Top of the NFC
Who's best? Don't count out the Washington Redskins yet
Posted: Wednesday September 29, 1999 08:31 AM
By John Donovan, CNN/SI
Let's talk postseason. NFC postseason.
Why not? They're already talking playoffs in Washington, for heaven's sake, and the Redskins haven't been there since 1991.
"Our guys have been talking about that since May. Serious talk about it," Washington coach Norv Turner said this week. "When you start playing well in the preseason, it encourages that kind of thinking. And the way we played the first couple weeks, yes, I mean obviously it's in the papers, people are talking about it. We're very serious about it."
At 2-1, the Redskins and quarterback Brad Johnson are everybody's darlings. And, given the rest of the NFC, it's no wonder.
Dallas leads the NFC East at 2-0, but the Cowboys were down 21 points in the fourth quarter to the Redskins in Week 1. Tampa Bay is 2-1 in the Central, but the Bucs still have no offense. Green Bay is 2-1, too, but the Packers can't expect Brett Favre to save them every week. And Minnesota (1-2) is not the Minnesota of last year.
In the West, the Rams lead at 2-0, which tells you everything you need to know about that division. San Francisco could win that thing without Steve Young or a running game.
If Washington's defense plays like it's paid, it could be one of the league's tops. And the thing is, it doesn't have to be much better than average if Washington's offense (with Johnson, wideouts Albert Connell and Michael Westbrook and the amazing running back Stephen Davis) stays on course.
So, the Redskins in the playoffs? It's early, but you'd be foolhardy to bet against it. And before all is played and done, Washington -- can you believe it? -- may be the class of the NFC.
On to this week's Glance, which asks the eternal question: Is Terrell Davis done?
Answer: Evidently, the guy hasn't even started yet.
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TD or not TD?
Terrell Davis is averaging 3.3 yards a carry. Last year, it was 5.1. Is he finished, or just lying in wait until the Broncos get untracked?
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St. Louis bluebloods
Some guy named Kurt Warner has the Rams looking like the 49ers. Fitting, considering the 49ers look like the Rams and the Falcons look like ... well, like they're in trouble.
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Prime Time returns
The most exciting player this side of Brett Favre -- that guy's pretty good, eh? -- makes his 1999 debut Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Deion, we missed you.
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Flag --
Tom Coughlin:
Just run it, and if that doesn't work, kick the tying field goal. Instead, Mark Brunell's pass is picked off and the Titans win.
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Flag --
Eagles offense:
Can't run (22 carries, 12 yards). Can't score. Can't decide who should QB. This is one painful team to watch.
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Flattery --
Neil O'Donnell:
He gets a bad rap, but he can win. The Titans' backup QB was 17-of-32 with two TDs in the win over Jax.
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Flattery --
Peyton Manning:
A new Colts record with 404 yards in a win over San Diego. If his team can keep it up, this guy is Pro Bowl material.
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Flattery --
Warren Sapp:
He's the best player on probably the best defense in the league. And he'll play with two broken bones in his hand. Tough? You wanna say otherwise?
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How long before the Steelers realize that Kordell may not be the answer?
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There may not be a harder-luck story in the NFL than Ki-Jana Carter.
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Even if Shanahan decided to go back to Bubby ... it's probably too late.
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Arizona at Dallas (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS). Deion's back, the 'Boys are unbeaten and Arizona's reeling. But with that "D" and Jake the Snake, you never know.
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N.Y. Jets at Denver (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, CBS). Last year's AFC Championship Game is this year's cellar-dwelling battle of non-winners. Should be fun.
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St. Louis at Cincinnati (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS). The two worst teams of the '90s hook up, as if anyone cares. This year the Rams are unbeaten. The Bengals are sticking to '90s form.
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It may be a little early to call this race. It's not too early to say that if the Jets lose this week -- or the Broncos or Falcons -- it's pretty much over for them.
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