Albert Haynesworth returned – and reminded everyone what his impact can be on a game. In case anyone had forgotten, it can be quite big.
He displayed his strength and his athleticism in helping the Redskins beat Chicago 17-14. The Redskins wisely played him in the nickel defenses, eliminating the need for him to worry about the run. That leaves Haynesworth free to worry about the rush and enter the games a bit more fresh.
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When Chicago tried to run with him in the game, the Bears would let him penetrate and run the other way. But it didn’t matter.
If Haynesworth continues to play this way, it provides the defense with yet another playmaker. They already have some in Brian Orakpo, LaRon Landry and DeAngelo Hall. They might not stop teams, but they can make plays at opportune times. In the past, they would stop teams but surrender plays at inopportune times. So take your pick.
Sunday, Haynesworth finished with three tackles, but he had a sack, two tackles for a loss, and two quarterback hurries.
Two plays stood out and it’s hard to decide which was more impressive:
1. On Chicago’s second series, Haynesworth simply drove guard Chris Williams back and shoved him into Jay Cutler, knocking him over for a sack. A pure display of power that forced a punt.
2. OK, this has to be more impressive as a 335-pound guy launched himself over the top to get the quarterback on a third and goal. Eventually Cutler fumbled on the play. Haynesworth simply guessed correctly. He said he anticipated the Bears going low on him, based on what he had been doing.
“So I used that against them and jumped over the offensive lineman,” he told reporters afterward. “I’ve done it before when I felt someone is going to go for my legs.”
On a personal note, Haynesworth said it was a tough game to play; it was his first following the death of his younger half-brother.
“It felt good to go out and play and get life’s situation off my mind,” he told reporters. “When we were warming up I started thinking about it and it was kind of hard. I cried a little bit. I could hear my younger brother saying, ‘You’re crying over me?’ I had to dry it up and play ball.”
As for this season, he said, “2010 has been the worst year of my life. I just want to get it over with and keep playing.”
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