'Skins Week Seventeen Preview: @ 49ers
Now that Jim Zorn has shown he's not the worst coach in America, Redskins fans can focus on the final challenge this season: beating San Francisco (6-9).
We’re Toasting the Defense: It’s no small feat to enter Week 17 in the NFL ranked fourth overall on defense -- ahead of both the Giants and the Titans -- but the 8-7 'Skins have done it this year.
This should make Sunday’s matchup more intriguing, since Mike Martz, architect of The Greatest Show on Turf, is now the 49ers' offensive coordinator. But the 'Skins actually have a decent history facing Martz-coached teams. In fact, they’ve never lost to Martz either as an offensive coordinator or head coach. Martz, of course, spent a brief stint in Washington as quarterbacks coach under Joe Gibbs.
Both the Skins and 49ers are coming off dramatic Week 16 victories — while the Redskins were making a goal line stand to beat the Eagles, Maryland product Shaun Hill churned out 14 points in the fourth quarter to help San Francisco beat St. Louis 17-16. This was right after he was almost benched for poor play in the previous three quarters, so expect him to have a little more confidence Sunday after the San Francisco surge. Or at least don’t count him out before the clock runs out.
The Skins secondary will also have to keep their eyes out for Isaac Bruce, who had 148 yards the last time he played Washington. Reports have it that 49ers running back Frank Gore (former teammate of Clinton Portis) won't play Sunday due to an injured ankle. If he does, the Skins should keep an extra pair of eyes open in the backfield (Gore is 22 yards shy of 1,000 yards on the season). If Gore doesn’t play — well, the 49er with the most rushing yards last week was Shaun Hill with 45, a non-issue for a team that held the Eagles to 62 yards rushing last week.
And the Offense Isn’t That Bad, Either: Jason Campbell has improved his passer rating since last year and has thrown five fewer interceptions. So unless he throws five on Sunday, that counts as improvement. Portis is third in the league in rushing. The 49ers defense is much stronger against the run than the pass, but we think a team that ranks 15th against the run shouldn't be a threat to Portis.
Merry Christmas, Washington: Jim Zorn will be back next year.
New Year's Resolutions: Score more than 30 points in one game. Show Chris Cooley how to use a camera.
For the Chips 'n' Dip crowd: (those of you there for the food, the beer, or because your boyfriend gave you no choice) Congratulations, you've made it to the final week of the NFL regular season! Now it's time to start worrying about all those college bowl games.