(photo by Brian Murphy)

1. “The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance” Vampire Weekend

The three highest-paid players on the 2009 Washington Redskins are defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, running back Clinton Portis and cornerback DeAngelo Hall. In related news, the Redskins were without the services of Haynesworth, Portis and Hall because of various injuries.

With that in mind, it shouldn’t really come as a surprise that the Redskins lost to the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Stadium, 27-24.

After all, they’ve lost eight of 11 games this season and 14 of their last 19 games overall. Add in a nine-game losing streak on the road and falling to a talented divisional rival in their hostile stadium was to be expected.

With most of the “name” players out of action, the Redskins took on the Eagles with essentially their junior varsity squad featuring unheralded guys like Rock Cartwright, Quinton Ganther, Marcus Mason, H.B. Blades, Lorenzo Alexander, Justin Tryon, Kareem Moore, Byron Westbrook, Lendy Holmes and Kevin Barnes.

These guys aren’t just blue collar – they’re happy to be collecting paychecks. They don’t have egos. They don’t walk around like they’re better than anyone else. They might not possess the natural talent that bigger names have, but they’re committed to doing anything and everything they can to help their team. Most importantly, they play each snap as if it might be their last, which is exactly the type of attitude coaches love.

2. “Description of a Fool” by A Tribe Called Quest

God bless Andy Reid.

The Eagles, more than any other team in football, give the Redskins fits. They have an aggressive defense that constantly applies pressure in a variety of different ways and an offense that isn’t afraid to take shots downfield or dial up trick plays when opponents least expect it.

Basically, when everything is clicking for Philly, they’re going to roll over the Redskins – which is clearly illustrated by the fact that they’ve swept the season series against Washington five of the last eight seasons. But it’s difficult to imagine just how lethal the Eagles could be if Reid didn’t continually find ways to get in his own way.

Think back to the Eagles’ 27-17 win at FedEx Field in Week 7. The Eagles basically won the game two minutes in when DeSean Jackson scored on a 67-yard run. All they had to do was continue to run their standard offense and the game would have been a blowout. Instead, for reasons that are unclear, Reid convinces himself that he has to run the Wildcat. So he kept throwing a rusty Mike Vick in at quarterback and was surprised when his offense stalled.

Fast forward to this week. The Eagles win the coin toss. They elect to defer, which essentially means they chose to kick off to the Redskins. And then they go for an onside kick, which fails miserably and gives the ‘Skins the ball on the 19-yard line. It’s as if Reid decided going into the game that he didn’t want the ball and then changed his mind at the last minute.

So instead of kicking the ball off to a 3-7 team who has been held without a touchdown three times this season, Reid got cute. The onside kick attempt fired up the Redskins and for the rest of the afternoon the Eagles were in a knock-down, drag-out brawl against an inferior team.

3. “Sideways” by Citizen Cope

Late in the first half, the Redskins led the game 14-10. Quarterback Jason Campbell joined punter Hunter Smith as the only Redskins player to run for and throw a touchdown pass this season, and a dangerous Eagles offense was struggling to get things going.

Unfortunately, a pair of Campbell interceptions, both by cornerback Asante Samuel, provided the wake-up call Philadelphia needed and the Eagles went into halftime up 16-14. It’s always a futile effort to second guess the playcalling the day after a loss, but we found it surprising that the Redskins went back to the passing game after the Eagles kicked a fieldgoal with 49 seconds left in the half to pull within one, at 14-13.

Had the ‘Skins been content to play it safe and simply run out the clock, they go into halftime with momentum still in their favor. But Campbell dropped back again and Samuel picked him off again. David Akers kicked another fieldgoal and the Eagles were back in business.

In the fourth quarter, linebacker Chris Wilson hit Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb as he released the ball and his pass floated in the air for roughly six minutes (give or take). When it finally came down, Tryon had his first-career interception and the Redskins took over on the 23-yard line with a 21-16 lead.

In the first half, the team went aggressive when they probably shouldn’t have. Now, with a fourth-quarter lead, the ‘Skins inexplicably opted to go vanilla and seemingly played for the fieldgoal attempt, even though Philadelphia would still only need one score to tie the game.

It wasn’t an Andy Reid caliber blunder, but the coaching decisions on those two drives definitely factored into the final outcome.

4. “Bring The Pain” by Method Man

Over the last few years, two Eagles players have had their way with the Redskins defense. First it was running back Brian Westbrook, who seemingly always saved his best for the Redskins. Recently, it’s been DeSean Jackson running circles around an otherwise-impressive Redskins defense.

Well, the Redskins have found an answer for those two playmakers, and his name is London Fletcher.

Back in October, Fletcher applied the “hit stick” on Westbrook and he’s been battling concussion symptoms ever since. On Sunday, Fletcher finally caught up with Jackson and delivered a punishing blow that knocked out Philly’s top offensive weapon out with … you guessed it … a concussion.

