A range of other NFL games this weekend will get more attention than the meeting between the Redskins and Packers at FedEx Field, but it's unlikely that any will feature a better matchup.
Washington's top-ranked defense is set to face Green Bay's second-ranked offense in an intriguing clash of stellar units on otherwise pedestrian clubs.
Packers quarterback Brett Favre, whose wife recently underwent surgery for breast cancer, leads a powerful and versatile attack that has generated at least 434 yards in each of its past three games.
Favre and running back Ahman Green represent the first big challenge for Gregg Williams' attacking defense. Facing sputtering attacks such as the Bucs', Ravens' and Bears' allowed Washington (2-4) to pad its defensive numbers.
The Packers (3-4) won't go down as easily, even though Favre is battling another tough blow in his personal life as well as a sprain in his throwing hand.
"A lot of people are saying this is one of the best offensive teams right now," Redskins defensive end Renaldo Wynn said. "They're hot. They built a lot of confidence, especially going against Dallas (last week), their first home win. They're a team that's in rhythm, in sync."
Redskins coach Joe Gibbs was particularly impressed with how Green Bay dismantled the Cowboys, who beat Washington on Sept. 27.
"I don't think you could say a lot more about the way (the Packers) played, if everybody watched that game on Sunday," Gibbs said. "We've got great respect for Dallas, and that was an awesome performance all-around. We've got our hands full."
Aiding Washington is the fact that it is coming off a well-timed bye. The Redskins snapped a four-game losing streak Oct. 17 at Chicago, then took advantage of two weeks to get healthy and prepare for Green Bay.
Although linebacker LaVar Arrington and kicker John Hall are doubtful to play, nicked-up players such as cornerback Fred Smoot, who had injuries in both shoulders, are in far better shape.
"We're healthier," Smoot said. "A lot of people got their feet back under them. I know I feel 100 percent. I think it was needed, especially at that time. This team needed that break. Hopefully it'll help us."
But the Redskins' passing offense must start to perform after a terrible start to the season. Quarterback Mark Brunell, a one-time understudy of Favre, isn't living up to his seven-year, $43 million contract.
Brunell has passed for less than 100 yards in each of Washington's last two games and this week acknowledged that there is pressure to put points on the board.
"They can score 30, 40 very easily," Brunell said of the Packers. "We realize we need to score points, But we realize that every week. We haven't done that up to this point. But we're waiting for that to turn around, and hopefully it's against the Packers."
SERIES HISTORY: The Packers lead the series 16-13-1 and have won the last two meetings, in 2001 and 2002 at Lambeau Field, by a combined 67-9. The last contest at Washington was in 1979, before Redskins coach Joe Gibbs' first tenure began. Green Bay beat Gibbs just once, 48-47 in 1983.
NOTES, QUOTES
—The Redskins finally signed T Vaughn Parker after expressing consistent interest in him since August.
Back then, Parker wasn't able to sign because of a staph infection in his ankle. Parker, who missed 2003's final 13 games for San Diego because of a blown-out knee, explained that the infection surfaced after he underwent a cleanup procedure. He then battled a fever and severe pain in his ankle.
"I was walking around fine the day of the surgery," Parker said. "A week later I couldn't put any weight on it. It was pretty painful. I'm totally healthy now."
Parker didn't visit any other clubs — apart from New England before the season — but agent Lee Kolligian said the Redskins never wavered in their interest. A union seemed only a matter of Parker finally regaining his strength.
"I had pretty much been talking to Coach (Joe) Gibbs throughout the preseason," Parker said. "He was keeping track of my progress."
—TE Fred Baxter is back with the club but not yet fully healthy. He called his knee, which suffered a torn tendon in the preseason, "probably 80 to 85 percent." He won't start ahead of TE Robert Royal this weekend but expects to be in uniform and able to contribute.
"I'll be able to do some things, help out on special teams, give Robert a break here and there," Baxter said. "I might be a little behind (in conditioning), but if I use the proper technique I'll be all right."
—An unusual stat surfaced this week: Since 1936, each time the Redskins have won their final home game before the presidential election, the incumbent party has won. Each time the club lost that contest, the challenger won.
CB Fred Smoot, however, isn't too worried about fan support among Kerry boosters waning Sunday against Green Bay.
"I think the true Redskins fan will root for the Redskins and then Kerry to win the election," Smoot said. "There's got to be one year where it doesn't hold true."
—News of Florida firing coach Ron Zook and taking a look at former Redskins coach Steve Spurrier had some Redskins cheering for Spurrier to return to his old stomping grounds.
"He's going home," Smoot said. "He's not going to come out and say it, but come on now. Why wouldn't you want to go back home after this long rough ride you've had? If that's where Coach wants to go, I'd back him up 100 percent."
