It’s a Satisfying Finish for Redskins, Panthers

Two teams with losing records found plenty of reasons to start thinking good thoughts about next year.

The Washington Redskins finished off their season with a 3-1 run with a 20-17 victory Sunday over the Carolina Panthers, the NFL’s most successful first-year expansion team.

“This shouldn’t be our last game,” said linebacker Marvcus Patton, whose game-high nine tackles and one sack led a solid defensive effort by the Redskins (6-10). “We’re just now hitting our stride.”

Carolina came into the game hoping to become the only modern-era expansion team in U.S. major professional sports to finish at .500 in its first season, but no one found reason to complain about 7-9.

“That is something to be proud of,” Panther receiver Willie Green said. “We broke a lot of records this year. We beat the best. A lot of teams have given us respect, and normally you don’t get respect in your first year. It kind of puts pressure on us [for next year].”

The only player openly thinking about the future with a measure of apprehension was Gus Frerotte, whose 59-yard pass to Henry Ellard started an offensive surge that turned the game in the Redskins’ favor.

Frerotte said last week the rumors circulating at Redskin Park were making his life uncomfortable, and he has been the subject of trade speculation as the Redskins try to settle the Frerotte-Heath Shuler quarterback controversy.

“I don’t know what’s going to take place,” said Frerotte, who started because Shuler broke his finger in last week’s game against the Rams. “This was a very difficult season. A lot of situations have happened. It’s going to be good to take some time off and think about everything.”

The Redskins’ offense came alive in the third quarter after going three-and-out on four consecutive possessions.

With the score tied, 10-10, and the ball on the Redskins’ seven following a punt, Ellard blew by rookie cornerback Tyrone Poole for a 59-yard reception. On the next play, Michael Westbrook ran 33 yards on a reverse to set up Terry Allen’s one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

On Washington’s next series, Westbrook made a leaping catch for a 32-yard gain to set up Eddie Murray’s 32-yard field goal. The Redskin defense, ranked 20th in the league going into the game, did the rest, forcing the Panthers into a punt or interception on every second-half possession until a touchdown pass from Kerry Collins to Green with 35 seconds remaining.

The Panthers’ last hope ended when the Redskins recovered the subsequent on-side kick.