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Moss, Portis fuel another win Redskins run well, make big plays when it counts Recommended StoriesThe Redskins have been waiting for the right opportunity to have Santana Moss return a punt. Perfect timing. Moss returned a punt 80 yards early in the fourth quarter, scoring what proved to be Washington’s game-winning touchdown in a 25-17 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday. “Once he gets open, he’s tough to catch in the open field,” Redskins coach Jim Zorn said. Moss’ second TD of the game came on his only punt return of the day and just his second of the season. “I was telling somebody earlier in the year, ‘It’s not like I don’t know how to do it anymore or I don’t want to do it anymore,”’ said Moss, whose last TD on a punt return was in 2002 with the New York Jets. “When the time is needed, I’m more than happy to go back there.” The Redskins are relieved to survive what seemed to be an easy three-game stretch — playing St. Louis, Cleveland and Detroit — with two victories that put them at 6-2 for the first time since 2000. “Now this is the push here where the teams begin to define themselves halfway through the season,” Zorn said. “We’re hoping that we can keep this thing going.” Detroit’s hopes of finally winning this season — and for just the second time in 15 games — were dashed despite going ahead for the first time in the opening quarter and leading nearly half the game. Lions coach Rod Marinelli, though, refuses to believe his team is preconditioned to lose. “I don’t deal in couch therapy,” Marinelli said. “I’ll never do that.” As usual, Detroit allowed a quarterback to have a fantastic game. Campbell was 23-of-28 for a season-high 328 yards with a touchdown and a career-high 127.4 passer rating, surpassing his performance last year against the Lions and continuing a trend. In Detroit’s seven losses, six quarterbacks have had a career-high passer rating against them. Moss had a season-high nine receptions for 140 yards, including a 50-yard TD that put Washington ahead late in the third quarter. The Redskins had a lot of success in the air because of what Clinton Portis did on the ground (126 yards).
— AP |
REPORT CARD Most Valuable Player Pro Bowl Performance Overlooked Oops! From the sidelines » Jim Zorn used Moss as a returner at the right time and it paid off with a TD. His playcalling was solid. But the Skins aren’t finishing enough drives and are playing down to the competition. This game shouldn’t have been close. » Rod Marinelli has to realize Calvin Johnson is on the roster. But you wouldn’t know it by Sunday’s effort. The Lions could not get the ball to Johnson and rarely seemed to look his way. The Lions don’t have a lot of talent.
Steelers at Redskins |
The Steelers will be smarting after blowing a game at home vs. the Giants yesterday. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been sacked 23 times in seven games. He threw four interceptions Sunday — one more than he had in the first six games. Running back Willie Parker (knee) might return for this game.
– John Keim
