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Zorn returns to Seattle as Redskins visit Seahawks

Nov 18, 2008 - 9:21 PM WASHINGTON (6-4) AT SEATTLE (2-8), 4:15 pm EST

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- With his team suddenly in a slump, Washington Redskins coach Jim Zorn returns to his roots this week.

The Redskins look to snap a two-game losing streak Sunday when they visit the Seattle Seahawks in Zorn's return to the Pacific Northwest.

Zorn was the starting quarterback in the Seahawks' first game in 1976. He spent nine seasons with Seattle, then returned to the club as quarterbacks coach from 2001-07.

Rather than renewing old acquaintances, the first-year Washington coach is more concerned about jump-starting his team's stagnant offense.

The Redskins (6-4) have scored only 16 points in their last two contests. They followed a 23-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 14-10 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys last week.

Washington has fallen into a tie with Dallas and Atlanta for the final playoff spot in the NFC. The trio is one game behind Tampa Bay (7-3).

Washington quarterback Jason Campbell has been sacked 10 times in the last two games. The Redskins managed just 228 total yards against Dallas and have fallen to 27th in the NFL in scoring.

"We're kind of this 'Even Steven' team," Zorn said. "You can't tread water in this league for very long. You have to be swimming, and we're not swimming."

The Redskins aren't drowning, but they will look to get back on track against an opponent that has won only once in the last two months.

With another week of practice, the Redskins hope that Clinton Portis, the NFL's second-leading rusher, will be closer to 100 percent.

Portis was not expected to play last week due to a sprained knee, but had 15 carries for 68 yards to go over the 1,000-yard mark for the season.

The Seahawks (2-8) have been reduced to the role of spoilers with only six games remaining in the tenure of coach Mike Holmgren, who is set to retire at the conclusion of the year.

"I wanted the players to know how I wanted them to approach the last six games of the season and how we were going to approach it as coaches," Holmgren said.

"I suspect that we should improve if we don't get anybody else hurt. We should improve, and maybe we can be spoilers in this thing right now."