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Redskins' foes: Bears, fatigue PRO FOOTBALL
Last 11 days tumultuous for Redskins
Date published: 12/6/2007
BY ADAM HIMMELSBACH They have been 11 of the most tumultuous days in the history of the Redskins. It all started on Nov. 26, when safety Sean Taylor was shot during an attempted burglary at his Miami-area home. Taylor died the following morning, and the Redskins spent the rest of the week in a daze as they prepared for their game against the Buffalo Bills. They set out to win the game for their former teammate. Instead, they watched Bills kicker Ryan Lindell's 36-yard field goal sail through the uprights, giving Buffalo a 17-16 victory. To add further insult, Lindell's kick came from 15 yards closer than it should have. Redskins coach Joe Gibbs was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct when he called consecutive timeouts to ice Lindell. On Monday, with that loss still fresh, the Redskins (5-7) flew to Miami to attend Taylor's funeral. And that gave them just two days to prepare for tonight, when the Chicago Bears will visit FedEx Field. "This last week has really been tough for everybody," Gibbs said. "Everybody has handled it about as well as you can handle it." Although the Redskins have lost four consecutive games, the muddy waters of the NFC have made anything possible. The Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings are all 6-6, tied for the conference's second wild card spot. The Redskins are one of five teams in the conference at 5-7. Most frustrating for Washington are the ones that got away. The Redskins blew leads in five of their losses this season. Often, they have had a chance to win before allowing a costly turnover. And most often, that turnover has been committed by quarterback Jason Campbell. Campbell has fumbled the ball 12 times this year, with the opponent recovering eight of them. He has had a lost fumble and an interception in each of the last three games, all Redskins losses. "The only thing I have to do right now is just try to protect the football better when I'm getting hit," Campbell said. "It's tough because a lot of them come when you're in the act of throwing. You're trying to get rid of the ball. You look down the field and not at the guys around you." Campbell could receive a boost tonight, as right guard Randy Thomas, who has been sidelined with a torn triceps muscle since Sept. 17, could return. Thomas began practicing last week. "Randy is a guy you need in that huddle," Campbell said. "He has that mentality, that attitude where he wants to be a force." Adam Himmelsbach: 540/374-5442
Date published: 12/6/2007
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