October 18, 2008 – (Landover,
MD) - Let the record show that the 2008 Redskins season has been one of their most winning seasons, so early in the season,
to date.
I can’t recall when the Skins were 5-2 on the
season after having played only seven regular season games. Can you?
The Redskins bounced back after last
week’s lost to the St. Louis Rams by defeating the Cleveland Browns, 14-11, at FEDEx Field on Sunday, upping their ranks
in the NFC East to 5-2.
Despite both teams being scoreless at
the half (attributed to equally awesome team defense), the Redskins scored first going into the third quarter off a TD pass
from Jason Campbell to Clinton Portis, to lead the Browns, 6-0.
The Skins held defense against the Browns
on four straight downs, allowing them to regain crucial possession.
London Fletcher was instrumental in
blocking a first and goal attempt by the Browns in the fourth quarter.
Jason Campbell, the only QB in the NFL
who hasn’t thrown a game interception, threw for 164 yards despite ‘tweaking’ his groin in the first quarter,
attributing the move to his cleat getting stuck in the ground.
“My cleat got stuck in the ground
and pulled a little, but after getting the area heated (citing the cold weather made the area tight) and worked on, it felt
normal and I was able to still play.”
Santana Moss ran for 75 yards and 1
TD in the second half, while team mate and lead rusher, Clinton Portis ran for 175 yards on 27 carries.
The Brown’s Phil Dawson missed a 4th quarter field goal from 54 feet, one that could have altered the outcome of
the game.
Said Brown’s tight end, Darnell Dinkins, after the game: “We just couldn’t
get it going.”
“We’d tried to make plays,
but just couldn’t get it done.”
Despite the Brown’s loss Redskins'
coach, Jim Zorn, credited their defense.
“The Browns were good on defense. They were playing a mind game all day long.”
We asked Campbell if he felt the team
needed to bring their ‘A’ game Sunday after having lost 17-19 to the St. Louis Rams in what many say was a game
give-a-away.
Campbell attributes yesterday’s
win to “everyone stepping up, and staying together.”
London Fletcher calls it sixty minutes
of ‘focused football’.
Whatever it is, “We’ll take
a win any time you can, in this league”, said Campbell.
The Skins face the winless Lions in Detroit next Sunday.
Clinton
Portis Longs For A Ring
Admitting that winning is more of a team effort than an individual one, Portis hopes the Skins
continue to play as well as they have this season.
He’s hoping the Skins can get
to the SuperBowl so he can finally get a SuperBowl ring.
“Being one of the best [running]
backs in the league, having the opportunity to have money, …. the fame… I never had a ring.”
“When you go into the off season
and you[‘re] high-fiving someone else, telling them congratulations, when you really don’t feel like it was deserved,
you’d rather it be you.”
As he explained a trip to Puerto Rico,
during the office season with a few coaches, he admitted he felt out of place listening to the coaches talk about their rings
and winning a SuperBowl.
“I felt like the odd man out. I couldn’t enjoy their conversation, and I left Puerto Rico”, Portis said.
“How can I enjoy the conversation
about the SuperBowl and here I am, out of the playoffs?”
“To win as a team, I’d love
to have our whole team on the island celebrating and talking about the SuperBowl.”
Game
Notes:
Sunday’s game allowed Santana Moss to reach a career-high 6,000 yards rushing
Clinton Portis had 100 yards rushing
for the fourth consecutive game
Jason Campbell threw for 164 yards,
1 TD, no interceptions
Skins had possession 28:53 vs Cleveland’s
31:08, yet threw for 158 passing yards, 24 more than their opponent
London Fletcher, who leads the NFL in
tackles, had twelve tackles on the day, and started his 126th consecutive game. (Defensive Coordinator, Greg Blache sees Fletcher as ProBowl material)
Put It On a T-Shirt
“I play DEFENSE, not OFFENSE.”
That’s what Fred Smoot said after
we asked him to give his thoughts on why the team couldn’t get a scoring rythmn in the first half.
“I don’t know. I play DEFENSE,
not OFFENSE.”
How succinct.
Photos
Game Day | Tailgating at FedEx Field