We’re not here to make light of head injuries or to kick a player when he’s down. We’re simply pointing out that in their last two matchups, Fletcher has K.O.ed the Eagles’ go-to players. The rest of the league can continue to overlook the magnificent play of Fletcher, but we’ve got a feeling that, if nothing else, the fine people of Philly will make sure they know where he is and what he’s doing at all times from here on out.

5. “Never Change” by Jay-Z

Last week, the Redskins outplayed a divisional rival on the road, only to fall apart in the fourth quarter and walk away with a painful loss. One week after the Dallas defeat, it was more of the same, as the ‘Skins couldn’t find a way to close out a game they had no business losing.

We fully understand that in both instances, the better team won. And yes, the Redskins are so crippled with injuries that they’re forced to field a team of no names. And we’ll even agree that, for the first time this year, the offense is finally showing signs of being competent. But that doesn’t mean anyone in the Redskins’ locker room is happy with the outcome.

“There really aren’t any moral victories out there,” said linebacker Brian Orakpo. “We’re just very disappointed that we didn’t close these last two games out. We had these games and just don’t know how to finish right now. We have played 90 percent good in these games, but it’s the remaining 10 percent that we’re failing ourselves.”

Nothing good comes out of winning the first 57 minutes of a football game. If the Redskins are going to return to respectability, they’re going to need to learn how to close out opponents. Moving forward, the Redskins coaches need to make smarter decisions and the players need to do a better job of executing when the game is on the line. It’s not fancy and it’s not glamorous. But it’s effective.

(photo by Brian Murphy)

When the Washington Redskins take on the Philadelphia Eagles this weekend, they’d be wise to pay attention and take notes.

Not only are they 6-4 compared to Washington’s 3-7 record, but the Eagles have also accomplished something that the ‘Skins are seemingly incapable of grasping – infusing youth into their lineup.

We fully realize that it’s blasphemous to suggest the Redskins should try to be more like a division rival, but the simple fact is the Eagles have figured out how to completely revamp their receiving corps on the fly, while the Redskins still have no what the future holds for their young pass catchers.

Fact: the Eagles’ top four receivers – DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant and Brent Celek – have three years or less NFL experience.

Sobering fact: the best of the Redskins youngsters, tight end Fred Davis, ranks fourth on the team in catches. Not bad, until you realize he only had seven catches in the first six games before an injury to Pro Bowler Chris Cooley forced the team to work Davis into the mix. Rounding out the pack, Devin Thomas ranks sixth on the team in receptions, Malcolm Kelly is eighth and Marko Mitchell ranks 11th.

Because we’ve always loved digging into the numbers, we decided to take an in-depth look at how the Redskins and Eagles have utilized their young receivers during first 10 games. Here’s what we learned:

Thomas has been on the field for 320 out of the team’s 634 total offensive plays (50.4 percent). Thomas has been targeted 27 times and has 12 catches (44.4 percent catch rate) for 141 yards and one touchdown. He averages 11.8 yards per catch and his longest reception was for 27 yards.

Kelly has been on the field for 309 out of the team’s 634 total offensive plays (48.7 percent). Kelly has been targeted 21 times and has 10 catches (47.6 percent catch rate) for 131 yards. He averages 13.1 yards per catch and his longest reception was for 36 yards.

Davis has been on the field for 283 out of the team’s 634 total offensive plays (44.6 percent). Thomas has been targeted 30 times and has 23 catches (76.6 percent catch rate) for 223 yards and one touchdown. He averages 9.7 yards per catch and his longest reception was for 24 yards.

Mitchell has been on the field for 32 out of the team’s 634 total offensive plays (5 percent). Mitchell has been targeted twice and has two catches (100 percent catch rate) for 22 yards. He averages 11 yards per catch and his longest reception was for 11 yards.

If you add up the numbers for all four players, they’ve been targeted 80 times and have 47 catches for 517 yards and two touchdowns. Sadly, two Philadelphia players – Jackson and Celek – have better individual production than all four Redskins receivers combined.

Here’s the Eagles’ breakdown:

Jackson has been on the field for 435 out of the team’s 579 total offensive plays (75.1 percent). For the season, Jackson has 42 catches for 728 yards and five touchdowns.

Maclin has been on the field for 436 out of the team’s 579 total offensive plays (75.3 percent). For the season, Maclin has 37 catches for 477 yards and four touchdowns.

Avant has been on the field for 357 out of the team’s 579 total offensive plays (61.6 percent). For the season, Avant has 27 catches for 380 yards and two touchdowns.

Celek has been on the field for 504 out of the team’s 579 total offensive plays (87 percent). For the season, Celek has 50 catches for 568 yards and five touchdowns.

