Redskins Come to Own Defense

The Washington Redskins, the team with the worst-ranked defense in the NFL, a guy named Gus at quarterback and a nondescript head coach who could be mistaken for the equipment manager, are in first place in the NFC East Division after 11 weeks--the very same division that houses the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.

By NFL standards, this should be a documented miracle.

The Redskins, losers of eight consecutive games to the Eagles, came to Veterans Stadium on Sunday in what was supposed to be one more depressing leg on a five-game death march. Losers of two straight already, the Redskins figured to be no match for the Eagles here, before moving on to being buried by San Francisco and Dallas.

But Washington scored first, kept on scoring, and with the game on the line in front of 66,834 screaming fans, the Redskins called on their defense to secure a 26-21 victory over Philadelphia.

“We proved we’re not a bad football team like everybody thought,” said Redskin safety Stanley Richard, in acknowledging the prevailing opinion.

This is the same team that a week ago allowed Boomer Esiason, a senior citizen at quarterback for the wretched Arizona Cardinals, to throw for 522 yards and record a 37-34 overtime victory at Washington.

“We never let anything bother us,” said Norv Turner, who identified himself as the Redskins’ head coach.

To dream the impossible dream: Two weeks ago, the Buffalo Bills pounded Washington’s defense for 266 rushing yards. The Redskins’ last two opponents averaged 37.5 points a game, and lacked the firepower packed by the Eagles. Washington (8-3) is in first place, and yet the opposition has 49 more first downs and 648 more net yards.

“We’ve stunned people a bunch over the course of time,” said Ron Lynn, the Redskins’ defensive coordinator who listened to the Washington faithful a week ago chant, “Lynn must go.”

“Nobody thought we should have been 7-1. Then we lose to Buffalo and Arizona and the ‘I told you so’s’ were bouncing all over again. We’re just trying to get the job done, and all we did today was win a game--on the road against a division opponent.”

Oh no, the victory over Philadelphia (7-4) had a far more reaching impact. A Philadelphia victory might have been a division-clincher considering the Eagles gimme-schedule down the stretch. Washington’s victory, however, paved the way for the resurrection of the Cowboys (6-4).

Dallas has two games left with the Redskins. Troy Aikman-Emmitt Smith-Michael Irvin against the Washington defense--now is that fair? (Answer: The Redskins, who won only six games a year ago, defeated the Cowboys twice and limited them to an average of 20 points a game.)

“This is a team that can compete with anybody,” said Redskin running back Brian Mitchell, and maybe they can.

The Eagles had more first downs, more yards rushing and more yards passing than the Redskins, but the miracle-workers waltzed off with the victory.

“We didn’t get the job done--period,” said Ray Rhodes, the Eagles’ irritated coach. “We did not play well, and I have to find out why.”

Jamie Asher--and it takes a check of the program to know what team he plays for and what position he plays--scored the second and third touchdowns of his two-year NFL career. (Answer: Washington, tight end).

Asher defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, and isn’t this some kind of supernatural happening? Asher caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Gus Frerotte, a seven-yard touchdown pass from Frerotte, and if Frerotte had been on target more, he could have had a third- and fourth-touchdown catch.

“We didn’t do a real good job of covering him,” said Rhodes, and forgive him if he didn’t know the tight end’s name.

Kicker Scott Blanton contributed field goals of 37, 22, 30 and 33 yards for the Redskins, and after Ricky Watters ran for two Philadelphia touchdowns and quarterback Ty Detmer threw to wide receiver Chris T. Jones for another score, the outcome rested on Washington’s defense.

With more than four minutes remaining, the Redskins dropped Watters for an eight-yard loss, sacked Detmer for minus-seven yards and then forced an incomplete pass. Has the Washington defense played any better this season on three plays in a row?

“We’re not that bad,” said defensive tackle Sean Gilbert.

Sure, and with 1:15 remaining, the Eagles had the ball again and went 52 yards in four plays to the Redskins’ 20-yard line. And still had 24 seconds to get the ball into the end zone to win.

The longest week of Lynn’s life was not over: “It was like having a festering wound and the flies were around it all day,” he said.

First and 10 and Irving Fryar was unable to make a one-handed catch in the end zone. Second and 10 with 19 seconds left and Mark Seay went right while Detmer’s pass sailed incomplete left.

“I’m nervous,” Lynn said, “But I’m still feeling we’re going to win.”

Third and 10 with 15 seconds left and Detmer’s pass went through Jones’ hands--and that would have been a touchdown.

Fourth and 10 with 10 seconds left and Detmer’s pass failed to find Freddie Solomon, and the Redskins were in first place all by themselves.

“Now let’s beat the Niners,” yelled Asher, and remember, he plays tight end for Washington.