The Redskins just can’t enjoy an easy win. They could play the worst team in the league and barely get by.
Oh, that was yesterday. At least Washington beat winless Detroit 25-17 just two games after losing to winless St. Louis.
It was ugly. And it was almost costly. Moments after Santana Moss tweaked his hamstring, Clinton Portis was rolling in pain. For a moment, the season looked lost despite reaching 6-2.
But, Portis soon returned. Moss seems fine and the Redskins overcame toying with another bad team.
Still, the Redskins keep showing they’re just a good team. Not a great team, but at least one that wins close games versus the past decade of Redskins squads that often found ways to lose winnable games. This is not the 1991 Redskins. They’re survivors who have reached midseason with twice as many victories as many expected.
Washington seems to play to the opponent’s level. Their best games came at Dallas and Philadelphia, the worst over the last three weeks when they beat two losing teams and were upset by a third. Maybe they’ve let down. Perhaps they just need a break coming after meeting Pittsburgh on Monday. The string of injuries and extra long preseason seems to have the Redskins on fumes, though.
It’s a good thing the playmakers are producing. Jason Campbell completed 23 of 28 passes for 328 yards and one touchdown. Portis joined O.J. Simpson as the only running backs to gain at least 120 yards in five straight games twice in his career with 126 versus the Lions. Moss caught nine passes and scored on an 80-yard punt return. Chris Cooley caught six passes. The defense shut down Detroit with London Fletcher sealing the win with an open-field tackle.
But defensive coordinator Greg Blache said he would get on some players for their play. Maybe Zorn should join him just like when he yapped at Portis on the sideline early in the game and jawed with a reporter afterward. The Redskins know they were fortunate because playing like that against Pittsburgh means entering the bye week with a loss.
The NFC East is too tough to blow a game. Washington has already done it and catching the New York Giants won’t be easy. Dallas and Philadelphia are playoff contenders, too. The Redskins look soft lately. They’re losing turnovers and not forcing any.
But this is nitpicking. The Redskins seem headed for 10 to 12 wins. They’re one of those teams that does enough to win. If Washington needs 30 points to beat Pittsburgh, the Redskins might get it. If it’s 17, that’s fine, too.
But, Washington really must get healthy. The Redskins can’t endure missing Chris Samuels, Shawn Springs, Chris Horton and Cornelius Griffin forever along with Jason Taylor, Fred Smoot and Portis playing hurt.
Still, nothing heals like a victory.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
