So much for having a well-respected defense. A year after having just one player from the NFL's third-ranked unit chosen for the Pro Bowl, Washington's defense was shut out this time, despite ranking fourth in the NFC in points allowed and fifth in yards allowed.
Outside linebacker Marcus Washington, the Redskins' only Pro Bowl player last year, was a second alternate behind Tampa Bay's Derrick Brooks, Chicago's Lance Briggs and Atlanta's Keith Brooking.
"Sometimes things happen that you don't understand - (boxer) Roy Jones losing in the (1988) Olympics in Seoul. Sam Bowie going before Michael Jordan (in the 1984 NBA draft)," Washington said.
Safety Sean Taylor, a first alternate in 2004, was a second alternate behind the Bears' Mike Brown, Dallas' Roy Williams and Minnesota's Darren Sharper, while cornerback Shawn Springs, a third alternate last year, was ignored.
"Obviously, we were really disappointed," Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said. "We feel like we have players that deserve to be on there that aren't. To have (tackle) Chris Samuels and (receiver) Santana Moss make it was great, but overall, it's a disappointment for us."
Right end Phillip Daniels said the defense can use the snub for extra motivation in Saturday's huge game with the NFC East-leading New York Giants (10-4). The Redskins (8-6) can clinch their first playoff spot in six years with a victory and losses by Dallas, Atlanta and Minnesota.
"I'm very surprised," Daniels said. "I thought we'd have at least two guys. I guess this week we've got go out there and play mad."
Count on Gibbs and assistant head coach/defense Gregg Williams to use the snub of the defense to counteract any cockiness derived from last Sunday's 35-7 pasting of Dallas. The last time the Redskins were coming off a huge victory, 52-17 over San Francisco, they were crushed 36-0 by the Giants.
"My concern is that you've really had an emotional game and played a very good football game," Gibbs said. "Being that we're human beings, you have a natural tendency when everyone brags about you and writes good things, to read about it and then back off a little bit. We couldn't play with them last time. We knew a lot was at stake last time. I'm hoping that it's going to be different this time."
Guard Ray Brown said that Gibbs shouldn't worry.
"We want to get them back," Brown said. "We get them at home. Guys want to play. We understand the type of mindset they're going to come down here with. We're not going to get ambushed."
SERIES HISTORY: 146th meeting. New York leads 82-59-4, not including a split of championship games (1943, NFL) and (1986, NFC). That does include the 36-0 pummeling of the Redskins on Oct. 30 at the Meadowlands, two days after the funeral for beloved Giants co-owner Wellington Mara. The most memorable game came on Nov. 18, 1985 at RFK Stadium when blitzing Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor ended the career of Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann - the NFL MVP just two years earlier - with a broken leg whose gruesome nature made players vomit and was shown on countless replays. Raw backup Jay Schroeder replaced Theismann and stunned the Giants by rallying the Redskins to a 23-21 victory.
NOTES, QUOTES
—Wide receiver Santana Moss, acquired from the New York Jets in March for 2003 Pro Bowl pick Laveranues Coles, is going to his first Pro Bowl. Moss, an alternate in 2003, made a huge impression with two late, long touchdown catches to beat Dallas on "Monday Night Football" in Week 2 and is tied for third in the NFC with 1,240 receiving yards and is fifth with 75 catches. Both are career highs.
"It's (hard) being an alternate because you're sitting around waiting to see if someone's not going," Moss said. "When I had this chance to start over, I wanted to come over here and start off fresh using what I learned in New York."
Coach Joe Gibbs said Moss was what the Redskins needed after having the NFL's third-worst offense in 2004.
"The number one thing this team needed was big plays downfield," Gibbs said. "I don't think you could draw up the kind of year that Santana has had for us."
—Left tackle Chris Samuels, previously a Pro Bowl pick in 2001 and 2002, slumped in 2003 but was revitalized by the hiring of line coach Joe Bugel in 2004. And now Samuels is a Pro Bowl choice again.
