Over the last several seasons, Redskins fans have been treated to some splendid play by one of, if not the, best linebacking core in the league.

With perennial Pro Bowler and NFL iron man London Fletcher, 2013 Pro Bowlers Ryan Kerrigan and Lorenzo Alexander, former Pro Bowler Brian Orakpo, Perry Riley, and Rob Jackson, I think its safe to say that the Redskins depth at the linebacker position is simply unheard of.

However, while those six men have been instrumental in limiting opposing defenses for years, they have competition at staking claim as the best linebacking core in franchise history.

Hall of Famers Sam Huff and Chris Hanburger are arguably two of the great linebackers in NFL history and for a four-year stretch in the late 1960′s, they terrorized opponents week in and week out lining up in burgundy and gold together.

Find out what these two former teammates had to say about their reign of destruction together here:

Sam Huff was selected by rival New York Giants in the 1956 NFL Draft and gave the Redskins fits for years as the All-Pro caliber linebacker became a thorn in the side of Washington. In 1964, however, Huff decided to turn in his Giants jersey in favor of a Redskins one as fans across the area rejoiced at the team’s newest addition.

Any doubts about his performance being affected with his move away from the Big Apple quickly vanished as he made his fifth Pro Bowl in his first season in the nation’s capitol. Starting in 1965, he was joined by a quick learning, highly-touted prospect from the University of North Carolina, Chris Hanburger. 

“Of course I had been in the army for two years before I even went to college so I was a little older than the other rookies that were there,” Hanburger said of his first training camp with the Redskins. “And my philosophy going up there was just it’s a great chance and I’m going to do the best that I can, but if it doesn’t work out here I’m not going to quit here, I’ll go find some other team I can give a shot to.”

Redskins fans never had to worry about that scenario as he adjusted to the professional level with relative ease and veterans like Huff quickly noticed his knack for getting to the ball.

“I watched him come on board and I was a linebacker and he was a linebacker and when I saw how fast he was, I said ‘I’ve got to get another job some place,’” Huff said with a grin. “Fortunately, he was better on the outside , coming from the outside, to get to the quarterback then me coming up the middle.”

Hanburger who admitted that he knew little about the NFL during his time at UNC was admittedly stunned by Huff’s comments of praise.

“I never followed professional football when I was in college,” Hanburger said. “[But] that was a big thrill to have somebody like Sam, who I never even knew anything about him until I got to training camp, come up and tell me that.”

In Hanburger’s first season, he would only start five games, however, he saw a majority of his action on special teams where he became a ruthless tackler. In a rarity in today’s NFL standards, Huff also joined Hanburger on the unit.

“Going down on the field from the 50-yard line, running down there hitting the wedge which is four big guys, bigger than us, but we had to run and then you have to knock them over to get the guy that caught the ball, and take him down,” Huff said of the challenges of playing special teams. “I want to tell you something, nobody could take them down faster [than Hanburger]. I wasn’t hitting anybody. He beat me down the field and took them down and got up and said ‘Where were you, I was following you.’”

Word of Hanburger’s unprecedented tackling skills quickly spread and in his second season, he became a full-time starter on defense and corralled opponents non-stop for 60 minutes each and every week.

“I had somebody on the outside of me that could play, he and I together, and we did. We took a lot of guys apart,” Huff said of the one-two tandem  “He’d come from the outside and I’d come up the middle and no trespassing. We hit them and we knocked them down. They’d start changing the rules because of what he and I did on the field. He was the best.”

In 2011, Hanburger rejoined his teammate and friend in the Hall of Fame as the two men will forever be joined in Canton, Ohio. With each passing year, there is no doubt that Huff and Hanburger are two of the all-time gridiron greats!

Congrats to both men once again!

(AP Photo)

The 21st All-Joe Team was recently announced by USA Today and Redskins running back Alfred Morris and guard Kory Lichtensteiger were selected.

