The Redskins may have found their edge — steadiness.
Washington’s 24-17 victory over Arizona Sunday at FedEx Field wasn’t flashy. The stats were largely forgettable. The longest play was negated by a penalty. Their power ranking probably won’t rise as the fourth best team in the NFC East.
Yet, the Redskins head to Dallas this week with a blue-collar swagger. The Cowboys have T.O.; the Redskins get turnovers. Dallas thrives on publicity and controversy; Washington is as unassuming as its head coach.
Being an Average Joe isn’t always a bad thing in the NFL. The Redskins are doing what’s needed. They won both home games in an opening five-game stretch that was considered crucial to avoiding a bad start. Washington has zero turnovers this season. There are times you want to nod off or change the channel, but the Redskins usually have something left at the end worth watching.
This isn’t the 1985 Bears or the 1991 Redskins. You didn’t stock your fantasy team with Washington players. But, the chemistry is working. The deciding two turnovers — worth 10 points yesterday — were grabbed by a second defender after a teammate knocked it loose.
It’s a carryover of last season’s late run following Sean Taylor’s death. Maybe one-fourth of the roster flipped and coach Jim Zorn came aboard, but there’s a feeling of normalcy and comfort inside the locker room.
When Zorn flubbed a play call, quarterback Jason Campbell waved to the sideline that he understood anyway. After not finding his first target on an option, receiver Antwaan Randle El hit tight end Chris Cooley for an 11-yarder that later led to a touchdown. And despite twice deciding a red zone pass to tight end Todd Yoder wouldn’t work during midweek practices, Zorn used it anyway for a score.
Again, not the stuff of legends. Yet, winning at home is always memorable. Predecessor Norv Turner never did it consistently. Joe Gibbs was only 17-15 in his second stint. Maybe fans won’t remember too many plays from the Cards victory, but the 2-0 homestand gives Washington a chance to make December noteworthy.
“The only way we can beat the teams we want to beat and get to the playoffs is to play the way we played [against Arizona],” receiver Santana Moss said. “Wins are so great. Everybody has that taste in their mouth and you want to taste another taste.”
Zorn doesn’t try to make the offense more than it is. When the Cards stacked eight-man fronts to stop the run, Zorn opted for more passes rather than forcing the run. The Redskins finished with 31 runs and 31 passes.
After a bad loss at the New York Giants, Washington now knows it can compete with expected NFC frontrunner Dallas. It’s a simple gameplan — no bad plays, no turnovers — just sure and steady gets it done.
“We go in there expecting to win,” running back Clinton Portis said.
That’s a big improvement from just two weeks ago.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