That means the Eagles have gotten 156 catches for 2,153 yards and 16 touchdowns out of their quartet. Not only does Philadelphia know all four players are bona fide NFL contributors, but they’re getting an average of 39 catches for 538 yards a four touchdowns per new guy. That’s a little bit better than the 11 catches for 129 yards and .5 touchdowns the Redskins have gotten out of their youth movement, wouldn’t you say?

Here’s our issue: the most active member of the Redskins’ Future Four (Thomas) has been on the field for half of the team’s offensive snaps. Conversely, all four Eagles youngsters have participated in more than 61 percent of Philly’s offensive snaps. This might come as a shock, but you can’t make plays if you’re not on the field.

We’ve said it before and we’ll continue to say it again and again until someone at Redskins Park gets the hint – the season is over. The Redskins will not be making the playoffs in 2009. Screw playing for pride. Put in every young player you’ve got on the roster and see what they’ve got.

You’re not winning with Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El as the focal point of the passing game, so try something different. Start Thomas and Kelly. Ensure that each player is targeted no less than five or six times every game. Continue to increase Davis’ role. Remember that Mitchell is still a member of the Washington Redskins.

What’s the worst that happens; you continue to lose? That’s been happening since Jim Zorn arrived in town. There will be major changes during this offseason. The coach is gone. The starting quarterback is too. Who knows what other names will be shown the door. With all that going on, wouldn’t it be nice to know if, moving forward, the team can count on Thomas, Kelly, Davis and/or Mitchell?

(photo by Brian Murphy)

By now, everyone is familiar with the “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” dilemma. Well, over the weekend, we participated in the Washington Redskins’ equivalent – “Who do we blame, Jason Campbell or the offensive line?”

Regular readers of this site know where we stand on the issue. We’ve always believed Campbell is good, but not great. He’s not the type of player who can throw an entire team on his back and single-handedly guide them to victory, but if he’s surrounded by the proper weapons, he’s good enough to get the job done.

Unfortunately, this year’s he’s stuck behind a below-average offensive line that’s been decimated with injuries and the entire offense has suffered because of it.

If the coaches dare to call any play involving more than a three-step drop, they run the risk of killing their quarterback. The Redskins offense takes a shot downfield once a game, not because there’s a chance they’ll complete it, but more so they can say they tried. For Redskins receivers to gain any significant amount of yards, they need to catch a quick pass, make a defender or two miss and then focus on gaining yards after the catch.

Our buddy, who we’ll refer to as “Bart,” refuses to buy into this line of thinking. He’s of the mindset that the Redskins offensive line would be perfectly fine, if not for injuries to tackle Chris Samuels and guard Randy Thomas. Concerning the team’s lack of depth on the offensive line, he challenged me to name any team in the NFL that has a great left tackle backing up a Pro Bowl left tackle. Bart is convinced the Skins had four starters locked in, if everyone remained healthy – even though Thomas hasn’t been healthy in three years and Samuels showed signs of breaking down last season. Bart was on a roll; logic be damned.

“Frankly, as often as Campbell may take a quick hit, he takes a late hit for not getting the ball out on time,” he said.

Bart finished up his argument saying, “Seriously, how long are we going to baby Campbell? He simply doesn’t throw the ball on any rhythm. He could make our line look great by throwing on time and limiting the rush.”

So, to recap, we’ve got Bart firmly convinced that the offense is stuck in neutral because Campbell simply doesn’t throw the ball on time. We’re of the mindset that Campbell does his Patrick Ramsey imitation because he knows that, more times than not, the guys called upon to protect him are going to fail. With neither of us willing to budge, we turned to a fair and impartial voice of reason – Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen.

“The Redskins could have Peyton Manning back there and it wouldn’t matter behind THAT offensive line,” Jurgensen said.

Bart tried his best to convince the Hall of Famer, but daddy wasn’t buying it. Mind you, Jurgensen is the same man who said the Redskins would have been 4-0 to start the year if they’d have gone with backup quarterback Todd Collins instead of Campbell. He’s by no means a blind homer or even a Campbell supporter. Jurgensen simply believes that the front office has neglected the offensive line for too long and the team is now paying the price.

We bring this debate up because we also learned some interesting news this past weekend. It seems owner Daniel Snyder has been a busy man these days. Two weeks ago, he was apparently on the sidelines of a Notre Dame practice, watching Fighting Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen in action. This past weekend, while in Texas for the Cowboys game, Snyder personally attended the University of Texas’ thrashing of Kansas 51-20. Word is he was there to evaluate Heisman hopeful Colt McCoy.

Look, anyone familiar with the Redskins knows the chances of head coach Jim Zorn and/or Campbell being around next season is somewhere between slim and none. And we’re bracing ourselves for the inevitable – namely Vinny Cerrato surviving the shake-up and keeping his job as the team’s vice president for football operations. Smart money says if any of those three is likely to remain employed at Redskins Park, it’s Cerrato. Fine. If it plays out that way, we’ll live with it.