The All-Joe Team was originally comprised by USA Today Sports writer Larry Weisman in honor of Kansas City defensive lineman Joe Phillips after he helped teammates Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith combined to take down quarterbacks 29 times during the 1992 season.

While Thomas and Smith received the brunt of attention, Phillips was instrumental in paving the way to get his teammates to the ball.

The team is an annual presentation of some of the hardest working players in the league. Often, these players are deemed “over-achievers” and rarely get the same level of media attention that some of the top superstars in the league receive. The only parameter of inclusion to the All-Joe Team is that the player has yet to be selected to the Pro Bowl.

However, many All-Joe Team selections go on to be selected to the annual contest in the Rainbow State. Prime example: 2011 All-Joe and 2012 Pro Bowl special teamer Lorenzo Alexander.

Find out why Morris and Lichtensteiger were deserving of the honor here:

When Alfred Morris was selected in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, the fact that he would start the team’s week one matchup against the New Orleans Saints seemed outlandish.

The unheralded back out of Florida Atlantic faced stiff competition in the backfield as incumbents Evan Royster and Roy Helu Jr. were fresh off  successful debut campaigns. Morris, however, slowly worked his way up the depth chart showing a consistency to pick up yardage when his number was called.

Not only did Morris crack the starting lineup against the Saints, he exceeded all expectations, slicing the Saints defense for 96 yards and two scores.

Week after week, Morris continually piled up yards and touchdowns, knocking the conjecture that a sixth round pick can’t instantly contribute straight out of FedExField!

As he tacked on more yards, it became apparent that his season was on the verge of legendary status. The “over-achiever” claimed three Rookie of the Week designations, including his 200-yard, three touchdown dandy of a  performance against the Dallas Cowboys in week 17. His execution against bitter rival Dallas also garnished NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

After running for 820 yards and eight touchdowns over the final seven games of the season, he found himself in Redskins lore as he smashed the franchise single season record for most rushing yards in a season with 1,613 and finished behind only Adrian Peterson for most rushing yards in the league.

USA Today writer Nate Davis had this to say about Morris’s selection:

“He quickly morphed from unknown sixth rounder to one of the most prolific rookies of all time after rushing for a team record 1,613 yards and trailing only Adrian Peterson for the league crown. Moreover, he keeps it very All-Joe by driving a 1991 Mazda.”

In the middle of the 2011 season, Kory Lichtensteiger suffered a grueling season-ending right knee injury, tearing several ligaments and left many questioning if he would ever have the same impact after such a serious injury.

He answered those questions with authority as he  started all 16 games for the first time in his five-year career and showed what kind of impact he can have when he is on the field as he helped clear holes for Morris and quarterback Robert Griffin III en route to the league’s best rushing attack, averaging 169.3 yards per contest.

In week six, the Redskins offense faced the tough task of facing one of the best run defenses in the league, the Minnesota Vikings. With former Pro Bowlers Kevin Williams and Jared Allen, the offensive line faced challengers who have created reputations as getting to ball carriers at their own will. Lichtensteiger had other plans.

The Redskins pounded the ball for 183 yards and three touchdowns as the team cruised to a 38-26 victory. The highlight of the game came courtesy of Griffin III as he bolted up the left sideline for a 76 -yard touchdown scamper. While Griffin III deservingly received praise for his sprint across the goal line, Lichtensteiger planted a key block that paved the way for the signal callers record-setting gallop.

After a phenomenal campaign, Lichtensteiger was voted the Ed Block Courage Award by his teammates. The award is given annually to a player who shows outstanding courage in the midst of adversity. I think its safe to say that the honor  was justified as he rebounded from major surgery.

Davis had this to say about Lichtensteiger:

“He tore the ACL, MCL and meniscus in his right knee in 2011, but, like Peterson, was back in top form in 2012 … in a lineman sort of way. Lichtensteiger didn’t miss a game for Washington’s top-ranked running game.”

