Ok, I admit it. The homer in me is thrilled with the result today.

The Redskins got a W. The offense found a little of it’s mojo, albeit not until the second half, with both a rare Redzone touchdown, and an even rarer deep strike for a 59 yard touchdown. The defense played pretty tough, and got the plays when they needed them. They consistently got off the field on third down. Tackling was solid.

Reed Doughty showed why he got the start today. This is an interesting conundrum… Horton has not been playing poorly… it’s just that when Doughty has been in the game, he’s made the most of it. Today, as the starter, he was credited for 11 tackles (10 solo). That’s nearly 17% of the defensive plays today! Again, where the ball was, there was a good chance you could find #37 somewhere near. As a longtime fan of a previous # 37, Pat Fischer, I have to say the he’s doing a nice job of honoring the number.

Despite his limited playing time today, Chris Horton is doing what he can to make the argument that the starting job should be his. He recovered the fumble which sealed the Redskins victory.

Albert Haynesworth got 0 tackles… but he did a wonderful job of disrupting Tampa Bay’s blocking assignments, and contributed to the success our linebackers had in pursuit… ultimately, that is why he is here. He was in on most defensive snaps, and appeared to play like he had something to prove. Good to see.

Kudos also go to Shaun Suisham… he was “Johnny on the Spot” after the late loss of Hunter Smith in punting duties, due to a groin injury. His kickoffs were consistently deep, and his punts, while not works of art, did the job. That blocked PAT was not on him.

Chris Cooley continues to earn his paycheck as Washington‘s clutch receiver. He added 5 receptions (including 1 for a touchdown) today, to bring his season total to 21, for 254 yards. How can you not love this guy?

Clinton Portis gutted out a painful calf injury to get 98 yards on 25 carries (not quite 4 yards/carry). It was a gutsy performance.

The Redskins did not back into the win. They needed to earn it. Good for them.

Did you know that curmudgeons tend to be a tad on the cynical side? It’s true!

I remain very concerned about this offense. It consistently finds a way to play down to the level of the opposition, and allows them to remain in games that should be won by the middle of the 3rd quarter. Today was no different. The offense wasn’t offering much help at all to the Defense in the first half. That was one of the most disappointing performances we’ve seen in a while (ok, it was horrid). The Defense, while not playing “lights out” during the half, played a significant role in keeping the game in arm’s reach. Of course, some help from Tampa Bay’s hapless kicker, Mike Nugent, with 2 missed field goal attempts, didn’t hurt either.

Does anyone know if the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to NFL Cornerbacks with severe hand-eye coordination deficits? Would someone please declare Carlos Rogers to be officially in need of an equalizer?  Is there any player in the league (including offensive linemen) that has worse hands???  This guy needs a league waiver to be authorized to use stickum, and I mean right now. Lets slather him up, ala Lester Hayes, and see what happens. It’s really sad. That missed pick 6 at the end of the first half would have created a very different game (though, I’m sure, the Redskins would have figured out a way to keep the Bucs involved).

The play calling wasn’t quite as scary as it has been, but I don’t think I’d call it satisfactory. A run game that can go right, as well as left, would be nice.

Can anybody tell me why Anthony Aldridge is on the team? We seem to have this habit of panicking and bringing in running backs whom we never use. Is there a plan for him? I wouldn’t mind seeing what he can do.

While I’m on the subject, why is Antwaan Randle-El still returning punts? Sigh.

Finally… 6 first half points in the last 3 games. Is that right???

I can’t wait to see what creative game plan they devise to keep Carolina in the game.

Jeremy Jarmon forced a Clifton Smith fumble with less than a minute to go in the game, and Chris Horton recovered.

The Turning Point…
Jason Campbell and Santana Moss hooking up on a 59-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter; it put the Redskins ahead for the first time in the game.

Game Balls:
Offense – Clinton Portis
Defense – Reed Doughty

Key Statistic:
3 catches for 46 yards (17,12,17) for Chris Cooley, including a 17-yard touchdown reception, on the Redskin drive that got them back into the game at 10-9.

Noteworthy…
Cooley had 65 yards on 5 catches – 3 of them (including a touchdown) on one drive; he could easily be given the game’s offensive game ball… Jason Campbell turned the ball over 4 times himself, with three interceptions and a fumble… Campbell had as many turnovers (two) as he did completions in the first quarter… Justin Tryon had his best NFL game with 3 tackles and an assist, to go along with his first NFL sack… DeAngelo Hall caught his second interception of the season… Bucs kicker Mike Nugent missed two field goal tries in the first half

For some of the game’s interesting numbers and statistics, check out By the Numbers, THN’s 1200th exclusive article in the database.

Other Links:

NFL.com Video highlights of the game

NFL.com Gamebook Official Statistics

Redskins.com Game Overview

ESPN.com Photos

CNNSI Photos

Washington Redskins’ running back Clinton Portis did not practice this week. Backup running backs Ladell Betts and Marcus Mason split time with the first-team. Head coach Jim Zorn said Mason will be active this week. If Portis sits out, Anthony Alridge would be the team’s fourth active back, along with Betts, Mason and Rock Cartwright.

REDSKINS

Anthony Montgomery (DT)                    Knee                     Questionable

Montgomery did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, and was limited in practice on Friday due to patella tendonitis in his right knee.

Albert Haynesworth (DT)                       Hip                              Questionable

Haynesworth is dealing with a strained right hip flexor but will be available for the Bucs game.

Quarterback Colt Brennan underwent successful surgery to repair a torn left labrum in his hip will need at least three months of recovery time and is on the IR list. WR Roydell Williams is also on the injured reserve list but his repaired broken left pinkie wasn’t a season ending injury. Offensive lineman Randy Thomas was also placed on IR and is out for the year.