We know that no one involved in the Redskins’ decision-making process gives a damn about what we think. But Sonny Jergensen is a completely different story. He’s a Hall of Famer and is someone who the owner has a great deal of respect for. When Sonny talks, Snyder listens.

If the team is going to roll the dice and use their first-round pick on a young quarterback – whether it be Clausen, McCoy or any of the other big names out there – they better spend the rest of the offseason focusing on their offensive line.

Randy Thomas is done. In all likelihood, the same holds true for Chris Samuels. Tackle Stephon Heyer can help provide depth, but probably shouldn’t be a starter. Guard Derrick Dockery and center Casey Rabach are both respectable, but nothing more.

So use your first rounder on a quarterback and then spend every remaining pick on the offensive line. If you draft four or five big bodies, you increase the chances of filling the void. The team should also target offensive linemen via free agency or trade. Anything to upgrade the line. More importantly, anything to increase the chances that the next Redskins quarterback becomes the franchise cornerstone the team is sorely missing.

(photo by Brian Murphy)

1. “When the Music Stop” by Eminem

One week ago, the Washington Redskins pulled off an improbable 27-17 victory over the Denver Broncos, thanks largely to the inspired play of backup running back Ladell Betts and a patchwork offensive line.

Betts rushed 26 times for 114 yards and a touchdown behind the fifth-different offensive line combination the Redskins have been forced to use this season, and the ‘Skins offense finally cracked the 20-point plateau for the first time in recent memory.

Heading into a rivalry game against the Dallas Cowboys, it was safe to assume that any real chance at a Redskins victory would depend largely on those same six individuals having similar success.

So of course, in a season in which nothing has gone right for Washington, Betts and offensive lineman Chad Rinehart were both injured during the game and lost for the year. Adding insult to injury, the Redskins lost to the hated Cowboys 7-6.

Betts lasted just five carries into the bout before suffering a knee injury in the first quarter, while Rinehart suffered a broken fibula and had to be carted off the field in the third quarter. We later discovered Betts tore his ACL and MCL, which means he won’t be playing football for the foreseeable future.

With Betts sidelined and Clinton Portis still not fully recovered after suffering a concussion against the Atlanta Falcons a couple of weeks ago, an already beleaguered Redskins offense was left wondering who exactly would be able to provide the offense against an aggressive Cowboys’ defense.

2. “Overcome” by Bubba Sparxxx

During Rock Cartwright’s eight seasons in Washington, he’s been primarily known for his above-average kick returning abilities. He’s also listed as a running back, but you’d have to take our word for it – as evident by his 12 carries for 29 yards over the last three seasons.

Well, once Betts was forced out of the game, Cartwright stepped in as the primary ball carrier and was easily the best thing the ‘Skins had going for them on offense. Cartwright carried the ball 13 times for 67 yards (5.2 per carry) and also chipped in seven catches for 73 yards. That’s 20 touches for 140 yards, which means the Texas native was basically good for seven yards every time he touched the ball.

The question of the day was simply – how was Cartwright able to step in and carry the ball in one game as many times as he had the previous three seasons and look like he hadn’t missed a beat?

“Regardless of the situation, I prepare each week as if I’m the starter,” Cartwright said.

Listed at 5-8 and 213 lbs., Cartwright is one of the smallest Redskins on the roster. But it’s days like these when Skins fans realize just how lucky we are to have such high-character guys like Rock. He doesn’t bitch or moan when he’s not given the ball. He simply practices harder and waits for his time, knowing full well that once he gets his shot, he’s going to make the best of it.

“The perception of me is that I’m just a special teams guy,” Cartwright said. “But I know in my heart I can run the football. I can catch the football. I can do a lot of stuff. I can offer a lot to anybody. I just go out, try to execute, play at a high level and try to do my job. I’m just trying to do my part.”

3. “Keepin’ It Tight” by Busta Rhymes

Even as the losses pile up, the Redskins defense continues to perform at a high level. Did you realize that in the last seven quarters, the Skins defense has allowed just 10 points?

Remember Michael Turner running for nine yards a carry as Redskins defenders bounced off of him? Or Brandon Marshall running circles around the ‘Skins secondary? Yeah, well those big plays seem to be a thing of the past. For nearly two full games, the opposition has struggled to put together much of anything in the way of offense against the burgundy and gold.

Through three quarters, Cowboys Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo was held to just eight completions on 17 attempts for 98 yards. The Cowboys’ offense, which averages more than 23 points a game this season, was held scoreless and had barely 200 yards of total offense. The only thing Dallas really had going was the play of running back Marion Barber, but his fumble in the first half certainly didn’t help his team’s cause.

And yet, somehow the Cowboys still picked up the win.

