Washington usually didn't make them wait long. One touchdown was the result of an interception return by Will Witherspoon, who became the best Eagles' linebacker this season after just one half of play. Two field goals came about after a Redskins' fumble and a muffed punt. The last score of the opening half came on a short-field drive made possible by a shanked punt.
That's the right way to play football, of course, to take what the other team gives you, but it seemed like a radical concept after watching the Eagles pass the ball incessantly against the Raiders, who have the most pliable run defense in the league.
In case you missed it in the box scores from Sunday's games, the New York Jets ran the ball 54 times for 318 yards against Oakland on the way to a 38-0 win. Andy Reid wouldn't run the ball 54 times in a game regardless, but a little happy medium now and then wouldn't hurt.
Last night, despite a first-quarter concussion suffered by Brian Westbrook, the Eagles did try to run the ball a little more. They called 16 passes and 11 runs in the opening half, which is about as balanced as the Eagles are apt to get. The numbers they produced, except when the Redskins failed to either cover or catch DeSean Jackson weren't that impressive, but they were plenty good enough to raid this henhouse.
Not to mix the fowl metaphors, but Washington coach Jim Zorn was on the sideline last night, walking and quacking like the lame duck that he is. The front office stripped Zorn of his play-calling responsibilities after the Redskins scored just six points in a loss to the dreadful Kansas City Chiefs. Previously this season, Washington also lost to the equally woeful Detroit Lions and managed only narrow, uninspiring victories over St. Louis and Tampa Bay.