BY THE NUMBERS: 3/T23 — The oddly disparate gross/net NFL rankings of Redskins P Tom Tupa. Tupa is punting the ball well (44.1 yards), but the club's NFL-high 352 return yards have him netting a dismal 35.2 yards.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "That's one thing I think never ever came up during a football game — politics. Your family, your mother, your brother — stuff like that will come up. But I don't think nobody ever said, '(To heck with) the President,' or something. Everybody would be looking around like, 'What?' " — CB Fred Smoot on potential political trash talk.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
The Redskins made another personnel switch, signing T Vaughn Parker and waiving T Kenyatta Jones. Parker, who played for assistant head coach for defense Joe Bugel in San Diego, gives the Redskins added experience and more of a proven performer at right tackle, where the season-long absence of Jon Jansen has been noticeable.
Jones, meanwhile, was waived with an injury, meaning he reverted to injured reserve after he cleared waivers. The Redskins are expected to release Jones once the bone chips in his ankle heal.
Last week, Washington cut starting TE Walter Rasby and replaced him on the roster with Fred Baxter. TE Robert Royal will start against Green Bay in Rasby's old position and perhaps add a bit more of a pass-catching component. Royal was a solid prospect coming out of the fifth round in 2002 but hasn't stayed healthy.
The Redskins spent the bye week working on their passing game and hope dividends finally will start being paid. QB Mark Brunell, who has received considerable scrutiny for his poor play, apparently is fully healthy from a hamstring strain that sidelined him early this season.
—LB LaVar Arrington (knee) skipped practice Wednesday and was listed as doubtful. Club officials say Monday's aggravation isn't the problem right now as much as Arrington needing to build strength in his calf. He appears unlikely to return from a four-game absence this weekend against Green Bay.
—K John Hall (groin) stood around at practice Wednesday and was listed as doubtful. The Redskins hope to get Hall some light work the next few days, but coach Joe Gibbs sounds as if he wants Hall back only if he is fully healthy.
—LB Mike Barrow (knee) practiced for the first time in weeks Wednesday and was listed as questionable. It still sounds unlikely that Barrow will play this weekend, though.
—DE Phillip Daniels (groin) remained limited in practice and is on the fence for Sunday. He officially is questionable.
—RB Chad Morton (knee) remains nagged by a Sept. 27 sprain. He practiced Wednesday but is questionable for the Packers game.
GAME PLAN: The Redskins are desperately looking to upgrade their passing attack with QB Mark Brunell, who has been unable to complete throws of any distance. Look for some deep tries against CBs Ahmad Carroll and Al Harris, a tactic that could be aided by the lingering knee injury of FS Darren Sharper. On the ground, Washington likely will look to the outside, where it won't find burly NT Grady Jackson and can take advantage of some super recent blocking by WRs Laveranues Coles and Rod Gardner.
Defensively, the Redskins won't look to change a lot in the game's high-profile matchup. Washington wants to put pressure on QB Brett Favre but do so without leaving big lanes to run. Look for a conservative pass rush from the line along with some timely blitzes from CBs Shawn Springs and Fred Smoot. Favre's big arm, while dangerous, doesn't scare the Redskins. They're expecting Favre to make a few downfield mistakes, perhaps giving FS Sean Taylor the chance to intercept a pass or two.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
Redskins C Cory Raymer vs. Packers NT Grady Jackson — Green Bay is 8-2 in games with Jackson, yielding just 3.8 yards per rush. When he is injured, the club is just 1-4, giving up 5.2 a carry. Raymer, who should see quite a bit of Jackson despite Washington's zone-blocking scheme, will have his hands full against the powerful interior lineman, who appears finally to have found consistent motivation.
Redskins CBs Shawn Springs and Fred Smoot vs. Packers WRs Javon Walker and Donald Driver — Washington hasn't been challenged by a pair of receivers as talented as Walker and Driver, who rank among the NFL leaders with 41 and 40 catches, respectively. Smoot is playing with tremendous energy and Springs is manning a very diverse role, but both carry lingering questions.
INJURY IMPACT: The Redskins have pretty much adjusted to life without LB LaVar Arrington (knee) and K John Hall (groin), LB Lemar Marshall and K Ola Kimrin are filling in well. The return of DE Phillip Daniels (groin) would add something to a run defense girding for RB Ahman Green, but in any case DEs Ron Warner and Demetric Evans aren't problematic. Perhaps the most significant injury is the lingering knee problem of KR Chad Morton, who simply hasn't been effective this season.
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j/k the reason those screens were open is because we were blitzing. not because marsahll got beat in coverage.