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Beware of Lions Regular-season loss at Detroit had Redskins wary
Posted: Wednesday January 19, 2000 10:13 AM
ASHBURN, Va. (CNNSI.com) -- The Washington Redskins had home field, momentum and history on their side going into their wild-card playoff game against the Detroit Lions. And they had the memory of getting thumped 33-17 by the Lions just five weeks ago. "They kicked our butts," Washington receiver Irving Fryar said. "That was one of our worst games this season. I think that was a loss that did us more good probably than a win because it let us know that we hadn't arrived." The Lions scored three times that game, one touchdown each by the offense, defense and special teams. The Silverdome crowd distracted the offensive line, and Detroit broke a 16-game regular season losing streak to Washington. "I do think it helped us, as bad as it sounds, by taking the beating that we did," said quarterback Brad Johnson, who was sacked five times behind a line that couldn't hear his signal count. "So I don't think there will be any happy faces around here until after the game. In a sense, I think that could help us from a preparation standpoint."
So the Redskins (10-6), who have won three of four since, are trying resist the urge to take the Lions (8-8) lightly -- even though the Lions have lost all four games since that Redskins victory, even though no 8-8 team has ever won a playoff game, even though the dome won't be a factor this time, and even though the Lions are 0-17 at the Redskins since the franchise moved from Boston to Washington in 1937. The Lions were 2-6 away from the Silverdome this season and haven't won an away game since October, while the Redskins have a four-game home winning streak. Detroit is also without its first choice quarterback, Charlie Batch, who is out with a broken thumb. "When you start to lose a little bit like we've done, there's a confidence factor that you have to regain," Detroit coach Bobby Ross said. "And I think that's what we're working on right now." The Lions were regular playoff participants in the 1990s -- this is their fifth postseason appearance in seven years -- while the Redskins are breaking a seven-year playoff drought. Thus, the most surprising statistic of all may be that, of the two teams, Washington has the more recent playoff victory. The Lions have gone down at the first hurdle four straight times. They haven't won a playoff game since January 1992, when they beat Dallas and then lost to eventual Super Bowl champion Washington. The Redskins returned to the playoffs the following season, won one game and hadn't been back since until now. All that history is well known to former Redskins quarterback Gus Frerotte, who will start for the Lions in place of Batch. Asked about it, Frerotte, a Tulsa standout, pointed to a more relevant bit of recent history -- the 33-17 game. "We know we're playing the same Redskins we played up here," Frerotte said. In that game, Frerotte was able to throw upfield against a defense ranked 30th out of 31 teams in the league, a vital part of the game plan since the Lions have no running attack with Oklahoma State standout Barry Sanders gone. Ross' latest plan is to try fullback Cory Schlesinger at the tailback spot. The key, though, could be how the Redskins fare against the Lions' front four. Washington coach Norv Turner was so anxious to pass the ball against Detroit's battered secondary in the first meeting that he abandoned the running game, and the defensive line teed off on Johnson. Pro Bowl end Robert Porcher, who had 15 sacks in the regular season, made right tackle Jon Jansen look like the rookie he is. "People talk about that being the defining game, the springboard," Washington guard Keith Sims said. "I can tell you, as offensive linemen, we played terrible. Norv came down on us hard." Turner has vowed to run the ball more this game, but that strategy may be hampered by an injury to Stephen Davis, the NFC's leading rusher. Davis sprained an ankle 21/2 weeks ago and returned to practice this week. He won't be 100 percent for the game. That's just one of the reasons why Washington running back Brian Mitchell gave a wary laugh when told that history will favor the Redskins on Saturday. "History," Mitchell said, "can fool you sometimes."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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