It’s hard to imagine, just a few weeks ago, the Redskins reaching this
point. But that’s where they are following Sunday’s 32-21 win over host
Minnesota. The Redskins improved to 8-7 and if they beat Dallas at home
on Sunday, they’ll reach the postseason for the second time in three
years.
And they will have earned it, thanks to injuries and the Taylor
tragedy. Most teams would have given up on such a season. But instead
the Redskins are rolling into the postseason – if they can finish up
with a win over Dallas, which already has clinched home field advantage.
Can you say, ‘’We Want Dallas!"?
The Redskins won by stopping Minnesota’s top-ranked rushing attack,
holding the Vikings to 87 yards. They had averaged nearly 170 per game.
And Washington became the first team to crack 100 yards rushing against
them this season, finishing with 106.
Washington confused the Vikings with multiple looks, running everything
from the old Bear 46 defense to a 4-4 front. The Redskins also tackled
exceptionally well.
They made life difficult for Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson from
the start. They blitzed him on their first series and forced him into
an interception that corner Fred Smoot, facing his old team, to the
8-yard line. Washington failed on fourth and goal, but the defense
forced a safety for a 2-0 lead.
Following the free kick, the Redskins drove 66 yards for a touchdown, a
33-yard Todd Collins to Chris Cooley strike. And receiver Santana Moss
made it 16-0 with a leaping 32-yard grab, following a Shawn Springs
interception.
The first half still wasn’t over. But the game nearly was just before
halftime when Clinton Portis threw a halfback option 15 yards to
Antwaan Randle El for another score. The two-point conversion failed,
but a 22-0 halftime lead still looked good.
Minnesota crawled back into the game, getting to 25-14 when the final
turning point occurred. With the Vikings gathering momentum midway
through the fourth quarter, Collins hit Moss at the Minnesota 48-yard
line. Replays showed he might not have gotten both feet in-bounds. So
the Redskins hustled to the line and snapped the ball. But Collins lost
the ball and Minnesota recovered.
But Joe Gibbs called for a challenge, saying the Vikings had 12 men on
the field. Replays agreed and the Redskins drove for the clinching
touchdown.
|