Rick Snider: It’s all about second-half chances

Forget the benching, the rumors and the nonsense during the bye week. The real season begins Monday night.

The Washington Redskins begin the second half of their season against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedEx Field. A series of weekly must-win games starts immediately because the Redskins (4-4) need to beat the Eagles (5-3) to stay in the NFC East race.

The second-half schedule was supposed to be easier after the Redskins played only two teams with losing records in the first eight weeks — including a gauntlet of Philadelphia, Green Bay, Indianapolis and Chicago. Instead, the remaining schedule includes just one losing team. The Eagles are definitely improved entering the rematch. Tennessee could be the AFC’s best team. There are two games against the NFC East-leading New York Giants.

The good news is Washington still controls its playoff chances. Wins over the Giants and Eagles likely would mean the Redskins would win the NFC East. But it’s hard to believe that will happen.

Old teams fade in December, and Washington definitely is an old team. The bye could provide a boost for a couple games, but that’s it. Washington needs to enter the final month at least 6-6 or suddenly it’s about next year. If that happens, who knows how much the drama escalates.

The key is quarterback Donovan McNabb, who shined more in handling the bizarre benching against Detroit than with his actual play. McNabb’s 76.0 passer rating shows his mediocrity, though that’s partly a result of an awful offensive line, the lack of a second receiver and the loss of running back Clinton Portis.

McNabb seems to be hampered by sore hamstrings more than he has acknowledged, but he needs to start putting more zip into his throws or teams will continue to smother an offense that’s 0-4 when it needs to score more than 17 points.

But McNabb isn’t alone in needing to step up for the next eight games. First up is coach Mike Shanahan, whose handling of McNabb’s benching was a mess. No one disputes Shanahan’s authority, but his varied and bizarre reasoning exposed him badly. There’s some fence mending necessary at Redskins Park.

Shanahan was linked to the Dallas Cowboys’ opening because of this chaos. No way that happens, but such rumors undermine the staff. That’s why Shanahan needs to reclaim the respect that has eroded.

Albert Haynesworth needs a strong finish to find another home in 2011. If he wants out, the defensive lineman needs to prove to other teams that he’s either no longer a diva or that he’s baggage worth bringing aboard.

Portis also is playing for a new home in 2011. The Redskins likely won’t keep the 29-year-old back. Portis has more mileage on him than a 1968 Pontiac GTO. Whenever he returns from his torn groin, Portis must quickly prove he’s more than just another old back — ala Larry Johnson and Willie Parker. Notice, they’re gone too.

The Redskins get a second chance to finish first. The question is, can they do it?

Examiner columnist Rick Snider has ?covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].

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