With latest win, patience pays for surging Skins

By Jason Reid

PHILADELPHIA

With the Eagles off to a fast start Sunday, the Redskins continued to follow the lead of even-keeled coach Jim Zorn.

Even as Washington's deficit quickly grew to 14 points and quarterback Jason Campbell had not completed a pass in a frustrating first quarter, players remembered the word Zorn has repeated so often: patience.

"He always tells us, 'Never too high, never too low - no matter what happens in a game,' " left tackle Chris Samuels said. "After hearing him and watching him all the time, I don't think anybody on the sideline had any doubt about what we would do."

The Redskins thus enjoyed another significant accomplishment in Zorn's five-game career as a head coach, overcoming their biggest deficit of the season as they rallied past the Eagles 23-17 and extended their winning streak to four games. Washington overcame Philadelphia's impressive opening act, which included Brian Westbrook's 9-yard touchdown run and DeSean Jackson's 68-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first seven minutes.

Despite playing without three injured starters on defense - end Jason Taylor, linebacker Marcus Washington and cornerback Shawn Springs - the Redskins, for the most part, shut down the Eagles after they were sharp on the game's first possession. Philadelphia produced 119 total yards in the first quarter; the Eagles had 135 the rest of the game.

Cornerback Carlos Rogers drew the difficult assignment of Jackson, the Eagles' speedy rookie receiver. Jackson finished with one catch for eight yards. Washington also contained Westbrook, limiting him to 33 rushing yards.

Believing in Zorn's one-play-at-a-time approach, the Redskins took small steps that led to 23 straight points and control of the clock. Washington had an advantage in time of possession of nearly 10 minutes.

Kicker Shaun Suisham made all three of his first-half field goal attempts (from 41, 48 and 50 yards) as the offense began to find its groove. A week after its impressive performance led to running back Clinton Portis' first 100-yard game of the season in a rare win at Texas Stadium, Washington's offensive line was even better versus the NFL's top defense against the run entering the game. Portis rushed for a season-high 145 yards and one touchdown, setting the tone for change as the Redskins took control after halftime.

"Clinton is running the ball like a madman right now," said Campbell, who had his fewest yards passing (176) in a Redskins win but set a franchise record with 175 consecutive pass attempts without an interception. "The offensive line is just doing an outstanding job of giving him an opportunity to get those rushes and also giving me time to throw the ball."

Portis's 4-yard run with 14:54 left gave the Redskins a 23-14 lead. Tight end Chris Cooley had his most productive game with 109 yards and caught his first touchdown of the season from receiver Antwaan Randle El on an end-around.

Zorn, Washington's play-caller, showed he listens to the players, too. The Redskins needed a yard on fourth down with less than three minutes remaining in the game. At the request of his running back, Zorn called a draw play for Portis from a shotgun formation.

"He wanted that play so bad, he asked (Zorn) to give it to him," center Casey Rabach said. "It's the same play we scored that 4-yard touchdown on. He had faith in us, we had faith in him and he ran his (butt) off."

Portis gained three yards, the Redskins got a first down and Campbell finished things in a familiar way. He has kneeled to run out the clock in each victory during the winning streak, adding the final touch to outcomes that have become less of a surprise each week.

The Redskins have completed, on paper, what appears to be their most difficult stretch, having played three NFC East opponents on the road in their first five games. Consecutive victories against the Cowboys and Eagles put the Redskins in a strong position as they face St. Louis, Cleveland and Detroit - a combined 1-11 - in their next three games.

"We were a little bit shocked," Zorn said of the Eagles' fast start. "I'll tell you what our players did: They stayed poised."