Sports Talk: Skin of Their Teeth

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THE REDSKINS CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY. So, why are their fingernails gnawed down to the nubs?

Halfway through the season, Washington has a guaranteed role in the race for the playoffs. Whether they'll be playing victor or spoiler will be determined by a few key hits and some last-minute kicks.

"It's going to come down to close ballgames," Gibbs said. "I was thrilled to get that [win over the Jets]. We were in a big hole to start the game off. I think it showed a lot of character for our guys."

Married to an offense that refuses to put up big numbers and a defense that rarely breaks down, the Redskins (5-3) figure to play a series of close games down the stretch. Six of Washington's first eight games have been decided by one possession. They're 4-2 in those matchups.

"I think it's building character," safety Pierson Prioleau said. "Nobody ever wants to be in a game that can go either way at the end of the game. But at the same time, us being in those positions so often gives us experience ... so if we do get in a jam at the end of the game, we don't panic."

Still, Washington was just 3-7 in one-possession games in the second half of the last two seasons. They won their final five games in 2005 to make the playoffs, but those victories came by an average of two touchdowns.

One facet to keep an eye on will be the seasonal re-emergence of the running game. The Redskins have been able to ratchet up the running game in recent winters, with Ladell Betts running for 100 yards five times in the second half last year. Clinton Portis - who broke out of a funk with 196 yards in a win over the Jets last week - set a team record with 1,516 rushing yards in 2005.

"We do tend to play the second half of the season a hell of a lot better [running the ball]," fullback Mike Sellers said. "So, maybe that's something for us to look forward to."

If there's a magic number in all this, it may be 20 points - the Redskins are 3-0 this year when hitting that mark. Washington's remaining road opponents - including Dallas and the Giants - have given up 20 points or more to just six of 16 visitors this season.

They'll try to hit that total for a second time this weekend at FedEx Field against the Eagles (3-5) , a squad in desperate need of a win if it wants to re-establish its own playoff dreams.

"You've just got to find a way to have leads in the second half of the season and protect it on defense," defensive end Phillip Daniels said. "If we have to win the way we're winning - it's a 'W,' We'll take it any day."

» THE BIG THREE

Here's a look at three games the Redskins must win if they expect to make the playoffs for a second time under head coach Joe Gibbs.

Dec. 2 vs. Buffalo: By this point, the Bills should be out of the playoff picture while the Redskins will be coming off tough road games at Dallas and Tampa Bay.

Dec. 23 at Minnesota: On paper, the Vikings are the easiest road game of the four remaining on Washington's schedule. But NFL single-game rushing king Adrian Peterson still won't be easy to hold down.

Dec. 30 vs. Dallas: What could be better than a home finale against the Cowboys with the playoffs on the line? It will be hard for Washington to make the playoffs without beating Dallas in at least one of their two remaining matchups.

» WHAT TO WATCH FOR

When the Eagles have the ball:
WR Kevin Curtis vs. CB Fred Smoot

The first time these two teams played, Curtis was relatively insignificant. His four receptions went for just 28 yards and no touchdowns. The next week, however, Curtis rattled off 11 catches for 221 yards and three touchdowns. He hasn't come anywhere near those numbers since, but he is a big-play threat. He is averaging 17.1 yards per catch this season and has scored on 43-, 68- and 75-yard passes (one of which came against a team other than the Lions). After a disastrous season last year, the Redskins have been good at controlling the deep threat. Washington has allowed 19 passes over 20 yards, which ranks eighth in the league, and two passes over 40 yards, which is better than all but two teams. Smoot hurt his hamstring during last week's game at the Jets but stayed in the game. He's been solid since Carlos Rogers went down with a knee injury, but this week will test his deep coverage.

When the Redskins have the ball:
RB Clinton Portis vs. LB Chris Gocong

The Redskins have made no secret about what they want to do. The want to run the ball (the majority of time to Clinton Portis) and put it down the throat of opposing run defenses. Last week, against the Jets mediocre defense, they had no problem, rushing for 296 yards on 48 carries (36 of which went to Portis). But the Eagles, who allow just 92.9 rushing yards per game, won't be as easy a target. Strong side linebacker Gocong will know where the ball is going because Washington runs to the left behind Chris Samuels and Pete Kendall (and away from the injured right side of the line) most of the time. In the fourth quarter against the Jets, the Redskins ran 13 times and passed once. Eight of those runs were to the left side.

» X FACTORS

Eagles RB Brian Westbrook
Westbrook is the factor for the Philadelphia offense. He has more than 1,000 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns through the first half of the year. He's a back that will hurt teams as much through the air as on the ground. In nine career games against his hometown Redskins, the Dematha prodigy has averaged 58.3 yards rushing and 38.6 yards receiving. He also has three career touchdowns against Washington. Though none of those scores came in the team's first meeting this season, Westbrook put up 162 yards in that game.

Redskins WR Santana Moss
It's hard to believe Santana Moss' best game of the season came all the way back in Week 2 against the Eagles. It wasn't a dominating performance, but the Redskins' No. 1 receiver caught six balls for 89 yards, including a 48-yard bomb. It's possible that Moss won't break out of his slump at all this year, but a game against Philadelphia's mediocre beat up secondary (Brian Dawkins played last week for the first time in six weeks) seems like as good an opportunity as any.

Written by Express contributor Eric Brandner
Photos by John McDonnell/The Washington Post