Surging Redskins control destiny

Dec 24, 2007 - 6:40 PM By Bob Birge PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

If 36-year-old journeyman quarterback Todd Collins gets the Washington Redskins into the playoffs, it might rank as the unlikeliest story of the NFL season.

Before replacing injured starter Jason Campbell in the second quarter of a 24-16 victory against the Chicago Bears on December 6, Collins had gone five years without throwing a touchdown and three years since even attempting a pass.

Now, the former Michigan quarterback is the leader of a team riding the emotional wave of a three-game winning streak.

It might not have seemed possible, but after beating the Minnesota Vikings, 32-21, on Sunday night, the Redskins (8-7) are in control of their playoff destiny. All they need is a victory over the Dallas Cowboys next weekend.

Washington running back Clinton Portis thinks the Redskins are getting a little help from above.

"I think once we got our angel up situated in heaven, he gave us all the strength in the world," referring to former teammate Sean Taylor, who died after being shot in his Florida home during a burglary attempt. "Now guys go out and just play and have fun."

Several hours before beating the Vikings, the Redskins got some help when the Bears beat the Green Bay Packers, 35-7.

Chicago's victory allowed Dallas to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, meaning the Cowboys have nothing to play for next week.

Dallas coach Wade Phillips will almost certainly sit wide receiver Terrell Owens, who is nursing a high ankle sprain. Phillips also could rest quarterback Tony Romo, who is battling a sore thumb.

Collins admitted that he did not envision the Redskins being in this position.

"It's crazy," he said. "I mean, we were 5-7, backs against the wall, the starting quarterback goes down, the stuff that's happened with Sean. It's just such a trying time."

Washington's playoff hopes seemed to end when Buffalo's Rian Lindell kicked a 36-yard field goal with four seconds left to give the Bills a 17-16 victory over the Redskins on December 2.

That was the game in which Washington coach Joe Gibbs made a costly mistake by calling an extra timeout trying to ice Lindell, resulting in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and moving Lindell 15 yards closer for his winning kick.

That was Washington's fourth straight loss and its first game following Taylor's death.

But everyone seems to have forgotten Gibbs' inexplicable gaffe in which he was unaware of the rule preventing coaches from calling consecutive timeouts to freeze a kicker. Since then, the Redskins have not lost.

The Redskins' turnaround in an emotionally draining season has amazed Gibbs.

"It's hard to really put in words," he said. "We had four brutal last-second losses. Four in a row, you'd figure that would take the life out of most teams. It's just been a real long journey."

No one in the NFL has waited longer to get another opportunity to play than Collins, who finally got another chance when Campbell dislocated his left knee in the second quarter against the Bears.

Collins took over and preserved a narrow lead by passing for 224 yards and two touchdowns.

In last week's 22-10 win over the New York Giants, Collins made his first start since 1997. The 10-year span between starts was the longest in the NFL since the 1970 merger.

On Sunday night, Collins improved to 2-0 at the Redskins' starter, passing for 254 yards and two scores.

With one more win, Collins will get the Redskins into the playoffs - something that might have seem impossible when Washington was 5-7.