There’s no doubt in our minds that Alfred and Kory will follow Lorenzo to the beaches of Hawaii as they will be the next All-Joe selections to become Pro Bowlers.

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Year after year Redskins fans show up in droves and provide one of the best tailgating atmospheres known to man. This season was no different.

Each week fans gathered their friends, fired up their grills and enjoyed the pregame festivities, turning the FedExField parking lots into a sea of burgundy and gold.

The scene was no different for Mike and John Stroll, two out-of-towners who partook in a marathon journey all season long to experience the ultimate tailgate.

Prior to the Redskins-Giants Monday Night game (a Redskins 17-16 victory), the brothers hit the FedExField lots looking for the perfect tailgate. And well, you all succeeded in showing them what Redskins Nation is all about: good friends, good food and good times!

Of course we already know that Redskins fans never disappoint when it comes to a good tailgate.

Anyway, be sure to check out the video which chronicles their visit in Washington beginning with a grueling workout from Pro Bowl LB Lorenzo Alexander and ending with a surprise visit from GM Bruce Allen along with some quality time with the Hogettes!

(AP photo)

Redskins linebacker Lorenzo Alexander spent all season backing up London Fletcher at inside linebacker, and that trend will likely continue on Sunday.

The Pro Bowl rosters are set up with two inside linebackers, Alexander will likely be the primary backup to Fletcher and Cardinals’ linebacker Daryl Washington. It’s a role that Alexander relished all season, and one that he embraces on the Pro Bowl stage.

“From what I hear, yeah, I will be playing defense,” he said.  ”I mean, they only have two inside linebackers so I will have to play. I assume so.”

With his versatility on defense, Alexander could even backup teammate Ryan Kerrigan at outside linebacker.

Alexander will be suiting up for the Packers’ coaching staff, a staff that runs the base 4-3 scheme in Green Bay. Alexander has never worked with members of their staff before, but was prepared for the opportunity.

“I’ve never really met any of them off the top of my head, I don’t think,” he said. “I know [Redskins tight end Chris] Cooley said that when he went to the Pro Bowl, he played for them and said they were pretty cool. Things were kind of laid back and chill, so don’t worry about too much of nothing.”

For a man known for his high motor and intensity, playing in a meaningless game with minimal effort may need a bit of an adjustment.  Even though Alexander loves the bone-crushing tackles, he’ll leave the highlight hits for 2013 with the Redskins.

“I don’t know what to expect, but no Sean Taylor-esque hits for me,” he said with a chuckle, referencing Taylor’s big hit on AFC punter Brian Moorman. “I’ve got to figure out the tempo and kind of fall in suit with that and see how it goes and how it plays out.”

Alexander is an extremely personable guy and said he was looking forward to interacting with the players from other teams. Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is a childhood friend of Alexanders, and someone that he played with in college.

“I know guys like Marshawn [Lynch] that I grew up with in Oakland,” he said. “He and his family are going to be out there. You know, I just want to hang out with whoever and play it by ear. Keep it loose so you’re not restricted to do something you might not want to do, and decide to do something else.”

With so much top talent in one place, the conversations sometimes turn to playing on the same team in the regular season, and recruiting the best players to join another team.

While Alexander noted that he needed to secure his own contract first, he would be happy to serve as an ambassador for the NFC East division champions.

“I don’t know who’s a free agent down there but of course you always want some of the top guys obviously to come over to your side and help us to be able to win a Super Bowl,” he said. “You can always upgrade in a couple of areas and who knows who might be interested.”

Good luck Lorenzo! The Pro Bowl will be broadcast Sunday at 4 p.m. ET on NBC.

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AP Image

This Sunday at 4 p.m. ET, the 2013 Pro Bowl will kickoff at the sunny Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The best players in the NFL this season (or at least most popular) will showcase their talents, and to enjoy some relaxing fun under the sun.

