And so the Super Bowl watch resumes.
The Washington Redskins defense vaporized Detroit’s vaunted passing game. An old-fashioned smack down. That Cadillac offense coming out of Motown was left on its blocks, stripped of everything including its dignity. The GPS system showed the Lions went nowhere.
Tom-Tom, you sent the Lions into a black hole.
The Redskins 34-3 victory over the Lions before 88,944 Sunday at FedEx Field revived Washington’s postseason hopes against a fellow NFC playoff hopeful. After two weeks of second-guessing over a blown loss against the New York Giants, all is right in Washington once more.
“On paper, it seemed like a challenge,” said cornerback Carlos Rogers, who capped the game with a 61-yard touchdown interceptions, “but it’s about what we do.”
It was that voodoo that you do so well. If the Redskins are truly headed for January, the defense is the reason. The offense played well, but defense and special teams largely accounted for 20 points. It was safety Sean Taylor delivering a knockout blow to spring James Thrash’s 62-yard punt return that essentially sealed the game. Then again, Taylor soon followed with an interception later worth a field goal. Rogers then gave fans not leaving early a parting gift with 45 seconds remaining.
The Lions’ top-rated passing game managed only 106 yards. Outside of running well for a couple series, Detroit looked the old Lions we’ve seen for years — lousy. The Lions converted 1 of 10 third downs. They averaged2.7 yards per snap to the Redskins 5.7 yards. Oddly, the Lions averaged more yards per touch running (3.4) than passing (2.2).
It was all about “jamming,” which means the Redskins secondary manhandled Lions receivers near the line. Kept them from getting loose quickly by hitting them hard enough to disrupt the timing. Timing is everything in a West Coast offense and the Lions were always a step behind because the Redskins secondary got in the first lick.
“That worked well,” Rogers said. “Taking their spots where they like to throw the ball.”
Washington’s defensive genius Gregg Williams outsmarted Detroit’s mensa man Mike Martz. Lucy gave Charlie Brown more of a chance at the ball. Bobby Fischer would have tipped his queen in surrender.
“They just did a nice job with their timing, the pressure, all of it works together” Detroit coach Rod Marinelli said. “We couldn’t get in sync.”
Oh, what a difference a blowout victory makes. Instead of 2-2 with consecutive losses, Washington (3-1) heads to Green Bay on Sunday with enough confidence to take on Packers quarterback Brett Favre. New England’s Tom Brady looms two weeks later. Those games will truly show whether Washington is a contender more than a sputtering Detroit that one week roars like a lion and the next stalls more than Congressman Larry Craig.
“We can still get better,” defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin said.
Sounds like playoff talk.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
