOUR thoughts from the third quarter of action

(AP photo)

The biggest regular-season game in FedExField history is underway.

With the NFC East title going to the winner — and a trip home going to the loser — this place is rockin’.

And, after a first quarter that featured two Tony Romo interceptions and a Redskins’ offense unable to capitalize, Washington and Dallas are knotted at zero.

Here’s some key plays from each drive in the quarter.

Kickoff: The Redskins received the opening kickoff. Tight end Niles Paul returned it to the Washington 15-yard line.

REDSKINS’ FIRST DRIVE:

1st and 10 <15: Robert Griffin III hands off to Alfred Morris, who who swamped by three Cowboys players after getting a yard.
2nd and 9 <16: Morris falls forward and gets two yards.
3rd and 7 <18: Griffin III’s pass across the middle to Joshua Morgan is dropped. Morgan had the first down — and then some.
4th and 7 <18: Sav Rocca’s punt was returned 28 yards by Dewayne Harris all the way to the 26-yard line.

COWBOYS’ FIRST DRIVE:

1st and 10 <26: DeMarco Murray runs for two yards. His first action against the Redskins this season.
2nd and 8 <24: Romo tries to find Miles Austin, but the pass is overthrown.
3rd and 8 <24: Romo passes across the middle and is picked off by rookie cornerback Richard Crawford — hs first-career interception. What a poorly thrown pass when a field goal was almost a sure thing on fourth down. The telecast showed Romo confronting a receiver after the play.

REDSKINS’ ENSUING DRIVE:

1st and 10 <29: Morris rumbles his way for 19 yards, lowering his shoulder to one defender and spinning away from another.
1st and 10 <48: On the read option — the Cowboys bought the Griffin III fake — Morris gets another 10 yards.
1st and 10 >42: Morris again, this time for a gain of four yards to his left.
2nd and 6 >38: Griffin III finds Santana Moss, who evades one tackler before getting out of bounds with a two-yard gain.
3rd and 4 >36: Griffin III runs it this time, and from the pistol, gains nine yards. Again, the defense bought the fake handoff.
1st and 10 >27: Morris on the stretch play to the right gets three yards.
2nd and 7 >27: Griffin III across the middle finds Morris, who gets five yards.
3rd and 2 >27: Morris on the handoff up the middle, and he gets no gain, sending the field-goal unit onto the field.
4th and 2 >27: Kicker Kai Forbath’s 37-yard field goal goes off the right post. His first miss in 18 attempts.

COWBOYS’ ENSUING DRIVE:

1st and 10 >27: Romo is sacked for a loss of four yards by middle linebacker London Fletcher. Romo had nowhere to go and fell to the ground in a well-covered play by the Redskins’ defense.
2nd and 14 >27: Romo’s pass is batted away by cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who nearly tips the ball back into his own hands before falling out of bounds.
3rd and 14 >27: Romo is flushed to his right and slings it to Dez Bryant, who gets 23 yards. Bryant beat Hall of the play, who thought the receiver got away with a push.
1st and 10 >46: Murray gets three yards.
2nd and 7 >49: Romo is picked off again, this time by Josh Wilson, who took an underthrown pass to Austin at the Washington 14-yard line. Nice read by Wilson on the high pass. That pick also represents the first time the Redskins have had seven multi-interception games since the 1999 season — their last NFC East title.

REDSKINS’ ENSUING DRIVE:

1st and 10 <14: Griffin III passes to Morris again, this time for seven yards. Griffin III had some time to throw, but the play was well-covered and he went with his check down.
2nd and 3 <21: On the read-option, Morris chugs ahead for five yards and the first down.
2nd and 10 <26: After an incompletion, Griffin III takes the snap and immedaitely finds Leonard Hankerson for a 12-yard gain. Nice focus by the receiver to make the play.
1st and 10 <38: Griffin III’s pass to Pierre Garcon falls incomplete.
2nd and 10 <38: Griffin III takes the read-option handoff and is violently shoved out of bounds after three yards.
3rd and 7 <41: Griffin III connects with Moss, who gets 11 yards and the first down.
1st and 10 >48: Morris runs for four yards.
2nd and 6 >44: Griffin III is chased out of the pocket and launches a pass that is nearly picked off along the sideline by cornerback Brandon Carr. Risky play.
3rd and 6 >44: Griffin III’s pass intended for Moss is incomplete.
4th and 6 >44: Rocca’s 33-yard punt is fair caught by Harris at the Dallas 11-yard line.

COWBOYS’ ENSUING DRIVE:

1st and 10 >11: Murray gets seven yards on the run.
2nd and 3 >18: Murray again — this time for four yards and the first down.

CHIME IN: What are YOUR thoughts from the first quarter of action tonight? Feel free to comment below.