When not relaxing in the tropical heat, players have spent the past week practicing with their regular season conference foes, preparing for Sunday’s AFC vs. NFC clash. There was need for some introductions, but for others it was a chance to reconnect with childhood friends and former teammates.

Washington Redskins special teams extraordinaire and linebacker Lorenzo Alexander will be joining forces with two old college teammates. Alexander attended the University of California and in the 2004 season was teammates with Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch.

That season, the Golden Bears finished the season 10-1 and were ranked #4 in the nation. Their only regular season loss was a 23-17 defeat against the USC Trojans. Unfortunately the Golden Bears’ season ended in a heartbreaking 45-31 loss against Texas Tech in the Holiday Bowl.

The following season both Rodgers and Alexander left the University of California for the NFL and began the next chapter of their football careers.

Offensive tackle Trent Williams will be facing off against an old college teammate this Sunday, Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham.

The Pro Bowlers were teammates at the University of Oklahoma from 2006-2008. During their three-year career together, the Sooners experienced great success playing in three consecutive BCS Championship games.

Unfortunately for Williams and Gresham they were never able to win a postseason game, losing in back to back Fiesta Bowls and the BCS Championship game.

While every single NFL player participating in the 2013 Pro Bowl would rather be playing for the Lombardi Trophy, this weekend gives them a chance to reconnect with old teammates and friends. For some it is even a chance to reminisce about their glory days of college.

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The 2013 Pro Bowl consisting of the AFC and NFC’s best will take place Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. Representing the Redskins this year are LB London Fletcher, LB Ryan Kerrigan, LB Lorenzo Alexander, OT Trent Williams and QB Robert Griffin III.

Griffin III did not make the trip, staying in Florida to begin his rehab process. However, the remaining players are already in the central Pacific enjoying some well-deserved relaxation time with family and friends and are sharing their adventures on the island across their various social media accounts.

Here’s a look at their time in Hawaii thus far:

LB Lorenzo Alexander (Follow him on Twitter @onemangang97). If you want more Alexander, Redskins.com writer, Brian Tinsman, caught up with the veteran linebacker as he prepared for his first trip to the Pro Bowl.

The things I do for the kids. via.me/-936dtjm—
Lorenzo Alexander (@onemangang97) January 24, 2013

Out chilling with sine of our troops post practice. via.me/-93491fi—
Lorenzo Alexander (@onemangang97) January 24, 2013

They definitely are hooking us up with a Ton of stuff! http://t.co/cwMuWNLv—
Lorenzo Alexander (@onemangang97) January 23, 2013

LB London Fletcher (Follow him on Twitter @LFletcher59 or on Instagram @lfletcher59)

OT Trent Williams (Follow him on Twitter @TrentW71 or on Instagram @trentwilliams71)

LB Ryan Kerrigan (Follow him on Twitter @RyanKerrigan91)

Just touched down in Honolulu. What an awesome place! Proud to represent the 'skins here this week #HTTR—
Ryan Kerrigan (@RyanKerrigan91) January 23, 2013

And just so he doesn’t feel left out, check out this picture, retweeted by Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) of fans “Griffining” from the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro!

Griffining from the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. @RGIII #getwellsoon http://t.co/HScwhBCx—
Sahil (@sahil2787) January 24, 2013

…or how about in front of the Washington Monument!

@RGIII, @golfguy8286 and my Save the Date wouldn't be complete without us #griffining! Praying for you! #httr http://t.co/d5ZSc0Qg—
Chrissy Castaldo (@ChrissyCastaldo) January 24, 2013

The fact remains that if you asked the players participating, they probably would tell you that they would much rather be preparing for a bigger game to be played on Sunday, February 3 in New Orleans. Nonetheless, your Redskins Pro Bowlers appear to be making the most out of the experience. From Redskins Nation, congrats and Aloha!

Additional noteworthy stats:

- The Redskins have five Pro Bowl selections for the first time since 1996.

