The Washington Redskins and the Tampa “Bay” Buccaneers are interesting opponents – so many contrasts, so many links. Like a meeting between the oldest and youngest NFL coaches. Like a playoff rematch between the last team to bounce Washington from the post-season. And Washingtonians still chafe over the fact that that young coach, Jon Gruden, won his Super Bowl with a quarterback most think should have been kept in DC. Earlier this season, when the Redskins and the Buccaneers matched up down in Tampa Bay, two teams known for punishing defenses instead ran up the score on each other and decided the matter on a questionable two-point conversion. At the time, the game marked the emergence of Tampa QB Chris Simms as a legitimate NFL starter, while the loss for Redskins was the one that began a critical three-game losing streak that put their playoff hopes on life support.

These guys aren’t yet rivals – their matchups don’t yet have the heady air of contests between the Skins and their divisional foes – but Washington and Tampa have put together some exciting football games of late, Saturday’s opening playoff round being no different. The Redskins defense made plays even as you wondered whether the offense made the trip. Lavar Arrington made the hometown fans cheer even as his teammate Sean Taylor made them wince. And a little karmic retribution played its hand as Washington held on to a tense 17-10 win in Florida.