4. “World of Two” by Cake

The game came down to two players – Romo and Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham. Romo made plays when his team absolutely needed them, while Suisham could not.

With time winding down in the fourth quarter and his team trailing 6-0, Romo led the Cowboys on a nine-play, 60-yard drive that ended with a Patrick Crayton touchdown catch. Sadly, the Cowboys shouldn’t have been in position to take the lead. And they wouldn’t have been, if Suisham had been more accurate.

On a day when points were at their premium, Suisham converted just two of four fieldgoal attempts. One of his misses came on a 50-yard try, which history shows he’s not likely to make, but Suisham also missed a 39-yarder that would have given the Redskins a 9-0 lead.

So even if Romo marches Dallas down the field and scores that touchdown with less than three minutes remaining, the Skins still would have held the lead, 9-7.

“You hold Dallas to seven points and they walk away with a win, something’s wrong,” said assistant coach Jerry Gray.

Truer words have never been spoken, Jerry.

5. “The Drugs Don’t Work” by Ben Harper

The Redskins now stand at 3-7. They’ve been held without a touchdown in three games this season. Their injured list – which currently features Albert Haynesworth, Clinton Portis, Ladell Betts, Chris Cooley, Chris Samuels, Randy Thomas, Chad Rinehart and Chris Horton – has more talented than most expansion teams. Some might say the situation has gotten bleak.

“I think just from the emotion of losing that game, it’s just a heart-yank for our players,” coach Jim Zorn said. “We felt like ‘here we go, we’re climbing ourselves out of it.’ I just told them I was proud of all of them. To lose that way at the end, in a hostile situation, is just so hard. It wasn’t any one thing, but at the particular time that things were happening, you were getting stabbed every time something happened, even with our injuries. Yet, we hung in there. I really believe this is a special team of players who will not just check things in being 3-7. It is bleak. Being 3-7 is bleak, and yet we’re going to come back. We’ve got a big game next week. We’re going to look at our roster, patch it up and go again.”

While fans are left to debate just how “special” the 2009 Washington Redskins are, Zorn is correct when he says this team won’t quit.

“I think everybody has too much pride just to say it’s over,” said wide out Malcolm Kelly. “Everybody in here is a grown man – half of them grown men with families. You’re not going to go out there and put your family name out there on that field just to lay down. You’re not going to let another man just bulldoze you because you think the season’s over. That’s just not going to happen.”

(photo by Bruce Bennett)

Although Alex Ovechkin only missed a handful of games, a lot has changed for the Washington Capitals while the superstar was sidelined for two weeks with an upper-body injury.

Too often, the Caps have been accused of being a one-dimensional team that goes only as far as Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Alexander Semin and Mike Green take them.

Well, 10 different Capitals scored a goal during the six games that Ovi was out of action, and suddenly, Washington appears to be a much deeper team than folks give them credit for.

With that in mind, it’s only fitting that the game-winning goal came not off the stick of Ovechkin, but from gritty forward Matt Bradley.

The game was tied 2-2 late in the third period, when the unheralded grinder stole the puck at center ice from defenseman Wade Redden, raced in on a breakaway and beat goaltender Henrik Lundqvist top shelf. Thanks to Bradley, the Capitals went on to defeat the New York Rangers 4-2, and Bruce Boudreau became the fourth fastest coach in NHL history to reach 100-career wins.

“Bradley was our MVP of the night,” said Capitals defenseman Brian Pothier.

Not all was perfect for the Caps, who fell behind 1-0 just 1:16 into the game on a goal by Rangers forward Marian Gaborik. This was not the kind of start that the Capitals were hoping for, especially considering they were 0-8-1 in their last nine visits to Madison Square Garden. And while the Rangers were only ahead by one, the ice seemed tilted for much of the first period as play largely remained in the Capitals’ defensive zone.

“They were flying for the first 10 minutes,” Pothier said. “We expected that. We knew they were going to do that, but it’s hard to contain. They have so much speed. With their coach, we knew they were going to come hard and they did.”

Sensing that his team needed a spark, Bradley decided to do something about it – dropping the gloves against Rangers tough guy Aaron Voros. Bradley fared about as well as you’d expect – he was bloodied and beaten to the point that he needed stitches – but the bout achieved his desired results and woke up his teammates.

“If you’re ever going to get into a fight at the time, I think that might’ve been one of them,” said Bradley. “It didn’t bother me. I could feel the blood coming, but there is no pain or anything. It’s just one of those things that’s more annoying than anything. You have to go in and get stitches and you have to miss five minutes.

“It won’t be my last one,” he said.

Bradley’s fight had an immediate impact, as the Caps almost instantly picked up their play. Players skated harder. They dug in the corners to fight for loose pucks and played with an energy that was clearly lacking at the start of the game. And when they did, they were rewarded with key powerplay opportunities.