(Rookie running back sensation Alfred Morris would have made it six selections had he been selected as an alternate after turning in a 1,600-plus yard campaign. Unfortunately for him, Tampa Bay RB Doug Martin was selected over the rookie 6^th round gem to replace San Francisco running back Frank Gore. But that’s neither here nor there)

- Fletcher is the first Redskins defensive player to make 4-straight Pro Bowls since LB Ken Harvey (1994-97) and the first Redskins player to do so since OT Chris Samuels (2005-08).

- The Redskins have had at least two linebackers selected to the Pro Bowl in three of the last four seasons (2012: Lorenzo Alexander [special teams], Fletcher, Kerrigan; 2010: Fletcher and Brian Orakpo; 2009: Fletcher and Orakpo).

- The team has had at least one Pro Bowl player for 19 straight seasons.

- Executive Vice President/Head Coach Mike Shanahan has now coached players responsible for 75 Pro Bowl selections during his tenure as a NFL head coach.

And here’s your guide to following YOUR 2013 Redskins Pro Bowlers every step of the way:

- Facebook – www.facebook.com/redskins

- Twitter – www.twitter.com/redskins

- Google+ – www.google.com/+washingtonredskins

- Foursquare – www.foursquare.com/redskins

- Pinterest – www.pinterest.com/redskinsdotcom

- Instagram – http://instagram.com/redskins

- reddit – http://www.reddit.com/user/redskinsdotcom

- Redskins YouTube Channel

- Download the Official Redskins Mobile App

Redskins linebacker Lorenzo Alexander understands that the key to success is through preparation.  Throughout the offseason he prepares himself to be stronger and faster than the year before. During the season, he prepares himself to be the best player on gameday.

And when he finishes off a career year that leads the NFL in special teams tackles, he solicits advice on how to be ready for his first career Pro Bowl.

The first person he talked to was teammate London Fletcher, who will be joining Alexander for his fourth-straight trip to the Pro Bowl. Like Alexander, Fletcher was snubbed until later in his career, when he finally got the respect from his peers to make the trip to Hawaii.

But that’s about where the respect element ends, at least as far as hotel room charges in concerned.

“The biggest thing is to not give out your room number,” Alexander said, parroting Fletcher’s advice. “It’s like a tradition to get the rookies, the first-time Pro Bowlers, to pay for everything.”

The key to avoiding these charges in simple strategy, Alexander explained.

“Based on what [Redskins tight end Chris] Cooley told me though, is as long as you’re not at the bar, those guys tell the bartender charge to room 405 and guys kind of come up and see what room number you are and start charging you,” he said. “That’s not going to happen to me.”

No rookie dues for the eight-year veteran, who will be accompanied by his wife, Majanique, on the trip.

“Me and the front desk are going to have some issues. I’m going to have to warn them,” he said with a chuckle. “I’m not paying for nobody’s stuff. I’m not a big baller yet.”

But that’s not to say Alexander doesn’t enjoy the due process of being a rookie.

Before Fletcher and Kerrigan were added to the roster as Super Bowl replacements, Alexander said he and teammate Trent Williams were planning on making NFL rookie Robert Griffin III pay for everything while they were down there.

“Our plan was to get Robert [Griffin III] to pay for everything,” he said with a smile. “Get the true rookie to do it.”

Alexander said this will be his first trip to Hawaii, and he intends to make the most of it while he is there. When not practicing, enjoying the mid-70′s temperatures, goofing around, napping under a palm tree, or strolling on the beach with his wife, Alexander intends to do some site-seeing in paradise.

“Just see the sites like Pearl Harbor, the Dole Plantation–I heard that’s pretty cool,” he said. “I heard Disney is nice. They’ve got like a little private lagoon that is sharkless. So I might go snorkeling in that.”

Can we expect to see the One Man Gang hanging 10 on a longboard, bro?

