Redskin Defense Is a Real Showstopper

All week, Gregg Williams, the assistant head coach in charge of the Washington Redskin defense, challenged the unit to make amends for an earlier loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in which it gave up 36 points.

The players had their own goal: to play like the top defense they believe they are.

Mission accomplished on both fronts as the Washington defense registered two takeaways that led to touchdowns and gave up only one offensive touchdown to help the Redskins escape Raymond James Stadium with a 17-10 victory Saturday in an NFC wild-card round playoff game.

The defense had to dominate as the offense finished with only 120 yards, breaking the previous NFL record for fewest yards by a winning team in the postseason. The Ravens had owned that dubious mark with 134 yards when they defeated the Tennessee Titans, 24-10, on Jan. 7, 2001.

Washington, which will play the NFC’s top-seeded team, the Seattle Seahawks, on Saturday, extended its winning streak to six games and earned its first postseason victory since the 1992-93 season.

The Redskins nearly squandered any hope of another week in the playoffs courtesy of an ineffective offense that constantly put the onus on the defense to secure the victory. But the defensive players didn’t seem to mind.

“We want to play dominating defense,” defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin said. “Gregg Williams talks about dominating. No matter what happens, we’re going to stick together and hit you for 60 minutes. We always want to dominate and take the game over.”

The offense managed only three of its nine first downs and 42 yards in the second half.

“We couldn’t run it, and obviously, we didn’t throw well either, but our defense was incredible,” said quarterback Mark Brunell, who completed only seven of 15 passes for 41 yards with one interception and was sacked twice. “They won this game for us.”

Washington benefited from karma and effort in the fourth quarter. Trailing, 17-10, with a third-and-10 play at the Redskin 35-yard line, Tampa Bay appeared to score a touchdown when quarterback Chris Simms connected with receiver Edell Shepherd.

The play recalled a similar Simms-to-Shepherd touchdown that led to a controversial two-point conversion that held up under review and helped the Buccaneers edge the Redskins, 36-35, on Nov. 13.

But officials ruled that Shepherd did not have possession as he was brought down by cornerback Carlos Rogers. Tampa Bay Coach Jon Gruden challenged the ruling, but it was upheld.

After a fruitless Washington series, punter Derrick Frost shanked a 14-yard punt, giving the Buccaneers the ball at their 46 with 65 seconds left. But on the ensuing play, Simms’ pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage by Griffin and intercepted by linebacker Marcus Washington, securing the victory for the Redskins.

Another tipped pass led to Washington’s first touchdown. Defensive tackle Joe Salave’a got a hand on a Simms pass intended for Joey Galloway, and linebacker LaVar Arrington hauled in the interception and returned it 21 yards to Tampa Bay’s six . Five seconds later, running back Clinton Portis burst through the left side to give the Redskins a 7-0 lead.

On the Buccaneers’ ensuing series, Washington stripped running back Carnell Williams of the ball at the Redskin 33. Washington picked up the ball and gained seven yards before he was stripped by guard Dan Buenning at the 41. Safety Sean Taylor corralled the loose ball and returned it 51 yards for the touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

Tampa Bay scored its only touchdown on a Simms’ two-yard run in the third quarter.

“The last time, we did not hold up our end of the bargain when we came down here,” Williams said. “We got beat over the top in coverage, and I know they got sick and tired of me all week long of hammering that into them, that we were not going to get beat over the top in coverage this week.”

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Washington lost two defensive players. Defensive tackle Renaldo Wynn will miss the rest of the postseason after breaking his right forearm. Demetric Evans played in Wynn’s place. And Taylor was ejected late in the third quarter for allegedly spitting in the face of Buccaneer running back Michael Pittman. Williams said Taylor told him that he did not spit in Pittman’s face.

“I believe him,” Williams said.