It wasn’t pretty or fun to watch but Joe Gibbs and the ‘Skins ended their 4 game skid yesterday with a close victory over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Those fans that view the glass as half full will note the career high 36 carries for beleaguered running back Clinton Portis that resulted in 171 yards. Those that view the glass as half empty will point to the shaky play of QB Mark Brunell who managed just 95 yards passing while connecting on 8 of 22 attempts.
Predictably, the coaching staff chose to focus on the positives, “I saw a different Clinton Portis on the sidelines,” assistant coach Joe Bugel told the Post. “He came up to me and said, ‘Keep running that ball, keep running that ball. I don’t care if I step on my tongue at the end of the day, keep running the ball.’ He was really into it.”
“We came out with the mind frame that we’re a pounding team,” Portis added. “We want to pound the ball.”
The ‘Skins defense continued their inspired play and roughed up Bears QB Jonathan Quinn all day and forced him into some pathetic numbers; 10 of 22 for a measly 65 yards. He was also sacked twice. New placekicker Ola Kimrin, previously cut twice by the team, filled in for an injured John Hall and booted two field goals, a 41 yarder in the first quarter and 26 yarder in the fourth to seal the deal.
The Redskins will enjoy their bye week this Sunday and prepare to face the Green Bay Packers on Halloween in a game so big it may decide the Presidential election. Even though Gibbs has already named Brunell the starter for that game, expect the groundswell to replace Brunell with Patrick Ramsey to grow louder and louder if the quarterback play does not improve.
(Photo by The Associated Press)
