NFL: Finally...The Wait is Over

We’ve been waiting all season for this Washington Redskins team to play up to its potential. They have all the talent in the world, but they have underachieved all year, and two weeks ago, they downright stunk up Tempe, Arizona in a loss to the hapless Cardinals.

The true test came Monday night against the explosive St. Louis Rams, when the Redskins had to put up or shut up. It was Monday night, in the incredibly loud dome in St. Louis. It was huge. Just like the entire season of waiting, we were forced to wait, and wait, and wait. They started off by committing a false start, throwing an interception, jumping offsides and allowing a St. Louis touchdown, all in the first six minutes.

Then in the second quarter, when the Redskins started to apply themselves, use their size and strength, and pound the Rams. After falling behind 10-0, the Redskin veterans began to turn the game around.

The whole first quarter, I was on the edge of my seat, nervous. Watching the Rams offense is like waiting for a firecracker fuse to take off and explode…you know it’s going to happen any second. Monday night, the Redskins doused that fuse in a bucket of water. They won because their veterans were rested after a bye week, their gameplan was excellent and the special teams made more plays than they have in any other game this season.

With plenty of older players, the team sorely needed a rest after ten games. Those older guys made the biggest impact in the game. Irving Fryar caught a TD pass, his first since week four. Bruce Smith tallied three sacks, including the safety that put the nail in the coffin in the game’s waning moments. He hadn’t had a sack in a month. Deion Sanders perhaps turned the game around by picking himself up off the ground, running Torry Holt down from behind and stripping the ball; it was recovered by the Redskins and turned into three points.

Despite very few people giving him credit, Norv Turner is a great offensive coach. Give him two weeks to plan and he can beat any defense. The offense did everything well. They played smashmouth, they passed on third and goal for a TD, they threw deep at will and they mixed in some brilliant screen passes.

The Rams defense was completely off balance. Give all the credit to Turner. After weeks of complaints about the team’s horrid special teams, not only were they able to execute basic plays, they made a few great plays. New kicker Eddie Murray was perfect on field goals (though that missed extra point made my heart skip a beat). Scott Bentley, the other new kicker—that’s right, the team is paying two kickers—recovered his own surprise onside kick. After a score, the kickoff coverage team forced and recovered a Tony Horne fumble. That was three straight possessions for the Redskins and 12 points without the Rams getting their hands on the ball. Game over. Special Teams Coach LeCharls McDaniel, the man I wanted to run out of town last week, saved his job…at least for this week. I’m 99% sure he’ll be fired the day the season ends.

The most popular phrase on Washington TV and radio Tuesday was not recount, Florida Supreme Court or "hanging chad." It was quarterback controversy. Like the election, I’d like to avoid that subject altogether. Everyone around town needs to forget about that fruitless discussion and focus for once on the defense and give them some respect. After being ranked 30th in the league last season, this defense is awesome: mean, fast, intimidating, great pass coverage. They are tackling better than I’ve seen the Redskins tackle since their last great season, 1991. There is no question they have the best three-cornerback set in the league.

LaVar Arrington is turning into a Wilber Marshall clone—he’s in on almost every tackle and he makes his hits count. He got absolutely clocked on one kickoff return, then hopped up and dove to finish off the runner.

The Redskins should easily be able to finish off their schedule and their divisional foes. They’ll be favored to win the rest of their games —Philadelphia, Giants, at Pittsburgh, at Dallas, and Arizona. They’ll be 12-4 and they might have a first-round playoff bye—the Rams will certainly lose again before the season is done.

A "Peak" at This Week’s Game: Last month in Philadelphia, the Skins won on a field goal in overtime. I don’t think this one is as close. Monday night showed the Redskins how good they can be. Whether it’s Brad Johnson or Jeff George playing quarterback, they’ll teach the young Eagles a thing or two.

Redskins 24, Eagles 14.