The Washington Redskins won a round of survivor. The Redskins lost seven players to injury. Several others were hobbled, and two of their top defensive players didn’t even make the trip. Still, Washington outlasted the Tennessee Titans 19-16 in overtime Sunday. Forget a game of “Madden.” This one was like “Call of Duty.”
What a character win to remain alive for the playoffs at 5-5. No way the Redskins should have won on the road in a short week vs. a team with one of the NFL’s top running backs. But Washington knocked out Tennessee quarterback Vince Young and held on to beat a rookie backup.
The Titans should be embarrassed because the Redskins outmanned them in overtime. Tennessee was called for three penalties — two for cheap shots — and lost its cool on the final drive. Washington should have been the team scrambling. Instead, the Redskins rallied for their second overtime victory.
This is what’s so great about the NFL — a team humiliated six days earlier can rebound with an impressive win. The league is more often about chemistry than who’s physically better, and the Redskins thrived along the offensive line despite four lineup changes. They actually improved, which makes no sense. How can tackle Stephon Heyer look better in his first time at guard? It defies logic.
How did Philadelphia score eight touchdowns against Washington, while Tennessee — with Chris Johnson and Randy Moss — managed only one? The Redskins didn’t have their best defensive player — safety LaRon Landry — or cornerback Carlos Rogers. Five others were dinged up entering the game.
Conversely, how did the offense rush for 107 yards behind a makeshift line and with Clinton Portis lasting only five carries? McNabb even received time on several occasions to find a downfield receiver.
The Redskins also survived a special teams meltdown. The one unit that has been consistently good was simply awful in allowing a punt return for a touchdown and missing two field goals.
What the Redskins discovered is in a crisis they stood together. Maybe that’s because they’re hardened to it. There’s always drama around Redskins Park, and the past week overflowed with it. A road game was actually preferable to staying in Washington after being blasted 59-28 by Philadelphia.
The Redskins withstood an Albert Haynesworth preseason drama that lasted two months. The McNabb benching is in the past. Seems he learned the two-minute offense during the bye week because McNabb ran it twice against Tennessee. No way coach Mike Shanahan was entering that third circle of Hades again.
With all those players out, the Redskins found a way to win and remain in the postseason hunt with six games left. They did it together. Maybe the Redskins won’t make the playoffs, but they certainly proved the loss to the Eagles was an aberration.
Who knows what next week brings.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has ?covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and ?Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
