‘It’s really about playoff hopes’

Redskins center Casey Rabach has played for both Washington and Baltimore and thinks the fans in Charm City harbor more resentment toward D.C. than vice versa. (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

ASHBURN —
More neighbors than rivals, Redskins, Ravens have postseason dreams

It’s received its own moniker — the Battle of the Beltways — suggesting something that doesn’t exist. A rivalry. At least not in the minds of the Redskins. When players, or coaches, arrive in Washington, they are told one thing: Beat Dallas.

Nobody mentions Baltimore.

“It’s just another ball game,” Redskins running back Rock Cartwright said. “Some people look at it as the Battle of the Beltway. I don’t look at it like that.

“I see more Pittsburgh fans here than I do Ravens fans, which is odd. I don’t hear Ravens [vs.] Redskins talk too much. I’m sure in Baltimore you do, but not around here.”

This is only the third time the two teams have played since football returned to Baltimore in 1996. It’s the first time the Redskins have played in Baltimore for a regular-season game since 1978.

“It’s hard to say it’s a rivalry,” said center Casey Rabach, who began his career with the Ravens. “I think Baltimore fans dislike the Redskins franchise more than vice versa. When Baltimore lost the Colts, they definitely weren’t going to root for Washington. They were fans without a team to root for for quite a while until the inception of the Ravens. I don’t know if it goes both ways.”

He’s not alone.

“I haven’t seen that so I guess I need to be gotten up to speed,” Redskins coach Jim Zorn said. “I don’t know if I can rile it up inside me yet. I just look at their team and that’s enough for me to get all riled up, but not from a rivalry or hate standpoint.”

Besides, the Redskins have enough to worry about entering this game, as do the Ravens. Both teams are fighting for a playoff spot. Washington (7-5) is a game behind in the wild card race and might need to win 11 games to secure a bid. Baltimore (8-4) trails Pittsburgh by one game in the AFC North and shares the lead for a wild card spot.

So if this game carries extra juice, it’s because of what can be gained from a win. Not because of any bragging rights.

“It’s really about playoff hopes for both of us,” running back Clinton Portis said. “We need to win. Just changing the morale will get us back on track and get our hopes alive.”

Highlights from the Baltimore-Washington matchups through the years

THE LOST DECADE » Baltimore and Washington played nine times in the 1960s. The Redskins lost every time — and only one game was decided by less than 13 points. The Redskins lost one game, 20-0 in 1960, in which they started a guy named Eagle Day at quarterback. Both cities gave running back Joe Don Looney a chance to fulfill his vast potential. But he did not. In 1964 with Baltimore, Looney was fined $150 for ripping a door off his hinges — he got into a political argument with a stranger. Two years later, he arrived in Washington where he roomed with a reluctant Sam Huff. Eventually, the two got into a fistfight during summer practice in 1967; Looney was then cut. He also once punched an opponent while in pass protection. And in another game he lost a fumble against the Colts.

MANY HAPPY RETURNS » The Redskins did get something good from the Colts: running back Joe Washington. The Redskins traded a second-round pick in 1981 to the Colts in exchange for the multi-purpose back. Smart move. Washington, a Pro Bowler in Baltimore in 1979, was a key player for the Redskins over the next three seasons. He led Washington in yards from scrimmage in 1981 with 1,474 yards; and, two years later, he gained 1,226 yards from scrimmage, finishing second behind John Riggins. Washington was traded to Atlanta after the 1984 season.

MEANINGLESS GAMES » One reason there’s not much of a rivalry is the lack of important games played between Baltimore and Washington. In fact, Sunday marks just the seventh time that both franchises have winning records entering the game. And there have only been two seasons in which Baltimore and Washington have both made the playoffs: 1971 and 1976. Naturally, they did not play one another in those seasons.

Washington vs. Baltimore

1950 » Washington, 38-28
1950 » Washington, 38-14
1953 » Baltimore, 27-17
1954 » Washington, 24-21
1955 » Washington, 14-13
1956 » Baltimore, 19-17
1957 » Baltimore, 21-17
1958 » Baltimore, 35-10
1959 » Washington, 27-24
1960 » Baltimore, 20-0
1961 » Baltimore, 27-6
1962 » Baltimore, 34-21
1963 » Baltimore, 36-20
1964 » Baltimore, 45-17
1965 » Baltimore, 38-7
1966 » Baltimore, 37-10
1967 » Baltimore, 17-13
1969 » Baltimore, 41-17
1973 » Washington, 22-14
1977 » Baltimore, 10-3
1978 » Baltimore, 21-17
1981 » Washington, 38-14
1997 » Baltimore, 20-17
2000 » Washington, 10-3
2004 » Baltimore, 17-10

All-time record »
Baltimore 17, Washington 8

» 12 games decided by 7 points or less.