"I'm excited about it big-time," Samuels said. "I've been working hard to get back over there and it's finally worked out for me. I have to give credit to Buges. A lot of coaches tend to let their players get away from (fundamentals) because they're already pros, but Buges emphasizes that every day: footwork, balance, tight hands. And before Buges got here, I also dropped my head a lot on pass protection which was putting me in a bad position to block my guy."
Guard Ray Brown praised Samuels for playing most of the season with a sprained right knee that will require arthroscopic surgery.
"Chris ... has been banged up, but he's sucking it up and playing," Brown said. "He's had a big challenge every week and he's answered the call."
BY THE NUMBERS: 6 - Years since the Redskins didn't have a defensive player in the Pro Bowl.
6 - Years since the Redskins last made the playoffs.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I make a lot more money." - Redskins 43-year-old guard Ray Brown on the biggest change in the NFL since 1986, his rookie season with the St. Louis Cardinals.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
PLAYER/PERSONNEL NOTES
—CB Shawn Springs didn't practice because of the strained back and groin with which he played last Sunday against Dallas. Springs is expected to start Saturday against the New York Giants.
—CB Carlos Rogers didn't practice because of the left biceps he injured against the Cardinals, which kept him out against Dallas. Rogers is questionable for Saturday.
—T Chris Samuels rested the sprained right knee and ankle he suffered at Arizona, but Samuels rested last Wednesday and started against Dallas. He'll start against the Giants.
—LB LaVar Arrington returned to full practice for the first time since he badly bruised a thigh in the Dec. 4 victory at St. Louis. Arrington is listed as questionable but is expected to play on Saturday.
—S Matt Bowen, who missed last Friday's practice and the Dallas game with a badly bruised knee and thigh, returned on Wednesday and is expected to play against New York.
—WR James Thrash practiced full-bore for the first time since pulling a hamstring on Nov. 20 against Oakland and is expected to play on Saturday after missing four games.
GAME PLAN: The Redskins have averaged 179 yards on 38 carries during their current three-game winning streak while throwing the ball just 23 times per game. They would like to maintain that formula against the Giants, who are better against the run than the pass but who will be without MLB Antonio Pierce and probably SLB Carlos Emmons.
The Giants, who ripped Kansas City last Saturday with 220 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries by RB Tiki Barber, would like to run all day, too, especially since second-year QB Eli Manning has yet to play in a game of this magnitude. Barber ate up the Redskins with 206 yards on 24 carries in the teams' first matchup and Washington's generally solid defense has been very vulnerable to big plays.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
Giants RB Tiki Barber vs. Redskins LBs Marcus Washington, Lemar Marshall and LaVar Arrington.
Barber tore the Redskins up with runs of 57 and 59 yards to set up scores that put the Giants up 13-0 in the first 17 minutes on Oct. 30. Barber went on to gain 206 yards on 24 carries. The linebackers can't let the Pro Bowl back run wild again.
Redskins Ts Chris Samuels and Jon Jansen vs. Giants DEs Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan.
Samuels, named to the Pro Bowl on Wednesday, has a sprained right ankle and right knee. Jansen has played all year with at least one broken thumb. They'll need all their wiles to prevent Umenyiora and Strahan, who had three of their gaudy total of 24 sacks the last time, from getting often to quarterback Mark Brunell.
Redskins CB Shawn Springs vs. Giants WR Plaxico Burress.
Both AFC veterans have prospered in the NFC East and both will be out to show Pro Bowl voters made a mistake in bypassing them. Burress had just four catches for 48 yards in the first matchup.
INJURY IMPACT: Ray Brown, the NFL's oldest lineman since the 1920s, is a conditioning marvel, but at 43, he's pretty much a stay-at-home player. So the switch from right guard Randy Thomas, who was having a Pro Bowl-type year before fracturing his right fibula against Dallas, is a big one. Thomas was terrific at pulling for Clinton Portis' power sweeps. So running outside figures to be tougher with Brown at right guard.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football ... s/home.htm
