All posts in photos

(photo by Brian Murphy)

We’re headed towards uncharted territory, boys and girls.

After essentially ending the competitive portion of their schedule with a humbling loss to a pitiful Carolina Panthers team, the Washington Redskins were once again a doormat of a franchise, thanks to their 3-6 record.

And then something crazy happened — the Redskins took the bye week and magically, one week later, all was right in the universe.

Suddenly, the Redskins are playing meaningful football in December for the first time since 2007 and have rightly earned the title of “team no one wants to play.” That’s what happens when you stop dropping catchable passes and eliminate turnovers on offense while simultaneously teaching your defense it’s okay to make a play from time to time.

Now, with four games left to play, the Redskins sit just one game back of the Seattle Seahawks for the sixth and final playoff spot in the NFC. There’s plenty of football left to be played between now and the end of the regular season, but ‘Skins fans have plenty of reason to feel good about things these days.

With that in mind, please feel free to peruse my favorite photos I was able to capture from the sidelines this week. It’s not every day the Redskins win three straight games against NFC East rivals, so enjoy the ride while it lasts.

(photo by Brian Murphy)

If you’re on this website, then you’re probably familiar with my body of work.

But if you’re new around these parts, here’s the rundown — I cover sports.

I write about sports. I shoot photos at sporting events. Most of my days are spent thinking about … you guessed it … sports.

That being said, while I was in Dallas for the Thanksgiving day game featuring the Cowboys and the Washington Redskins, there was plenty of action going on away from the field.

For example, rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III’s college coach, Art Briles, in attendance. One of the chicks from Wilson Phillips sang the national anthem. A dude from Duck Dynasty was hanging around the Redskins sidelines. Everyone from rapper Wale to former president George W. Bush was in attendance.

Oh, and the biggest name in country music today — Kenny Chesney — preformed during an extended halftime celebration.

It;s safe to say this game definitely felt a little bigger on the national stage, which makes Washington’s win all the more impressive.

So please feel free to peruse my favorite photos I was able to capture from the sidelines this week. After all, the Redskins had never defeated Dallas on Thanksgiving before. So let’s savor this one a little while longer before moving onto the next game.

(photos by Brian Murphy)

As the first half of the 2012 season came to an end, the Washington Redskins were sadly predictable.

The offense forgot how to score points, the defense continued to underwhelm and, as always, the Redskins struggled to win games at home.

And then the bye week happened.

Now all of the sudden, the offense once again scored points at will, the defense finally put together an effort they won’t be embarrassed of and the burgundy and gold essentially ensured the Philadelphia Eagles will need a new head coach sometime in the very near future. Oh, and the Redskins finished off the Eagles with the most resounding victory of the Mike Shanahan era.

Basically, life is good once again for fans of the Washington Redskins.

With that in mind, please feel free to peruse my favorite photos I was able to capture from the sidelines this week. Because wins at FedEx Field have been so hard to come by the last few seasons, it might be a while before ‘Skins fans have another game like this to enjoy.

(photos by Brian Murphy)

Once upon a time, the Washington Redskins were actually good at football. So much so, in fact, that they actually won stuff — like Super Bowls.

I fully realize that if you’re under the age of 20, you have no earthly reason to believe me, but I promise it’s true. The Redskins used to be one of the elite NFL franchises.

Of course, those days are long gone. These days, cheering for the burgundy and gold gets you nothing more than heartache and disappointment.

Even with the addition of franchise quarterback Robert Griffin III, the most electrifying player in the league today, the Redskins are still a train wreck. Which is why so many local sports fans are more than happy to live in the past. I mean, who wouldn’t rather relive the glory days rather than watching players like Brandon Banks and Niles Paul let you down?

In related news, the Redskins held their second-annual homecoming game Sunday — honoring players from yesterday during pre-game and halftime festivities. More than 150 former Redskins players attended the game, as LaVar Arrington, Bobby Beathard, Joe Bugel, Terry Hermeling, Jon Jansen, Roy Jefferson, Richie Petitbon, Clinton Portis, Chris Samuels and Sean Taylor were added to the 70 Greatest Redskins of all time.

Even if you don’t want to see game photos of yet another Washington loss, please take a moment to check out my favorite photos I was able to capture from the sidelines this week. If nothing else, you can just focus on photos of players from the good old days.

(photos by Brian Murphy)

The Washington Redskins picked a fine time to suffer a team-wide collapse — failing to play competent football in any of the three phases of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday.

No one on the offense appeared capable of catching the football. No one on defense seemed interested in slowing down a running back allegedly named Jonathan Dwyer. And the special teams unit — which has been laughable all season long — managed to screw up an extra point.

So once again, it seemed like Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III was on his own out there. As best I can tell, no one else in a burgundy and gold uniform bothered to make the trip to Pittsburgh.

That, of course, would have been good information to know beforehand. Then, maybe I could have taken the day off as well as stayed much, much dryer.

But since that wasn’t the case and I braved the elements just for you guys, please take a moment to check out my favorite photos I was able to capture from the sidelines this week. If nothing else, you can see pictures of Griffin doing great things and be happy he’s on the roster.

Seriously, this game was miserable as it was — I don’t even want to consider how much uglier it would have been without RGIII involved.

(photos by Brian Murphy)

How is it that an image can say so much with so little action taking place in it? Unfortunately for Washington Redskins tight end fred Davis, this shot that was captured Sunday speaks volumes, as the 26-year-old  can only look on in disappointment after suffering a torn Achilles injury that will abruptly end his season.

After missing the last four game of the 2011 season because of a suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, Davis felt he had something to prove in his fifth season in Washington. While he was off to a solid start, the USC standout failed to finish a game with 100 yards and had yet to find the end zone this season.

And just like that he’s done for the year.

Redskins fans have definitely got to feel bad for Davis, who has been a dependable target for whoever has lined up at quarterback during his time in Washington. Now the team has one less weapon on offense and Davis has a long rehab ahead of him.

What a bummer.

If you would be so kind, please take a moment to check out my favorite photos I was able to capture from the sidelines this past weekend. If nothing else, I can assure you that not all of them are as much of a downer as this image. Don’t do it for me. Do it for Davis.

(photos by Brian Murphy)

It took 392 days, but the Washington Redskins finally rewarded the FedEx Field faithful with a much-needed victory.

After losing eight-straight games at home — which was by far the longest home losing streak in the NFL — the Redskins got their act together with a convincing 38-26 victory over a Minnesota Vikings squad that came into the game with an impressive 4-1 record.

That’s not the only bad streak that Washington managed to snap Sunday. They also managed to finally win a game in which their defense scored a touchdown, after having gone 0-3 in such games earlier this season. And best of all, the defense actually pressured the quarterback consistently, caused turnovers and didn’t give up big plays.

So yeah, it was definitely a memorable afternoon for the burgundy and gold. So please take a moment to check out my favorite photos I was able to capture from the sidelines as the Redskins finally found a way to win at home. Who knows when it might happen again?