“I don’t like big water. Even if I’m on a boat I don’t really like it,” he said flatly. “I’m more of a lake guy. In a lake I can pretty much tell you there’s fish, for the most part. There has been Bull Sharks to get up there, but that’s rare.”

If he wears that speedo, that should be sufficient to keep the sharks away.

Alexander showed me the speedo as he was packing his bags for the trip.  ”This is just a gag gift, I wouldn’t actually wear this. C’mon man, you really think I would wear a speedo, especially one that’s six sizes too small?”

I certainly hope not.  It does match the NFC Pro Bowl uniforms though, so who knows.

Good luck, Lorenzo! We’ll catch up with you more, tomorrow.

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(AP Photo)

On Sunday, linebackers London Fletcher and Ryan Kerrigan were named to the NFC Pro Bowl squad. They join fellow linebacker Lorenzo Alexander, who was selected as the NFC special-teamer, as well as offensive tackle Trent Williams for the annual game in Hawaii.

It is the fourth-consecutive trip for Fletcher, who was snubbed before coming to Washington in 2007.  It is the inaugural trip for teammates Kerrigan, Williams and Alexander.

With the rightful inclusion of three Redskins linebackers in the Pro Bowl, the Redskins now boast one of the strongest linebacking corps in the NFL. This is a major accomplishment for defensive coordinator Jim Haslett and his coaching staff, who converted the Redskins from a 4-3 system to the 3-4 after his arrival in 2010.

Find out what the rest of the Redskins linebacker unit said here as well as an interesting fact that the Redskins share with a Super Bowl-bound team:

Fellow linebackers Brian Orakpo and Rob Jackson have taken to social media to congratulate their teammates on a successful season:

Shout out to my LBs @LFletcher59 @RyanKerrigan91 @onemangang97 representing in the ProBowl this week y'all fellas have fun great year HTTR—
Brian Orakpo (@rak98) January 22, 2013

@onemangang97 @LFletcher59 @RyanKerrigan91 . Lbs set the tempo, lbs set the tone!! Lol , ya boys have fun ya deserve it.—
Rob Jackson (@RobJax50) January 22, 2013

Orakpo, Jackson, Keenan Robinson and Perry Riley comprise the rest of the linebacker unit that continually came up with clutch plays throughout the season.

Orakpo is no stranger to the Pro Bowl as he represented the Redskins in 2009 and 2010, his first two years in the league.  In his first two seasons, he accumulated 106 tackles, 19,5 sacks, two passes defensed, and two fumbles forced. In his rookie season, he set the franchise record for sacks by a rookie, with 11.5.

When Orakpo was felled by a season-ending pectoral tear, veteran Rob Jackson took over at starting outside linebacker for the remainder of the season.

Jackson had never started an NFL game before being named Orakpo’s replacement, but his performance and prduction did not reflect his experience. He finished the season with 37 tackles, six passes defensed, 4.5 sacks,  four interceptions, and two fumbles forced.

His four interceptions trailed only Fletcher (five), but no takeaways were bigger than his interception in Week 17, with the NFC title on the line.  In front of a rabid crowd at FedExField and a national television audience, Jackson snared a Tony Romo pass inside the Cowboys’ 30 yard line, putting the Redskins within striking distance and a three-point lead.

The ensuing touchdown on offense put the Redskins up by 10 and brought the Redskins their first title in 13 seasons.

In his first full season as a starter, Perry Riley brought speed and energy to the middle of the defense, starting all 16 games. He posted career-highs in tackles, sacks, passes defensed, and forced fumbles. His 129 tackles was second on the team behind only Fletcher and ranked him No. 14 overall in the NFL.

Here’s an interesting nugget: the last team to have three linebackers elected to the Pro Bowl was the Baltimore Ravens.

Just like the Redskins, the Ravens sent an inside linebacker in Ray Lewis, an outside linebacker in Terrell Suggs and a special teams ace in Brendon Ayanbadejo for the AFC squad in 2009.

