The Redskins dressed for success. Scrapping the all-white look for the traditional burgundy pants associated with the Super Bowl teams of the past, Washington returned to its old smashmouth style. The Redskins looked like the old Joe Gibbs teams that no one messed with very often.
“Two or three guys said, ‘Coach, we’re ready for a change,” Gibbs said of the uniforms. “I thought that was a good idea.”
Washington outlasted Carolina, 17-13, on Sunday. It wasn’t a fashion show. It wasn’t even pretty. The offense looked supermodel thin at times. But the 4-7 Redskins played perhaps their most complete game of the season with a young quarterback taking his first victory via a fourth-quarter comeback.
Maybe it’s too late for the Redskins to make a playoff run. However, it’s not too late to find their mojo.
Gibbs admitted, “Sometimes you wander off, lose your way,” but a midweek team meeting seemed to refocus the squad. No more playing like it doesn’t matter, Gibbs said. Play physically — win the game on both sides of the line.
Defensive tackle Joe Salave’a danced during a timeout, his teammates soon joining him. They were having fun, but also playing down and dirty just like during Gibbs I. The game seemed to matter to the 11 on the field as much as the 85,450 in the stands just like the glory days.
“It felt like today, it was our style of football,” Gibbs said. “It was good to get back to that.”
It was good to see Gibbs talking about what happened on the field instead of his fantasy team. The Redskins made enough plays. Jason Campbell followed his first interception with the winning touchdown pass. Ladell Betts rushed for 104 yards. Special teams blocked a punt. The defense was rarely befuddled.
It was a strong game in all three phases that was once the benchmark of Gibbs I rather than the lackluster three seasons of Gibbs II.
The Redskins can never return to RFK Stadium despite the recent headline-grabbing scenario by District politicians. But, the Redskins finally showed in their 10th season at FedEx Field they can play old school.
When the Panthers were trash talking in the opening minutes, fullback Mike Sellers buried Carolina cornerback Chris Gamble. When the Panthers defensive line ticked off the Redskins, two Washington linemen chop blocked a defender. Carolina’s cheap shots stopped after that.
The Redskins pushed back. They counter punched. They got in the last shot.
The players finally reflected the toughness of the old Gibbs teams. Now the question is: Can the Redskins do it every time or are they just one-week wonders?
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].