Redskins Get Everything Humming in 31-15 Win Over Texans

Well it's about time. Only, coming against the NFL's worst defense, what do we make out of it?

In a league in which dynasties are no longer a realistic possibility and every year a team or two rises from the ashes to shock the world, every victory is a hard-fought victory that shouldn't be taken for granted. And from the looks of how the Redskins have performed in the preseason and the first two weeks, beating the Texans the way they did was impressive.

So what was it that brought the Redskins to form? Was it the return of Clinton Portis? Was it Mark Brunell getting some extra time to throw the rock? Was it Al Saunders' play calling? Or was it simply a combination of everything?

Clinton Portis' return definitely sparked the running game. He gained 86 yards on 16 carries and scored two TDs. His hitch pass early in the game for 74 yards got the momentum started. He made defenders miss, the kept defenses honest and he brought a spark that appeared missing the first two weeks. But Ladell Betts also had 16 carries and rumbled for 124 yards and a score. Rock Cartwright even averaged five yards a carry with his five rushes. Antwaan Randle El even got in on the action with a rushing TD.

Mark Brunell set an NFL record with most consecutive pass completions in a game. After taking a massive beating in the media over his performance and the calling for Todd Collins, Jason Campbell or anyone else to man the offense, he comes out and completes his first 22 passes, ending the game completing 24 of 27 for 261 yards and a TD with no interceptions and only one completion to someone standing on the sidelines. He rarely gunned the ball downfield. He didn't test the safeties and take advantage of them cheating up to defend the run. It may not have been the downfield game the Redskins are armed to execute, but we'll take it for exactly what it's worth -- a convincing victory.

And what's up with Al Saunders' play calling? He started the game off calling Portis' number every play until his 74 yard scamper took his breath away and when Betts spelled him, Betts got the call and took it into the end zone. Saunders didn't force Brunell to make plays down the field making him sit in a pocket that hasn't been the most protected lately. He also made sure the ball got spread around, completing passes early to Brandon Lloyd, Chris Cooley, Santana Moss, Randle El and Portis. Five different Redskins got the call to carry the rock. Eight different Redskins caught a pass. There were 12 more running plays called than passing plays. Derrick Frost only had to punt twice and he made the most of both of them.

The Redskins' offense looked like what we were expecting it to be, to a degree. It hummed. It did whatever it wanted to do. This gives us a good foundation to build on. From this point on, the Redskins should only become more effective and deadly.

What about the defense? Rookie Kedric Golston did a helluva job replacing Joe Salave'a at DT, recording two tackles, getting in on a sack and recovering a fumble. Kenny Wright's name wasn't called much, which was a good thing. He even picked off a pass in the end zone preventing a comeback attempt by the Texans. The Texans only gained 61 yards on the ground averaging 3.4 yards a carry. The Texans were on the field for only 21 minutes running 48 plays compared to the Redskins' 68 plays.

But there were still some concerns. Andre Johnson pt up 11 catches for 152 yards alone. Adam Archuleta consistently looked to be a non-factor on coverage. He bit on play action and let receivers cross the field behind him forcing Sean Taylor to have to play sideline to sideline. And David Carr felt a little pressure, but other than the one sack, he really wasn't put on the run like he should've considering he was playing against a lethal defense led by Gregg Williams. Regardless, the Texans offense went nowhere all day.

Another concern that needs to be fixed immediately for us to build on this momentum is the penalties.

<strong>24!!!</strong>

Twenty-four penalties for 126 yards. And it should've been more but there were some plays when two holding calls were called but only one accepted and enforced. Holding, holding, holding. Buges, where are you?

We'll take it, though. Next week we face off against Jacksonville. Let's take what we learned today and get this party started.