My, how the tables have turned. It was just under two years ago that Coach Gibbs was saying goodbye to the Redskins for the final time, and Daniel Snyder and his adopted son, Vinnie Cerrato, were in search of a new coach. The man everyone thought deserved a shot in the job, Gregg Williams, was told to pack his bags. As the team’s defensive coordinator during the Second Gibbs Era, Williams had taken a defense with few big names and turned it into one of the league’s best. He had transformed the late Sean Taylor from a raw big-hitter to a polished, cerebral safety — one of the most talented players to ever suit up for the burgundy-and-gold. But when it came time to hire a coach, Snyder and Cerrato thought it was time for a new direction. These are the people they deemed better than Williams: Jim Fassel, now coaching in the UFL; Steve Mariucci, currently working as an analyst for NFL Network; and Jim Zorn, currently the clueless and luckless coach of your Washington Redskins.

Williams, of course, after a decent year as the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator, has spearheaded a remarkable turnaround in New Orleans. Unstoppable QB Drew Brees and his stable of prototypical wide receivers get most of the plaudits — rightfully — but Williams has put together a takeaway-happy defense that is the biggest reason for the Saints’ turnaround from last year’s 8-8 squad to this year’s 11-0 team. Williams and the Saints march (sorry, it was inevitable) into FedEx Field today to take on the 3-8 Redskins, and I bet at some point we see a big smile on Williams’ face. After all, would you rather be a coordinator for the league’s most exciting team, or the head coach of the biggest debacle in the league? I know my answer, and it won’t change after the Saints lay a beat down on the ‘Skins today, 31-16, cliching the Saints their second division title in four years.

Part of this plays like a trap game for New Orleans. Fresh off a huge Monday night blowout of the Patriots, they have to travel to suburban Maryland for an early kickoff on a cold day against a bad team. I could even see the Redskins keeping pace for the first quarter or two — if they weren’t usually so slow out of the gates. Most of all, I have trouble envisioning how Greg Blache’s defense might contrive to slow down the Saints’ attack. With not one, not two, not three, but four big and fast wide receivers to add to a good tight end and a great pass-catching backfield, who the hell will cover these guys? The ‘Skins D has been reliably allowing at least two huge plays per game downfield, and this won’t change against the league’s hottest quarterback.

Any chance we might have relies on the defense — first, getting heat on Drew Brees and, second, cashing in on some big turnovers to set up easy scores. The offense needs ball control and sustained drives — a task made more difficult by the loss of Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts but still not beyond them. QB Jason Campbell absolutely must avoid interceptions against a Saints’ D that loves to gamble and jump routes for easy picks. It’s not rocket science — every pundit with less than 8 career concussions is probably saying the same thing right now. But I can’t see another way for the ‘Skins to keep this close, much less get the win. Hey, if it gets real ugly, maybe Zorn can rest what’s left of the starters for our last good chance at a win this season, next week in Oakland.