And just in case you weren’t aware, all three players are key contributors for the Super Bowl bound Ravens. Hopefully, the Redskins can follow in the footsteps of the Ravens in their quest for another Super Bowl victory.

Congrats to London, Ryan, Lorenzo, and Trent on their inclusion on the NFC Pro Bowl roster and enjoy the warm temperatures in Hawaii as Redskins Park and the rest of the DMV root you on during the coldest week of the winter season thus far!

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Happy belated birthday to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who would have been 86 on Jan. 15 (his actual birthday), and a Happy Inauguration Day to all. Regardless of your political persuasion, everyone can enjoy a balmy Monday off of work in the middle of January.

Unless, of course, you’re working today, in which case thank you for choosing to procrastinate with the Redskins.

Yesterday’s playoff football action determined that the Baltimore Ravens will face the San Francisco 49ers on Super Bowl Sunday in two weeks.

Even if you don’t give two hoots about the matchup, there are many heart-stopping appetizers and hilarious commercials to be watched that day, so there is something for everyone.

To find out how the Redskins’ player predictions and a weird statistical anomaly played out, check the link below:

1. Fletcher and Alexander were only half right.

Redskins Pro Bowl linebackers/captains London Fletcher and Lorenzo Alexander each played NFL expert this week, predicting that the 49ers would face the New England Patriots in New Orleans for the Lombardi Trophy. As you well know, they were only half right. Here’s a look back at what they said.

Fletcher made his predictions first, with Colin Cowherd of ESPN radio. One thing that Fletcher kept coming back to in picking the Patriots was the play of Ravens’ quarterback Joe Flacco, who Fletcher said was an easy read:

“When we study [Flacco] going into the game, we knew where he was going to go with the football based on formations, pre-snap reads, [and] things like that,” Fletcher said of Flacco. “Once we took away his first read, he would kind of panic a little bit.”

It isn’t my job to defend Flacco, but the numbers speak for themselves. In three playoff games this year, Flacco is 51-for-93 for 853 yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions.

What’s the difference from Week 14? Who knows, but it may have to do with the arrival of Jim Caldwell as offensive coordinator, who replaced Cam Cameron following the Redskins’ victory over the Ravens.

Alexander made his predictions later last week, on the CSN Washington set. While he didn’t call the outcome correctly, his analysis was solid, especially as it relates to the turnover margin in the playoffs:

“In our game, we came out winning the turnover battle, which is key in any game, especially the playoffs. But they’re playing very well right now, [Joe] Flacco is doing an awesome job. Obviously, everyone is going around Ray Lewis and everything he represents, especially with this being his last season.”

The Ravens have played inspired football since linebacker Ray Lewis announced this would be his final season. But more tangibly, the Ravens won the turnover battle in yesterday’s game, intercepting Tom Brady twice and recovering a fumble. The Ravens’ offense protected the football all day long, upsetting the heavily-favored Patriots at home.

That is, as they say, the reason why you play the game.

2. Is the AFC East key to winning the NFC Crown?

Evidently, yes.

The NFL schedule is put together with parity in mind, as each in-conference division plays each other every three years, and each out-of-conference division plays each other every four years. Given the “magic” of playing the AFC East, I’m sure every NFC team wishes they could play the Bills, Patriots, Jets and Dolphins more often.

As pointed out by media relations specialist and Redskins’ stats guru Ross Taylor, the NFC Champion has come from the division that plays the AFC East in every season since 2006.  Here’s a recap:

2006 NFC Champion: Chicago Bears, 2-2 vs. AFC East (W: Jets, Bills. L: Patriots, Dolphins).
2007 NFC Champion: New York Giants, 3-1 vs. AFC East (W: Bills, Jets, Dolphins. L: Patriots).
2008 NFC Champion: Arizona Cardinals, 2-2 vs. AFC East (W: Dolphins, Bills. L: Patriots, Jets).
2009 NFC Champion: New Orleans Saints, 4-0 vs. AFC East.
2010 NFC Champion: Green Bay Packers, 2-2 vs. AFC East (W: Bills, Jets. L: Dolphins, Patriots).
2011 NFC Champion: New York Giants, 4-0 vs. AFC East.
2012 NFC Champion: San Francisco 49ers, 4-0 vs. AFC East.

