Redskins vs. Titans: The Good & The Not-So-Good

The Washington Redskins are still alive. With a decidedly unpretty victory in Tennessee on Sunday, the “Gold Pants” Brigade evened their record at 5-5, ensuring that they remain two games ahead of a resurgent Cowboys team and at least one game behind either the Giants or the Eagles. But more importantly, they washed the stink of last week’s humiliating loss away. And while the team’s 19-16 overtime decision against the Titans might not have been the best bounce-back performance, the Redskins can still call themselves winners—at least for the next week. Here’s the good and the not-so-good from Sunday’s contest.

The Good

• Donovan McNabb: After last week’s lackluster showing against Philadelphia, a lot of ‘Skins fans wondered if the team hadn’t made an enormous mistake in signing McNabb to seemingly lucrative extension. But against the Titans, McNabb looked much more like the QB that Washington is expecting him to be. He finished the day 30 of 50 for 374 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT. The interception was a poor choice, but McNabb made up for that gaffe by making clutch throws to extend long drives. The best example: The Redskins started their game-winning drive in overtime on their own 13-yard line. After the snap, McNabb evaded the pass rush and launched a 26-yard pass to Chris Cooley, who nearly broke away from the defense for a TD. The Redskins would go on to win on a Graham Gano field goal. It’s that kind of play-manufacturing that will earn McNabb his contract extension.
• Third-down offense: The Redskins finished the game 8 for 16 on third down. Considering how much they’ve struggled on that particular down, a 50% conversion rate is an astronomical improvement. At one point, the team was 7 for 10. How did they manage to improve? Well, it was equal parts better o-line protection and better play design. Many of the team’s successful conversions came on aggressive downfield passes—you know, the kind that the Redskins have never really tried on third down this year. If the Redskins can continue to get good protection and be more aggressive on third down, they just might be able to have a more productive offense during the last 6 games.
• Team depth: The Redskins entered Sunday’s game with at least three starters on the inactive list (CB Carlos Rogers, SS LaRon Landry, and RG Artis Hicks). And during the game, no less than seven players left with injuries (C Casey Rabach, DT Kedric Golston, LB Rocky McIntosh, RB Clinton Portis, LG Derrick Dockery, LB Lorenzo Alexander, and FS Andersen Russell). Which means that guys like RB Keiland Williams, CB Philip Buchanon, RG/C Will Montgomery, and SS Reed Doughty were pressed into emergency service. For the most part, these backups played well: Montgomery did an adequate job of playing center in Rabach’s place, Buchanon recovered a key early fumble and intercepted a pass late in the game, and Williams had 95 total rushing and receiving yards. That bodes well for the team’s chances down the stretch.
• Randy Moss: From where I was sitting, it certainly looked like DeAngelo Hall had no idea that Moss had gotten ahead of him on Moss’s would-be touchdown pass. Thankfully, Moss had the kindness in his heart to push-off of Hall and negate his own touchdown by way of pass interference. Thanks, Randy.
• Gold pants: Seriously, does anyone else love these as much as I do?

The Not-So-Good

• Injuries: Maybe it was just a really bad field, but seven leg injuries in one game is just absurd. At least try to stay healthy guys.
• Kareem Moore: This is my cheap shot of the week. In the fourth quarter, after Titans rookie Rusty Smith had just completed a deep pass to Nate Washington, Moore lowered his shoulder and went in for a big hit. It was a fine idea, except for the fact that Washington simply bounced off Moore and ran for about 25 more yards until Moore (of all people) pushed him out of bounds. Ever heard of a tackle, Kareem?
• Special Teams: Giving up a punt return TD, shanking the first punt of the game, and missing two field goals doesn’t make for a good afternoon.

This was a game that the ‘Skins needed to win. And just like their other wins, the team managed to overcome their own mistakes long enough to pull out a victory. It remains to be seen if that’s an effective recipe for success, but one thing is for sure: after such an incredible beatdown as the Redskins were dealt a week ago, many teams would have simply rolled over and licked their wounds. But the Redskins scrapped out a tough road win on a short week and kept themselves barely alive in the NFC playoff race. Take it for what it is, but maybe all isn’t lost in D.C. this year.