Redskins Take It to Next Level: Not Bad

For the Washington Redskins, three consecutive wins mean they can say, “We told you so.”

Derided as the worst team in football after an 0-5 start, the Redskins won their third straight Sunday with a 27-14 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Each win has been more impressive than the last, and this one was sheer dominance.

“I’ve been trying to tell you, it’s going to happen,” said linebacker LaVar Arrington, who had a key fumble recovery late in the first half before leaving with a sprained ankle. “I didn’t know when it was going to happen, but I knew at some point it was going to happen; the turnaround was going to take place.

“We’ve got a healthy chip on our shoulders. We’ve been ridiculed, we’ve been scrutinized, and we’re not forgetting that. We’re going to ride this all the way out. We’re going to ride with a chip on our shoulder all the way out.”

Stephen Davis ran 32 times for 142 yards and scored the first touchdown on the ground for the Redskins (3-5) this season against one of the best rushing defenses in the league. The defense chased quarterback Matt Hasselbeck after a half, augmenting the stewing quarterback controversy in Seattle (3-4).

“We weren’t ready to play,” Coach Mike Holmgren said. “That starts with me. Our emotions weren’t what they have been.... You have stinkers. Our offense, in particular, is going through some growing pains.”

Hasselbeck was six for 12 for 127 yards with two interceptions, one fumble and an intentional grounding call. He was pulled with Seattle trailing 20-7 in favor of Trent Dilfer, who is 2-0 as a starter with the Seahawks and 13-0 over the last 12 months.

One of the interceptions wasn’t Hasselbeck’s fault--Darrell Jackson bobbled the ball right into David Terrell’s lap. But Hasselbeck often was pressured and had few chances because of the Redskins’ two-to-one advantage in first-half time of possession.

Holmgren said he’ll decide Tuesday who starts next week, but Hasselbeck’s version of the coach’s halftime speech made the situation sound very much in flux.

“He came in and told me: ‘You’re not doing things my way. You’re still trying to do things your way. Until you’re ready to do things my way, you’re not going to play.’ I know exactly what he was talking about,” Hasselbeck said.

Washington’s Tony Banks completed 15 of 23 passes for 152 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He has six touchdowns and two interceptions in his last four games.

The Redskins’ longest touchdown drive of the season had lasted just 2 minutes, 44 seconds. But, on Sunday, they controlled the defensive line of the Seahawks for TD drives of 4:34, 7:50 and 5:33. Davis became the first back to rush for more than 52 yards against the Seahawks, who were ranked fifth against the run.

“Our players understand what they’re trying to do far better than a month ago,” said Washington Coach Marty Schottenheimer, whose job no longer appears in imminent jeopardy.

“We like to run the ball. If you can run the ball in this league, you’ve got a good chance of winning.”

The only downside was Arrington’s injury, a severe ankle sprain that will probably keep the team’s emerging leader out for several weeks. Washington has a bye next weekend.