A Win, and a Quality Win at That

I laughed I cried it became a part of me

Redskins beat Jaguars 36-30 in overtime. Statement game. That's all there is to it. Knowing what we knew about the Redskins up to gametime yesterday, you're just hoping not to look awwwwwful in this game, to do the things that put you in a position to capitalize on a mistake or make a big play and get out with the win. But to give up 30 and still win? Huge.

Tom Boswell says believe it, this is the same team. Howard Bryant's descriptions of game action are visceral, putting the reader right there:

[T]he foundation of yesterday's win was rooted deep inside the fight, whether it be on the offensive line, where right guard Randy Thomas, left tackle Chris Samuels and right tackle Jon Jansen punished the vaunted Jacksonville front four with the kind of purpose reserved for a team that felt slighted.

Same with La Canfora:

The Redskins managed to accomplish what so few believed they could -- manhandle the hulking Jaguars at the line of scrimmage, plow through them with the run, and out-slug them in the trenches, with the offensive line, fullbacks, tailbacks and tight ends forming a powerful unit both rushing the ball and protecting quarterback Mark Brunell.

Speaking of Mark Brunell, hey Coach, you can let him have every Thursday and Friday off if this is what we get. And while we're talking about quarterbacks, Leftwich had a good game, going 21-for-35 for 289 yards. The guy's got a cannon and it's accurate. Gregg Williams went to the well once too often, blitzing Adam Archuleta twice in three plays. The first resulted in a sack of Leftwich. The second time, Leftwich saw it coming and threw a great-looking pass off his back foot to Jones-Drew, who went yard.

Santana may have had the last highlight of the game. But this game was all about Clinton Portis and run-blocking. Going into this game, the Jaguars were holding opponents to 59 yards rushing per game. Clinton touched up the Jacksonville defense for 112 yards on 27 carries. Having Clinton in the lineup gives this offense room to operate.

It's almost like a lightbulb clicking on in my head. Ok, that's why they're running a shorter pass attack. Because trying to account for Clinton up near the line always puts someone out of position. I still think Ladell is a serviceable back and would be welcome on any roster, but the spread-style (here's an idea for Al Saunders, free of charge: 'Redskins Buttery Offensive Spread.' No? How about 'Lo-fat Spreadable Offense,' ask your butcher) offense they're running now requires a nifty back. Take Clinton out, put Ladell and Duckett in, and you have to go downfield more often to keep the safeties and linebackers honest. Clinton is the thing that makes the thing work.

And speaking of downfield passing, was that my man Mark going downfield? Back in the first Era of Joe, Redskins fans always knew there was a season-long gameplan, of which the gameday plan was just a page. New wrinkles, new formations. Obviously we're seeing it here. The Redskins spent three weeks working the short game, the high percentage passes, culminating in the Texans game, when they obviously could have gone downfield more, but chose to stick with the short game. Unless there is a drastic and structural step backwards for the offense, I think it's fair to say that we're seeing it evolve before our eyes. They've got it, the players are familiar with the routes and the terminology, and now it's time to push the offense out, further downfield. Opposing coaches looking at tape will know that when the going gets tough, someone on the Redskins offense is open short.

Duckett aside: inactive again this week. T-minus, what, two weeks before we get our first Sports section front-page story on how 'frustrating' it is to be TJ Duckett? I can allllllmost see the top line cranking out of the automatic headline generator: Duckett Untested But Not His Patience.

Where does Duckett fit in? I'll tell you. Last quarter of the season. Stretch run. Last year, Brunell and Clinton were both banged up and did not generate much offense in the Tampa or Seattle playoff games. As the season wears on, once the opposing defense starts to blow, guys with hands on hips, send in Duckett and he goes Christian Okoye. It's the 'wait guys it gets worse' changeup in the backfield that will help control the clock.

The defense worked hard, got four sacks. Andre Carter was heard from. This defense still looks to get better with Joe Salave'a and Shawn Springs coming back soon. Rookie Kedric Goldston is a keeper. Rock Cartwright must be the most popular guy on the team.

Did anyone else notice Sean Taylor was in the camera shot on every play? He's so fast that even when you run the play away from him, you're still running right at him. He's a gravity well of sufficient mass that all plays bend back around toward him. In theory, he could simply remain motionless on the field and wait for the plays to come to him, but he says there's no fun in that.

Chris at Big Cat Country, our 5 Questions partner last week has some advice in his game recap for the Jacksonville secondary:

DO NOT GO FOR THE INTERCEPTION WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH FAST MOBILE WR'S WHO HAVE ALREADY BURNED YOU TWICE IN THE SAME GAME

This puts the Giants game next week into major focus. The Giants don't have an owner to die this year, so I don't think we're going to see another 36-0 viking funeral like we did last year. The Giants had the week off and will be ready, and the Redskins have to make this one count. Win that, you're 3-2 with a home game against woeful Tennessee. Play that right and you're 4-2 going into the lion's den in Indianapolis. That's a tough game to win. Win or lose that game, these next two have to count. Need to stay on the lead lap going into the bye.


Andre Carter and Cornelius Griffin sacking Byron Leftwich: Preston Kere / Washington Post