Hope returns for Gibbs’ bunch, but will it last?

By Connor Byrne  |   Tuesday, September 26, 2006  |  Comments( 3 )

Washington Redskins
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After two disappointing losses to start the 2006 season, the sky was falling in Washington. "We're supposed to be Super Bowl contenders," said deflated Redskins fans. "It's time to pull Mark Brunell and put in Jason Campbell," they continued.

Well, the 36-year-old Brunell proved he still has plenty left in his tank this past Sunday, when he completed a league-record 22 straight passes during the Redskins' 31-15 rout of the Houston Texans. The 14th-year man ended the festivities a tremendous 24 of 27 for 261 yards and a touchdown. Most importantly, he didn't turn the ball over. It was truly a performance for the ages; one that would make even the NFL's all-time great quarterbacks stand up and applaud.

"When you go through two difficult weeks like we did and (are) able to bounce back like this, it shows a lot about the guys we have on this team," said Brunell, who hit eight different receivers in the victory.

Of course, Brunell's cause was aided by the return of all-world running back Clinton Portis, who had just 10 carries combined in the first two weeks of the season. The 25-year-old Portis, whose shoulder had been a problem since early August, rushed for 86 yards on just 16 carries and came up big for Brunell in the passing game, catching two throws for 78 yards.

What can't be overlooked in the 'Skins' victory is, at long last, signs that the players are finally beginning to grasp guru Al Saunders' offense. Saunders, who came over in the offseason from Kansas City, had caught plenty of heat from Washington fans for the unit's meager amount of points (19) in losses to the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys.

The fanfare of Saunders' 700-page playbook had nearly disappeared - save for a few believers - but he brought everyone back, even if it came against the Texans, who possess one of the league's worst defenses.

Entering the Week 3 contest against Houston, many were expecting that D.C.'s offense would regain some lost confidence and get itself back on track. However, nobody was imaging the type of sparkling performance that resembled the St. Louis Rams' "Greatest Show on Turf" units of yesteryear.

Though the Redskins' offense was extraordinary in victory, things are already beginning to crash back down to earth for the team because, well, its Week 4 opponent is the Jacksonville Jaguars. As those who follow the NFL know, the Jags have one of the best defenses in the game. Thus, for Washington, newfound hope could break like a thrown piece of Fine China in a hurry.

For now, though, the Redskins can take the vast amounts of confidence they built in the Houston game and hope it transfers to the Jacksonville matchup. If not, 1-3 will be a cold, lonely place on Oct. 2. The .500 mark, however, would be Mardi Gras-esque in the nation's capital, especially after the team's two-week slumber to begin the year.

--Got feedback? E-mail Connor J. Byrne: cbyrne@realfootball365.com.

Get more on the Washington Redskins at RealFootball365.com.
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CommentsComments: 3  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
thomas		03:57 PM
09/26/2006
I agree that the offense is starting to grasp the new concept, and that the return of Portis was badly needed. I'm not trying to ...
No.2
Bobby Hullette		04:23 PM
09/26/2006
I surely agree Thomas on everything you said . Hopefully our coaching staff is thinking the same things I'm another true diehard ...
No.3
Darryl		09:12 PM
09/27/2006
I suspect that our excellent and humble coaching staff has conveyed to the players just what a good team the Jags are. Despite a ...
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