The Packers and the Colts

Like I said last week, a win is a win. Whether it happens by the skin of your teeth at the end of a game, or whether it happens in OT after their kicker botches a field goal attempt. Add another W to the column, and move on happy (just not too happy).

The Redskins look like they might be turning a corner. Don't get me wrong -- it's going to take a year or two for this new offensive and defensive scheme to really be able to work the way it's supposed to -- right now they lack both the experience in the scheme and the players to execute it effectively. However, waht they lack in experience the Redskins are now making up for in pure grit and desire. It's the ability to make a comeback happen in the fourth quarter, the constant bone-jarring hits from Landry and Orakpo, and the calm and experienced leadership of McNabb that has really been the difference down the stretch in the last few games. On offence, this is probably due to McNabb and Shanahan (the younger). On defense, I credit Shanahan (the older), Haslett, and London Fletcher (the often unsung hero).

The matchup agains the Colts will be a great test for the defense. Although they've been great at keeping the score low, which is the most important stat by far, they rank last in the league in yards given up. The problem is that, eventually, those yards will turn into points. They've got to find a way to get to Peyton Manning and to shut down some of his key targets. The secondary is going to have to step up in a big way, this will be their true test. The other unit that will have to really step up is the offensive line. I know they're plagued by injuries, but we really need to give McNabb some time back there, as well as open up lanes for Torrain to charge through. If these two units turn in good performances, we've got a good chance to win this weekend. Let's hope for the best.

A Win is a Win

Yesterday marked a significant day for McNabb, as he returned home to the city that loves to hate him. Philidelphia has caused McNabb a lot of heartache during the decade he spent as the face of the Eagles franchise, even though he has too much class to show it. He took them to the playoffs regularly, to several NFC Championship games, and even a Superbowl. And although they couldn't do it while he was their quarterback, the Eagles fans finally showed him some much deserved respect as he entered the stadium last night at the helm of another team, with a standing ovation.

Of course, his new team is the Washington Redskins, and thank god for that. We finally have a leader in the locker room who even the veterans respect. Someone with immense experience in the NFC East, someone who knows how to win and has done so consistently. This has done wonders for team morale and cohesion, but up to now we haven't seen in translated into W's. The last two losses were pretty ugly, and even when Donovan stepped up and played well, the rest of the team didn't show up to play. Our running attack stalled. The linebackers couldn't cover. And the secondary absolutely blew.

But that changed against the Eagles. It wasn't that McNabb had a great game - he didn't. But the rest of the team really showed up to play, and made the win possible - at least in the first half. The defense was great at stopping the run the entire game, and the secondary landed some huge hits on the Eagles, not the least of which resulted in Vick's early departure from the game. Most importantly, however, was that the running game got going. Portis really pounded the ball down their throats, and Torrain is realizing the potential Shanahan saw in him all those years ago. Of course, they couldn't have done it without improved offensive line play, which is a big step in and of itself (we still miss Trent though, can't wait to get him back).

I still don't like how our secondary gives up the big plays, even when they know it's coming. They hit hard, but Moore and Landry need to cover better, and Carlos needs to start catching those potential interceptions. Our entire secondary needs to amp it up a bit.

We won this game, but we needed a luck to do it. I'll take it for now, but here's hoping we don't need luck the next time.