As has been the case of late, good things happened when the Capitals went on the powerplay, as Washington took the lead on goals by Ovechkin and forward Brooks Laich with the man advantage. In their last 10 games, the Caps have been lethal in these situations, scoring on 12 of 34 powerplay chances (a 35.3 percent success rate), even with Ovechkin out for six of those games.

The Capitals allowed the Rangers back into the game in the third period, when Gaborik scored his second goal of the game (and fourth against the Caps this season) with Pothier in the penalty box to tie things up at 2-2. That’s when Bradley answered the call once again; scoring his aforementioned breakaway goal to help steal a victory for the shorthanded Capitals on a night they were without the services of Semin and forward Mike Knuble.

“He was pretty good,” Boudreau said of Bradley. “That’s what he’s got. He’s got oodles of character.”

During the course of a long season, role players like Bradley are absolutely vital to a team’s sustained success. Superstars like Ovechkin can do a lot of the heavy lifting, but there are going to be nights when someone else has to step up and make a play.

Playing against a talented Rangers team in a building where the Capitals rarely enjoy success, Bradley did everything short of putting on the goalie pads to propel his team to victory. His teammates love him for it. Here’s hoping Caps fans realize how much the checking line forward means to this team.

(photos by Brian Murphy)

We can’t help but laugh when we see supposed experts babble on about how defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth has somehow underachieved since joining the Washington Redskins.

Simply put, any person taking this stance is either a.) trying to say something sensational in hopes of drawing attention to himself or 2.) completely clueless.

That’s because anyone who is actually familiar with the Redskins over the last several years knows that there are several constants with this team.

Regardless of what scheme the coaches choose to run, this offense is at its best when running the football. The defense routinely ranks in the top 10, but struggles to get sacks or create turnovers. The special teams are awful whenever Antwaan Randle El is prominently involved. Okay, that last point has nothing to do with this, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

But back to the defense. Here’s a breakdown of the last five seasons:

In 2005, the Redskins defense, which ranked ninth overall, had 35 sacks on the year (tied for 20th in the NFL), and were led by defensive end Phillip Daniels with eight sacks. Linebacker Marcus Washington was second on the team with 7.5.

In 2006, the Redskins defense, which ranked 31st overall, had 19 sacks on the year (32nd in the NFL), and were led by defensive end Andre Carter with six sacks. Daniels was second on the team with three.

In 2007, the Redskins defense, which ranked eighth overall, had 33 sacks on the year (tied for 16th in the NFL), and were led by Carter with 10.5 sacks. Washington was second on the team with five.

In 2008, the Redskins defense, which ranked fourth overall, had 24 sacks on the year (tied for 28th in the NFL), and were led by Carter with four sacks. Defensive linemen Demetric Evans and Jason Taylor tied for second with 3.5.

Currently, the Redskins defense is ranked fifth overall and has 24 sacks through just nine games (tied for seventh in the NFL), led by Carter with eight sacks. Rookie linebacker Brian Orakpo is second on the team with seven.

Notice anything? Like the fact that the Redskins have already matched last season’s total of 24 sacks with seven games left on the schedule. That couldn’t be because of Fat Albert, could it?

People seem fixated on two things – the $41 million in guaranteed salary that the ‘Skins gave Haynesworth to come to D.C. and the percentage of plays Albert is in the game for (he’s second on the defensive line, behind only Carter). Okay, a third area folks pay attention to is the number of times per game Haynesworth is on the ground, apparently suffering from a catastrophic injury … or catching his breath. These things happen.

But here’s what we’re getting at – this defensive line is playing at a higher level than any other time in the last five seasons. Offenses have to double or triple team Haynesworth, which frees up guys like Carter and Orakpo to make plays. Look at the numbers:

Carter has registered seven sacks in the last five games. This from a guy who just one season ago had four sacks in 16 games. Orakpo is a rookie who has been forced to play out of his natural position because the team needs him to fill in for a thin linebacker unit.

That being said, Orakpo still has seven sacks this season, which is a new Redskins rookie record. Orakpo’s seven sacks are already the most in a season by any NFL rookie since 2006, when Chicago’s Mark Anderson registered 12.

In addition to his eight sacks, Carter also has 11 quarterback hits and 14 QB pressures this year. Orakpo has seven sacks, five hits and seven QB pressures. Throw in Haynesworth’s three sacks, eight hits and 10 QB pressures, and it’s readily apparent that Denver quarterback Chris Simms isn’t alone in looking like he’s running for his life against the Redskins’ new and improved defensive front.

“All season it seems we’ve been playing from behind,” said Orakpo, who is 10th in the league in sacks. “This game was a chance for us to really pin our ears back and go. As a defensive end, that’s our dream – to pin our ears back and create havoc.

