Photo by yonas1

The Redskins would be 0-4 were it not for Alex Barron’s inability to block and Jason Avant’s butterfingers. The Redskins would be 3-1 if the defense didn’t lay down and Graham Gano’s muscle memory could replicate a successful kick. (There is no hypothetical reversing the outcome of the Rams game, unfortunately.) The reality is that the team sits at 2-2, with both wins coming against NFC East rivals Dallas and Philadelphia. It’s becoming increasingly clear that each team in the NFC East is going to be plagued by inconsistencies this year. Dallas has both the best offense in the division and the tendency to flake out at the worst possible time. The Giants have been maddening, alternating between getting their ass kicked by Indianapolis and laying a defensive beatdown on the Bears. Philly has to pray that Vick gets healthy soon, because Kevin Kolb is not the answer at quarterback. Is it so wacky to think that the similarly inconsistent Redskins could find a way to sneak away with the NFC East title for the first time since 1999?

The Redskins actually have the tools on offense to make this happen. The offensive line is playing far better than last year, when they allowed the fourth-most sacks in the league and had the fourth-worst yards per carry on running plays. (That being said: please get well soon, Trent Williams, because Stephon Heyer is just a penalty waiting to happen on any given snap.) On the first count, having a healthy and mobile Donovan McNabb as your quarterback rather than an immobile and indecisive Jason Campbell helps the cause considerably. McNabb has only been sacked six times in four games, well below last year’s pace, and is moving the pocket just enough to at least reduce negative plays. Running backs Clinton Portis and Ryan Torain are also benefiting from the line’s improved performance, with the running game sporting a half-yard improvement in yards-per-carry over last year. When Portis cuts back and Torain powers through defenders, it’s a thing of beauty.