As you can see, only three of these teams have actually swept the AFC East during regular season, with the third being the 2012 San Francisco 49ers. The first two teams went on to win the Super Bowl, although none of this is statistically significant.

This is merely a fun fact to keep in the back of your brain the next time the NFC Championship rolls around. If it holds true next season, the NFC Champion will be crowned out of the NFC South.

If this anomaly holds true for three more years, would you accept a trip to the Super Bowl following the 2015 season? Share your thoughts below!

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Lorenzo Alexander is one of the few Redskins players to ever win the Media Good Guy award multiple years, and did so in both 2011 and 2012. Alexander has a well-deserved reputation for offering honest, thoughtful insight into his life and his role with the Washington Redskins.

So it should come as no surprise that the “One Man Gang” can handle himself comfortably on camera, providing CSN Washington with a player’s perspective in the lead-up to this weekend’s NFL Championship action.

Alexander has the benefit of having played each of the four remaining teams at home in the last two seasons, with the San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots in 2011 and the Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons in 2012.

He speaks with the poise and confidence of a veteran newscaster, and has a second career in sports if he so chooses.

Hear what he had to say, below:

On the Ravens:

When we played them, I thought they were hitting on all cylinders very well. Torrey Smith was able to stretch the field, Ray Rice had a great game against us. In our game, we came out winning the turnover battle, which is key in any game, especially the playoffs. But they’re playing very well right now, [Joe] Flacco is doing an awesome job. Obviously, everyone is going around Ray Lewis and everything he represents, especially with this being his last season.

I think [Rice] is the key; he makes everyone better around him. When he gets 20 touches or more, their record is phenomenal. The more he touches it, the more he opens things up for Flacco to be able to go downfield to Torrey Smith.

[Flacco] is a big quarterback, big arm, very accurate. I think what he’s been able to do, especially during the playoffs, I remember one play in particular where he is able to extend plays. Find ways up through the pocket, roll out, then get the ball deep to open receivers. As he continues to improve in that area, he’ll be able to get even better and win.

On the Patriots:

I’ve been going back and forth on this all week, and it’s hard, because Baltimore is playing some good football. But any time you see Tom Brady and Bill Belichick  together, it’s hard to say. But I’m gonna go with the Patriots…and I’m really still on the fence, but I’m gonna go with the Patriots.

On the Falcons:

Nobody has any respect for them, because over the last several years in the playoffs, they’ve been one-and-done. So I think it’s something that people are looking back over their body work and not really respecting that.

On the 49ers:

hey’re going up against a great 49ers’ defense and that man [Colin] Kaepernick on the offensive side, who looks a lot like Robert Griffin [III]. They’ve been running a lot of plays that we run offensively and just being able to bust it wide open. Two hundred-plus yards running and passing? Anytime you’re facing a guy like that, the other team may be an underdog, automatically.

I’m going 49ers. I’m a [San Francisco] Bay-area guy, I grew up a 49ers fan. I don’t root for ‘em, but I’m definitely going to go for them.

So much like his teammates and friend London Fletcher, Alexander is predicting a 49ers-Patriots Super Bowl. For all of the aforementioned reasons and his own personal experience, he is well-justified in that position.

For what it’s worth, the Ravens beat the Patriots in Week 3, with Flacco passing for 382 yards, Rice rushing for 101 yards and Smith receiving 127 yards. The Falcons and 49ers will face each other for the first time this season on Sunday afternoon.

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