“I’m just having fun,” Orakpo continued. “Everybody was playing with passion and enthusiasm, and it made everyone play well. Guys are really stepping up and making plays.”

With seven sacks in five games, we asked Carter if this is the best stretch of his career.

“Honestly, everything is a blur,” said Carter, who is tied for sixth in the NFL in sacks. “I just play hard. Maybe earlier in my career I’d think about that stuff, like ‘Okay, I’ve got to get there. I’ve got to make this play.’ But now, I just play hard for God, my family and the Redskins.”

We understand where you’re coming from, but at this point, we can put you down for a sack a game and know you’re going to get it …

(Laughs). “It’s just all about growth,” he said. “This is my ninth year. You’ve just got to turn it on and hope the football gods call your number. I’m just trying to make the best of this experience and whatever happens, happens.”

What about Orakpo? What have you seen from the rookie so far this year?

“Rak’s doing well,” Carter said. “Although, I have to tell him every time we get a half sack, he needs to stop taking my sacks. No … I’m very proud of him. He’s going to be a special player, and he’s coming along very well. He’ll be able to take over for me when I’m up and out of here. Hopefully, that’s not too soon.”

Even if you’re not a statistics junkie, there’s the eyeball test. Too often last year, quarterbacks had all the time in the world to make plays. This year … not so much.

“I made this comment before, and it’s hard to listen to, but last year I felt like we had some quarterbacks feel very comfortable in the pocket,” said head coach Jim Zorn. “This year we are making quarterbacks uncomfortable in the pocket. Now, you can see when a team has extended time [in the pocket] what they can do, even on that one overthrown deep pass, there was some extended time there that allowed him to see that throw. Now it was overthrown and we weren’t hurt by it, but we could’ve been severely hurt by it.

“The pressure we’re getting on the quarterback is creating the sense for the quarterback, ‘I’ve got to get rid of the ball sooner,’” Zorn continued. “We’ve created some inaccurate throws. We’ve seen this with ourselves, so we know what it does. I’m really proud of what our defense is doing this year, and I’m proud of those guys that are getting the sacks – there are some unsung heroes in that. I think the guys are working hard to get their sacks, but the team is working well.”

Zorn didn’t specifically mention Haynesworth, but then again, he didn’t need to. Anyone actually watching the Redskins week in and week out can see the impact the big man is having each and every Sunday.

(photo by Brian Murphy)

1. “Keep Ya Head Up” by 2Pac

Morale was at an all-time low. Fans spoke of staging protests, walkouts and any other form of demonstration to show their disgust. Bench the quarterback. Fire the general manager. Hell, sell the team. This is what Washington Redskins football had become in 2009.

On the field, things were just as dire. The Redskins stood 2-6 at the midpoint of the season, and even in their rare victories, there was little cause for celebration. Beating two of the league’s doormats by a combined five points does little to soothe the situation.

So it goes without saying that the Redskins 27-17 victory over the Denver Broncos Sunday was just what the doctor ordered. Not only did the good guys get a win in a season in which they’ve been hard to come by, but they did so in a completely satisfying manner.

Beating the winless St. Louis Rams 9-7 with a woeful “offense” consisting of just three fieldgoals doesn’t cut it. Beating the 6-2 Broncos in a game in which you trailed three different times and broke the 17-point barrier for the first time all year … well … that’s a different story.

Think back to the Monday Night Football game against the Philadelphia Eagles last month. When Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson scored a 67-yard touchdown less than two minutes into the game, everyone in attendance pretty much knew the game was over.

Flash back to this week’s game and it was déjà vu all over again, as Denver wideout Brandon Marshall caught a 40-yard bomb just over two minutes into the game to give the Broncos the quick start that typically buries Washington.

“We’re not good enough to allow those kind of big plays,” defensive tackle Phillip Daniels said to us after the game.

Everything we’d seen up until this point backed Daniels up. And yet, the Redskins offense took over and promptly marched down the field with a 12-play, 78-yard touchdown drive. That drive said more about this team than anything else that’s happened this year. With every reason in the world to just give up, the Redskins “B Team” stepped up. They didn’t just put points on the board; they gave hope to a fanbase that was completely beaten down and in need of something, anything other than venom and negativity.

2. “Chillin” by Wale

If that first-quarter score was the single most important moment of the 2009 season, then who was the bona fide playmaker who made it happen? “Touchdown” Todd Yoder, of course. For the second time in as many weeks, Yoder stepped up to help fill the void created when Pro Bowler Chris Cooley was sidelined with an ankle injury during the Eagles game. His stats might not do him justice – two catches for five yards and two touchdowns – but that doesn’t mean he’s not getting it done.

