Since last winning a Super Bowl in the 1991 season, the Redskins have had some misleadingly fast starts. Is 2011 destined to follow suit after Washington’s loss to Philadelphia? 5. 1997 » A 21-16 “Monday Night Football” win over Dallas put Gus Frerotte and the Redskins at 4-2. Low point: A 23-20 loss at FedEx Field in Week 15 to the 2-10 Cardinals cost the Redskins a playoff berth on their way to an 8-7-1 finish.
4. 2003 » A 20-17 win over the eventual Super Bowl champion Patriots put the Redskins at 3-1 under coach Steve Spurrier. But that was followed by a 2-10 finish. Low point: A 27-0 loss at home to Dallas in which quarterback Tim Hasselbeck had a 0.0 passer rating.
3. 2008 » After a 6-2 start, Jim Zorn’s Redskins finished 8-8. Low point: When Redskins fervor should have been at its peak, Steelers fans took over FedEx on “Monday Night Football” and cheered Pittsburgh to a numbing 23-6 victory.
2. 1996 » The Redskins started 7-1 behind Frerotte and running back Terry Allen but won just one of their next eight games. Low point: A 37-34 overtime loss at home to Boomer Esiason and the Cardinals after the Redskins led 34-20 late in the fourth quarter.
1. 2000 » With a defense bolstered by free agents Deion Sanders, Mark Carrier and Bruce Smith, the Redskins started 6-2 but lost six of their last eight. Low point: A humiliating 32-13 loss at the 4-9 Cowboys in Terry Robiskie’s coaching debut.
– Kevin Dunleavy
