Another Week Another Win

It's a common enough cliche when it comes to the Redskins, but yesterday's game against the Cleveland Browns was easily a 'must win' situation. Two weeks ago on the heels of the defeat of Philadelphia on the road, most oddsmakers and fans were already making assumptions that by this time next week, the Redskins would be standing proudly with a 7-1 record. Unfortunately the Rams put a bit of a kaibosh on that goal and though they didn't win that game, the Redskins came into this week with the goal of re-energizing the franchise back to the winning form they had shown since week 1 and I think they accomplished that goal.

Now the St. Louis Rams did go on to beat the Cowboys yesterday which is a good thing for us as it means we are now firmly in place for second in the division behind the New York Giants. With Detroit coming up next week, it is possible that the team could very well be 6-2 next week but rather than making it an inevitability, I think the team should treat it as a possibility until it becomes reality. If we were to flash back to a week ago, I doubt anyone would have thought twice as to whether the Browns would have any chance against the Super Bowl Champion Giants but they not only beat them but beat them soundly so I think that was the wake-up call plus cold shower that the team needed to wake themselves from the complacency stupor they found themselves in. The Browns proved that the pre-season hype that surrounded them was justifiied in beating the Giants, it gave the Redskins something to prove themselves against.

And frankly I think the defeat against the Rams last week was needed since it may have made the team realize that there truly isn't anything like a 'gimmie' game this season. It's odd the number of times teams that are termed 'losers' come back and trounce on supposed champions. Look at the Cowboys. Sure they have a veritable all-star roster with injured players but still, they aren't playing in the form that people assumed they would be at the start of the season. So what's so different with the Redskins this year than opposed to seasons past? I think healthiness is defintely an issue. In years past we've had a great squad but unfortunately injuries ended up depleting the core of players to the point that at times it seemed the team was ready to pull players from the stands to fill in. This year though injuries have taken out some key players, the team overall is still in relatively great shape.

But what else? That can't be the only reason and it certainly isn't. I think one key factor has been Coach Zorn. I will admit that I had my doubts about an untested head coach who was bringing a style of play to Washington (the vaunted West-Coast offence) which had been introduced here in the past withough much success. But the key difference from the first time it was used to today is the fact that Coach Zorn has not yielded to the assumption that the Coach will only do what he wants to do despite obvious advantages. What's that mean? Well the West-Coast offense emphasizes short passes for gains that lead the team down the field. The running game isn't necessarily the focal point but when you have a league leading running back like Clinton Portis leading the charge, how can you not use him? I think Coach Zorn has been smart in using both Portis and the passing game to keep the offense on the move.

And let's not forget the defense. The secondary was laying some major hits and coverage on the Browns passing game yesterday. Some of those hits were so hard that my teeth were rattling just watching them. Now I'll be the first to say that I'd rather have victories that are by such large margins that the team can literally allow the opponent several uncontested touchdowns but still, there's nothing more exciting than watching a close game. If it hadn't been for the dropped ball by Clinton Portis late in the fourth quarter I don't think the defense would have allowed Cleveland a single touchdown. The goal line defense of the Redskins stood firm and held the Browns to a field goal the first time they tried desperately to punch it in. Had it not been for that opportunity and the out-of-form miss from Shaun Suisham at the end of the first half on the attempted field goal by the Redskins, that margin would have been bigger but still, I think their victory yesterday certainly proves one thing. That the team is winning on their skills and ability and not on flukes.