Yoder is now tied with Cooley and wide out Santana Moss for the team lead in receiving touchdowns on the year. And if that doesn’t impress you, consider this – Cooley finished the 2008 season with just one touchdown catch. In two games since Yoder went Mohawk, he’s got two touchdowns. The 31-year-old has been so clutch since he changed up his hairstyle, that other members of the organization would be wise to make the switch (if you get our drift, Vinny Cerrato).

3. “You Can Do Better Than Me” by Death Cab for Cutie

Hey, remember back during the offseason when the biggest story in town was the Jay Cutler sweepstakes? Having tired of the situation in Denver, Cutler cried until the team decided to trade him and the Redskins, like several other teams, immediately contacted the Broncos to inquire about the situation.

At the end of the day, the Chicago Bears “won” the right to have Cutler throw five interceptions a game while the Broncos brought in Kyle Orton and the Redskins were left with Jason Campbell and his bruised ego. So it was fitting that Campbell and Orton squared off in a game we jokingly referred to as the Bridesmaid’s Bowl.

Orton was forced out of the game at halftime with an ankle strain, but still ended up with solid numbers, completing 11 of 18 passes for 193 yards, two touchdowns and an impressive 134.7 QB rating. Campbell wasn’t too shabby himself, completed 17 of 26 passes for 193 yards, one touchdown and a 100.3 QB rating. Campbell also completed passes to nine different Redskins receivers.

4. “The Fixer” by Pearl Jam

Campbell and Orton weren’t the only two players throwing passes at FedEx Field Sunday. When Orton was injured, Denver backup Chris Simms (minus his spleen) was called into action. In related news, the game quickly took a turn for the worse for the Broncos with Orton sidelined.

Simms completed just three of his 13 attempts for 13 yards with an interception. And with no production from the quarterback position, Denver quickly fell apart, as illustrated by their 36 yards of total offense after halftime.

On the flip side, we have Hunter “The Punter” Smith, who you might remember from such films as “I rush for touchdowns for fun” back in Week 1. Well, Smith was called into action on a 53-yard fake fieldgoal attempt in the second quarter that should have failed on multiple levels, and yet, somehow worked.

For starters, the Redskins faced fourth down and 20. The odds of converting that play are slim. They’re even worse when you take the field with only 10 men, as the Redskins initially did. Once the coaches realized they were missing a player, the team was forced to burn a timeout. The problem was – just before the time out was called, the Redskins shifted out of field goal formation, with kicker Shaun Suisham going in motion and lining up as a receiver.

So really, the Redskins showed their hand to the Broncos and then dared to run the play anyway. And somehow the second time was a charm. Smith took the snap and immediately rolled right. Inexplicably, the Broncos were still completely caught off guard and Smith had all the time in the world to scan the field for any possible options to throw the ball to.

Finally, in what seemed like an eternity later, Hunter found fullback Mike Sellers, who was completely wide open down the left sideline. The Redskins scored the backbreaking touchdown and from that moment on, had all the moment in their favor.

So while fans can debate whether the Broncos were wise to choose Orton over Campbell, there is no debate that they’d have been better off with Smith instead of Simms, who finished the day with an embarrassing passer rating of 7.5.

Hunter “The Punter” went one for one for 35 yards, a touchdown and a perfect 158.3 QB rating, which means he beat Simms by a mere 150.8 in the QB rating department.

Question of the day: what would you have said if before the season we told you that two of your most productive offensive weapons would be Todd Yoder and Hunter Smith?

“I’d have said you’re crazy, man,” admitted linebacker Brian Orakpo.

And you know what? We wouldn’t have blamed you.

5. “So Fresh, So Clean” by Outkast

As we were driving to the game, we couldn’t help but think of Bill Simmons, of ESPN.com fame. For years he’s touted something called the Ewing Theory, which is named after former New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing and claims that when a longtime superstar who has never won a championship leaves a team via injury, trade or free agency, and the media writes the team off, that team will actually play better.

With running back Clinton Portis out of action thanks to a concussion, coupled with an offensive line that has been routinely criticized all season long, we couldn’t help but think the Broncos game was the perfect opportunity for D.C. fans to see the Ewing Theory in action.

So the Redskins turned to running back Ladell Betts, who got his first start since 2006, and he responded with 114 rushing yards on 26 attempts, averaging 4.4 yards per carry and scored the game-winning touchdown. He wasn’t flashy. Instead Betts simply took the handoff and fought for as many yards as the Denver defense would allow him.

The Redskins finished the day with a season-high 388 total net yards. The team’s 174 rushing yards were also a season high, as well as the ‘Skins 35 minutes and 43 seconds in time of possession. Basically, Betts was everything the Redskins have lacked in the rushing game this season, and his effort helped fuel an offense that has been nonexistent for most of the season.

So now, the question becomes – what happens when Portis returns to the lineup? Do the Redskins stick with Betts or return to Portis?

Heading forward this is easily the most intriguing subplot in the second half of the Redskins’ season.