Who Was That?

It was probably about midway through the game yesterday between the Washington Redskins and the Denver Broncos that I began to wonder if I was really awake or whether I was dreaming. I dipped my finger in my steaming cup of coffee figuring that would be enough to snap me out of any light slumber but to my amazement I was actually watching the Redskins play like the team they always claimed they were (albeit now I watched with a slightly toasted pinkie finger). Here was the team that everyone had been saying that we had. Here was the team that not only looked good on paper but looked pretty decent on the field as well. Here was a team that has won Super Bowls in the past and could do so again in the future if they can just stay consistent.

Nine weeks ago the season was full of promise. The team believed that the early portion of the schedule included a number of "easy" games against teams that had not had a good record and did not have stellar offenses (or defenses) so it was expected that the early part of the season would lead to a decent record and would give the team time to find their rhythm and that by the second half of the season they would have kickstarted their winning ways and hopefully manage to parlay that into a trip to the playoffs and possibly the Super Bowl. Flashfoward nine weeks and the team is standing at the threshold of only their third victory of the season. There's still a very long road ahead of them with tough games ahead including many against dreaded division rivals and much better teams but yesterday's game with Denver was something of a sign of what can happen when things come together.

Now I'm not going to start doing the expected of most typical Washington fans which is to proudly proclaim that the team is ready to devastate Dallas next week or that a trip to the Super Bowl is in the cards. Given the way the season has been thus far I'll be happy if the team can keep up the momentum and finish stronger than they started. One game does not make a season but it can make a tremendous difference. The year the New York Giants won the Super Bowl they started off abysmally and didn't win a single game until they came to Washington. That was the catalyst needed to turn their season around. Perhaps for Washington their defeat of Denver is a sign that not all hope is lost and that there is hope for a brighter season ahead. My only curiousity then would be as to the whereabouts of the team that played yesterday versus what we had been seeing up to this point over the season.

The defense played as well as it usually does and perhaps it was also helped by the fact that Denver's starting quarterback (Kyle Orton) was injured and out after the first half but still, Washington's defense has allowed other quarterbacks look like experts despite never having played before (cough cough... Detroit anyone?). Still, the defense stepped up the pressure and managed turnovers at key points that helped them secure the lead and eventually victory. But this would have been possible if the offense hadn't reciprocated and managed to do what it needed to in order to score points. In weeks past, Shaun Suisham (Washington's kicker) has been an MVP in my book because he's consistently scored for the team and has at least prevented some games from being total blowouts. I think the highlights though were the fact that Washington managed to score touchdowns; especially when it really mattered.

Red Zone offense has been lacking up to this point in the season and perhaps yesterday's game truly was a case of a team (Denver) coming in complacently and getting trounced by a team (Washington) that was looking to turn their season around. It could also be that Denver is in the same spot that Washington was in at this point last year. If you'll recall, Washington started off strongly last year partially because no one knew what Jim Zorn was (or wasn't) capable of. This unknown is what helped them do well because no one was sure what Washington would try next but by about mid-season people had started to sniff out holes in the schemes and capitalized on those openings.

Like I said; one game doesn't make a season but it gives hope to legions of fans who had been looking forward to next season with starry eyed wonder and hope as to what the future held. I will be quite happy if the team truly does turn around and begins to win its way back into the hearts of the people but I view it with a great deal of trepidation. As much as I love my Washington Redskins I also have to take their victories as and when they come. I have looked too far ahead in the past and have been disappointed too often. If yesterday's game was any indicator that the team can put together a good series on offense and defense then perhaps that trepidation will go away but all I can say is that I will savour this victory (as I know the team will) because it came against a good opponent and it was well earned.