Praising the Redskins

Let’s take an internet glance around at Monday praise lining up for the 4-1 Washington Redskins.
In Pete Prisco’s grades for the week, he gave the Redskins an ‘A’ performance, saying …

That was a physically dominating performance. They pushed the Eagles defense around. Clinton Portis had a great day and the Redskins defense did the rest. That’s an impressive victory.

How about Clark Judge’s judgments …

I’ll tell you why the NFC East should be wary of Washington, and it’s not because the Redskins still haven’t committed a turnover on offense. Nope, it’s because they just completed their first-half run of the division, with every game on the road. Meaning? Meaning their next three NFC East games will be at Washington.

Jim Zorn’s guts. He goes for it on fourth-and-1 at the Philadelphia 38 with a six-point lead and two-and-a-half minutes to go. Clinton Portis makes it, allowing Washington to close out Philadelphia by holding the ball the final 7:18.

Pro Football Weekly

Jason Campbell has received a lot of praise for his improved decision making, having yet to turn over the ball through five games, but much of the credit for the Redskins’ success belongs to the physical, bull-you-over running style of Clinton Portis and the second coming of a strong, physical offensive line that controlled the line of scrimmage against the Eagles’ top-ranked run defense.

CNNSI’s Ross Tucker

For the second week in a row, the Skins went on the road to face a brutal NFC East opponent and came away with the victory. There is no secret to the Skins success and it all starts with the old guys up front. The concern about this offensive line coming into the season was its health and durability over the course of a 16-game slate, not its performance.

The Skins had very little difficulty picking up Jim Johnson‘s blitz schemes, which is exactly what you would expect from a group of vets. 

Need further evidence that the Skins front five is at the heart of their success? How about converting 11 of 19 third downs and a critical fourth down late in the ball game to seal the victory. If the Skins linemen can stay healthy, the election of a new president will not be the only big news happening in D.C. later in the season.

and finally, Snap Judgments …

Hail to the Redskins indeed. Jim Zorn’s resilient team is growing more impressive by the week. Not only did Washington climb out of an early 14-0 hole at Philadelphia, refusing to wilt after the Eagles scored twice in the game’s first seven-plus minutes, but also the Redskins went on to roll up 388 yards on offense and hold the Eagles to just 254.

And not to jack up the Redskins-mania any higher among the team’s rabid faithful — if that’s even possible — but in the season’s first five weeks, Washington has already weathered all three of its NFC East road games, winning at Dallas and Philly and losing at the Giants. With their next three games being at home against St. Louis and Cleveland, and on the road at Detroit, Washington has a great shot to be 7-1 at the season’s midpoint.