Scream therapy worked for DeAngelo Hall.
The Washington Redskins cornerback tied a franchise and NFL record with four interceptions in a victory over the Chicago Bears 17-14 on Sunday. Coach Mike Shanahan didn’t need to give Hall a game ball because Hall already stole four from Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler. The officials nearly asked Hall for one back to continue play.
Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett and Hall supposedly were yelling at each other last week at Redskins Park. If so, let the shouting matches continue because Hall rose to his greatest game in what has amounted to a so-so season. Those four-letter words turned into four interceptions — including one pick-six that proved to be the decisive score.
Hall claimed this was his defense last month. He finally proved so by becoming the 19th NFL player in history with four interceptions. That’s not a great day — it’s a trophy case.
“I’ve been sitting around waiting, waiting, waiting to make plays,” he told Comcast SportsNet.
It was one ugly game — eight fumbles, six interceptions and nine overall turnovers committed by the two teams. That’s some greased pigskin.
The Redskins are 4-3 largely because opponents are making more mistakes. This time Washington survived despite Donovan McNabb’s two interceptions and Ryan Torain’s fumble.
The game was largely a mirror. Each team did the same things wrong. Bad offensive lines. Poor receiving. Even worse quarterbacking. Turnovers galore.
Washington has matched last year’s win total and remains an NFC East contender. Still, the Redskins can’t keep relying on the defense, which held an opponent to 14 points or less for the fourth time this season. Albert Haynesworth went horizontal at the goal line, causing a Chicago fumble. Haynesworth even sacked quarterback Jay Cutler, using a Chicago lineman as leverage. Haynesworth was a factor for the first time this season.
“DeAngelo made some big time plays when had to,” Shanahan said. “Albert made some big-time plays as well.”
Wait, did Shanahan say something nice about Haynesworth just days after not trading the beleaguered defensive lineman? Check for flaming meteors, locusts or other signs of the apocalypse.
Haynesworth spoke from the podium after the game for the first time since he joined Washington last year. The Redskins spent recent months trying to silence the lineman, and now he’s a headliner — amazing. It’s funny how winning erases hard feelings.
Haynesworth has traded professional stress for personal crisis. He admitted he was crying before playing for the first time in three weeks since his half brother’s sudden death. Haynesworth also said the Redskins are letting him just concentrate on passing situations — he excelled in that role in Tennessee.
“I have a lot less to think about,” Haynesworth said. “Just go play the game.”
Good advice. Kind of like “Just win, baby.”
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
