The Washington Redskins traded for Donovan McNabb to lead comebacks.
It didn’t take long. With his 24th career late victory, second in overtime, McNabb led the Redskins over the Green Bay Packers, 16-13, on Sunday.
No way predecessor Jason Campbell would have won this game. Ever. That’s why the Redskins traded their Campbell, one of their 2005 first-rounders, when he should have entered his prime. Instead, Washington opted for an aging passer with five NFC Championship games on his resume.
McNabb lead teammates, especially in a game like Sunday when the running game gained just 51 yards and the entire offensive line seemed to rotate. There were plenty of blown passes and the first half was a little sketchy. But, it was the Redskins who scored 10 unanswered fourth-quarter points and the winning overtime field goal to reach a 3-2 record.
“As this team grows together, this thing will develop into something big, I believe,” McNabb said.
Receiver Santana Moss is a already McNabb believer. Indeed, Moss knew right away when the team traded for the passer on Easter. McNabb arrived at Redskins Park almost like a rock star for that first day of offseason workouts.
“Just knowing that we’ve got this guy … from Day 1 he came over and just changed my whole mentality of who I can be now again,” Moss said. “Who I can go out there and be. … He just finds a way.”
McNabb found a way to win on an afternoon when left tackle Trent Williams was hobbled in overtime. When center Casey Rabach left briefly after being overwhelmed by the pass rush. When the right tackle rotated. The line changed so much even McNabb was unsure who protected him from the Packers’ pass rush led by Clay Matthews.
“You don’t really recognize who’s in until a couple plays go by,” McNabb said.
Leaders constantly shift success onto others and blame onto themselves. McNabb does both, which is why teammates play harder for him on days they should be overrun. Past years would have seen the Redskins fold when trailing 13-3 entering the final quarter.
That the running game averaged 2.4 yards didn’t matter. Nor that the line’s protection allowed five sacks even with McNabb escaping a few more despite Matthews missing much of the second half with an injury.
Coach Mike Shanahan knew he was trading for a gamer much like one he had in Denver where John Elway was king of the comebacks with 47. There’s something about a passer who always thinks the game can be won that makes the difference.
“Well, part of the quarterback play is to look at yourself very critically and I think Donovan will,” Shanahan said. “At the same time, he also understands that you’re got to find a way to win and he made those plays when he needed to make them.”
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
