The Redskins ripped through the last portion of their season, winning five straight, securing a playoff spot — and then winning a road playoff game. They were on their way.
Meanwhile, New Orleans lost its last five games in 2005, hired a new coach, signed a banged-up quarterback. They were going nowhere.
Look at these teams now. Any momentum generated by Washington’s hot finish evaporated in August during a poor training camp. And any bad vibes produced by the Saints’ stumbling finish (aided by being a displaced team), left just as quickly.
So, does generating momentum with a strong finish really matter?
The players and coaches say it does. Reality offers a dissenting view.
“You’ve got your young guys making a statement, ‘I can do this,’” Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said. “You’ve got some veteran guys who are saying, ‘I can still do this.’”
Plus, Gibbs said, he wanted to see how his team matches up against some of the NFC’s better teams, such as Atlanta, Philadelphia and New Orleans. They also still face the Giants, another possible playoff team, in the finale.
“Those are the guys you have to beat if you want to do something,” he said.
Receiver Antwaan Randle El said he does believe momentum can be created. And it can be sustained in the offseason simply by flipping on the film.
“If you can turn on that film and say, ‘This is the way we ended … ,’” he said. “Last week, we had [415] yards of offense. If we can take that and, in these next three games, eliminate turnovers and penalties then we have momentum because we can say that’s our starting point.”
But a team’s finish isn’t a foreshadowing. Miami won its last six in 2005, yet started off 1-6. Kansas City finished 5-2, but, after a coaching change, opened 2-3. Atlanta lost six of its last eight games in 2005 only to win five of its first seven this season. Injuries or other factors can play a role in a team’s turnaround, one way or the other.
And, of course, there was the Redskins.
“We did have a nice run, but our offense did not play its best in the playoffs and that could have had something to do with [the slow start],” Redskins center Casey Rabach said. “But if we prove to ourselves that we can beat the hottest team in the league this week, what will that do for us next year? It really doesn’t buy you anything other than confidence.”
Week 15 Notes
» Redskins tackle Jon Jansen is in danger of not playing against New Orleans on Sunday because of his injured left calf. Jansen is not expected to practice this week and will be a game time decision, offensive line coach Joe Bugel said. He is listed as questionable.
Jansen also broke his right thumb against the Eagles, but said the calf bothers him more. Jansen has played with the bad calf since early November.
Todd Wade would replace Jansen. The only games Jansen has not started as a Redskin came in 2004 when he missed the entire season because of an Achilles tear. Other than that, he has started all of the 109 games in which he’s been on the active roster.
Meanwhile, center Casey Rabach (broken left hand) is questionable, but said he will try and play.
“Quite a few guys have told me [to shut it down],” Rabach said. “But it’s against my nature to give up on the season no matter where we are.”
» The players voted for their Pro Bowl picks this week. Among the Redskins, left tackle Chris Samuels could be the only participant. The only year Washington failed to have a Pro Bowl representative was in 1993.
“I’m not concerned with that at this point,” Samuels said. “Everyone wants to go, but that’s not my top priority. I want to play better. We want to get a win.”
» The Redskins signed linebacker Anthony Trucks to the practice squad Wednesday. He replaces Robert McCune, who was signed to Miami’s active roster on Tuesday. Trucks was in Tampa Bay’s training camp, but was cut before the season began.
