Second efforts have given the Redskins a second chance for the second season.
Receiver Santana Moss spun around a defender for an extra 17 yards to set up Washington’s first touchdown. He twirled near the goal line for his own score later. The Redskins deep threat was dancing and defenders were flat-footed.
The Redskins avoided an upset in a brutal series of knockdowns, outlasting Cleveland 14-11 yesterday at FedEx Field. Clinton Portis’ 175 yards rushing grabbed the headlines, but Moss was the true catalyst, the second threat his sidekick desperately needs despite leading the NFL in rushing.
The “U” pushed the Redskins to 5-2. More importantly, Washington avoided a second straight loss to a losing team that would have turned its 4-1 start to 4-3. The Redskins showed for the second time this season that they can rebound.
It had been 17 years since the Browns came to Washington. It seems more like a game from a generation ago when Jim Brown and Sam Huff once crashed into each other like boulders. The fifth-largest crowd in FedEx history — 90,487 — roared like the Roman Coliseum.
Scoreless for more than a half, the counter punching continued with the Browns following the Redskins’ scores with one of their own before two standout plays by linebacker London Fletcher led a goal-line stand. Washington even forced two four-down series at the one-yard line before relenting, the second taking three precious minutes to diminish a final rally.
Finally, everyone took a second breath when a tying 54-yard Cleveland field goal attempt in the waning seconds barely drifted right one week after St. Louis beat Washington on the final play with a three-pointer.
The difference between 5-2 and 4-3 is probably the difference between extending the season into January. Two straight losses to teams entering 2-9 combined might have shattered the Redskins confidence. Blowing a game to St. Louis can be dismissed as a one-time mental error, but losing two straight at home after not falling for a month would have created a torrent of second-guessing.
A loss would have left everyone wondering if defensive coordinators were catching up to Jim Zorn’s offense. The Redskins have only scored 31 points in their last two games.
But the Redskins have learned they have three threats — Portis, Moss and the defense. When all three click like yesterday, the Redskins won’t lose many games even if quarterback Jason Campbell’s throws lacked some zip after straining his groin early.
“We feel very fortunate,” Zorn said. “[Cleveland] was so good on defense, if you didn’t connect on everything, you didn’t get a second chance. It was a mind game.”
The mind games are silenced for now. Washington heads to Detroit (0-6) with renewed confidence instead of worrying about another trap game. It just took a second effort.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