BUCCANEERS

Tampa Bay Buccaneers DE Gaines Adams (groin), WR Antonio Bryant (knee), QB Byron Leftwich (hip) and RB Derrick Ward (knee) traveled with the team, but they all will be game-time decisions.

Earnest Graham (RB)                                Hamstring                                  Probable

Graham missed the game against the Giants last week and is probable for Sunday’s game against the Redskins.

Jermaine Phillips (S)                                   Thumb                         Out

Phillips will miss 6-8 weeks after fracturing his thumb against the Giants last week and is out indefinitely.

Jeff Faine (C)                                   Tricep                         Out

Faine will miss the next 3-5 weeks due to a tear to his triceps and is out indefinitely.

Kyle Moore (DE)                                   Groin                         Out

Moore was downgraded on Thursday and is expected to miss at least 2 weeks due to a groin injury.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have placed E.J. Biggers (CB) Shoulder, Xavier Fulton (T) Knee, Josh Bidwell (P) Hip,and Angelo Crowell (LB) Hand on injured reserve and they are OUT for the season.

Isn’t a week a wonderful thing? All I can say is, I’m some glad the Redskins didn’t have a game scheduled last week… I have a feeling that things just would have turned out badly had they played.

Up next… Tampa Bay.

I’m completely blown away. Almost all of the pundits are picking the Redskins to win. Now, I freely admit that I’m pretty much of a homer, but this really surprises me. I mean, last week, most were picking them to lose to the team with the longest losing streak in the league (of course, they now have a win, so they are a winning team… which is more than Tampa has going).

I mean, it just doesn’t make any sense. The pundits are a lot less accurate than the fans who are picking in Hognostications, yet the pundits got the Lions game right. OK, yes, I was very concerned about that game, as well… but OFFICIALLY, I picked the ‘skins. It will be cool if they get the Tampa game right too.

Cool! 4th game of the season, and we’re talking draft!

As is often the case when the Redskins get off to a rough start (so, yeah, pretty much every year), the draft talk is starting up in the discussion forums. The fans wonder “who are we going to take with that #4 overall pick?” Looking like the early lead is held by Jevan Snead of Ole Miss. Cool. I seem to recall the Redskins drafting Snead with the second overall pick in the 1961 draft. True.

Norm Snead made a career of falling down whenever pass rushers got within 3 paces of him. For some reason (I can only believe that it was divine intervention), the Philadelphia Eagles felt that it was more important that they have a starting quarterback who falls down a lot, than one who was incredibly accurate and had one of the quickest releases in NFL history… It’s unfortunate that there is not a Jurgensen in the league that we could trade Snead for in the future…

Ok, Norm Snead wasn’t really that bad (he managed to get himself selected for 4 Pro-Bowls)… but I do have vivid recollections of my Mom… a die hard Redskins fan, celebrating the day they announced the trade. I suppose there were two reasons… first, she knew that Sonny was a much better quarterback, and second, her brother was an Eagles fanatic… and she loved rubbing this trade in.

HTTR

Next comes the section called “on a fine line.” In this section he lists the Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers. Washington, Dallas and Atlanta are all 6-4, and while Green Bay is 5-5 and in a three way tie for the North division lead, he believes they are the favorite based on the fact that he likes Aaron Rodgers.

Since this is a Redskins blog, here’s is what Steve had to say about our beloved Skins:

Washington (6-4, tied for second NFC East): Two straight losses have the once-promising Redskins reeling. Their inability to score points has finally caught up to them. Coach Jim Zorn has to regain confidence in quarterback Jason Campbell and Campbell has to do something to earn it. The offensive line has to regain its swagger in protection as well. The proof if Washington can improve on both counts comes in two of the next three weeks against the NFC East-leading Giants and Baltimore. If the Redskins can’t snap out of their funk, Dallas could replace them as a wild-card favorite.

Its hard to really argue with any of this. The Redskins have had trouble converting for touchdowns, especially the last two games against 3-4 defenses. They confidence they played with en-route to their 6-2 record was noteably lacking in the last two games, and Jason Campbell has thrown three interceptions in the last two games (although I only remember thinking one of them was his fault). These are all things that can be corrected.

As for the Redskins remaining schedule, here’s how it breaks down:

@Seattle 2-8
N.Y. Giants 9-1
@Baltimore 6-4
@Cincinnati 1-8-1
Philadelphia 5-4-1
@San Francisco 3-7

This is no easy test, as their remaining opponents combined record of 26-32-2 might indicate. Of the remaining games, only two are at FedEx Field (of course, this might be a good thing). In fact, Decemeber — which has been a golden month for Redskins fans in the two previous play-off runs — the Redskins only have one home game, and its against a division rival in Philadelphia that the Redskins beat at the Linc in week 5.

The Seahawks give the Redskins fits at Qwest, and let’s not forget how the Redskins offense looked against the Giants in week one. I thought the offense had progressed greatly since then, but they had the same look the last two weeks.the Ravens are built much like the Steelers, whom the Redskins would like to forget about playing. The Bengals just held the Eagles to 14 points and should have won in overtime, the Eagles are out for revenge and the 49ers are an improved team under Mike Singletary and his bare bottom.

The Redskins can and probably should win three of these games (Bengals, Seahawks and 49ers), putting them at 9 wins. They Ravens game will be tough unless the offensive line figures out a way to stop blitzing outside linebackers in a 3-4 system. The  Giants and Eagles are both divisional games, and so neither is a gimme. The Skins need to win at least one of these three, and probably at least two, in order to work their way into January.

Come on Skins! Six in a row, or we don’t go!