With 13 games to play, fortunes could change
ASHBURN – The day off cleared their heads, leaving them a bit more energized. It’s what the Redskins needed. And when they returned Wednesday, they remembered a few facts: 13 games remain; and their fortunes have changed dramatically, good and bad, in the past.
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They were 6-2 last year and it spun quickly in a negative way. They were 5-7 and coping with a teammate’s death two years ago and won their last four. And more than a few remember the six straight wins in 2005, after two ugly home losses.
Life changes fast in the NFL. The Redskins know this.
“Our season’s not over,” said running back Clinton Portis.
“There’s no need to panic or start getting frustrated,” quarterback Jason Campbell said. “If you get into that mode, then it creates tension and then you start forcing things and not just playing.”
Having said that, they’re coming off two unimpressive games, including a 19-14 loss at Detroit. They’ve scored 23 points in the past two games against defenses that rank 27th (Detroit) and 29th (St. Louis), respectively.
That’s why the Redskins can’t rely on the 13-games-left line of thinking.
“We have to do it now,” Campbell said. “We can’t wait. There’s no time to waste. At the same time, we’re in a position where it’s not too late.”
But they still need to establish who they are. More than a few players in the locker room have three words of advice for the coaches: run the ball. They also recognize they must run the plays that are called and not worry about what is or isn’t called.
“I don’t think people feel we’re far off,” Portis said. “We see what goes wrong. It’s not like there’s bickering in the locker room and guys are like, ‘This guy [stinks] and this guy can’t play and we need to get rid of him.’ We know where we’ve gone wrong.
“It’s only a matter of time before I have a 200-yard game. It’s only a matter of time before I have a 150-yard game. I know it’s coming, but when?”
Four starters sat out practice Wednesday, including Portis — who said his ankles feel fine, fullback Mike Sellers, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and corner Carlos Rogers.
But that doesn’t detract from what the Redskins want most, which is hope. It helps that the next three games are against teams that haven’t won a game. If they’re going to get better, now’s the time.
“Everyone’s still sticking tight,” Redskins left tackle Chris Samuels said. “We’ll turn this thing around. A lot of people want to write us off already, but it’s so early in the season to get that in your mind.”
