By JOANNE KORTH, Times Staff Writer
Published January 7, 2006
The Redskins season was marked by three distinct phases: a 3-0 start, 2-6 slump and 5-0 finish. In the second season of coach Joe Gibbs' second stint, there were plenty of highs and lows on the road to Washington's first playoff appearance since 1999.
BRUNELL TAKES OVER: Quarterback Patrick Ramsey started the season opener but left the game with a neck sprain. Gibbs seized the opportunity to play veteran Mark Brunell, who has started every game since.
THE BIG COMEBACK: In Week 2, Washington rallied from a 13-0 deficit in the fourth quarter to win 14-13 on Monday Night Football. Brunell threw two late scoring passes to receiver Santana Moss, a 39-yarder on a fourth-down play and a 70-yard bomb with 2:30 left.
DOINK!: In Week 3, Seattle kicker Josh Brown's potential winning field goal with one second left bounced off the left upright from 47 yards. In overtime, Nick Novak's 39-yard field goal gave the Redskins a 20-17 victory and 3-0 record. But their luck was about to change.
ARRINGTON BENCHED: Pro Bowl linebacker LaVar Arrington was inactive Oct. 9 at Denver for failing to play within defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' system. The benching sent a loud message through the Redskins' locker room that no one was bigger than the team.
HUMILIATING LOSS: In Week 9, the Redskins lost a much-hyped East division showdown at the Giants, 36-0. Amazingly, the low point of the season was yet to come.
THREE STRAIGHT LOSSES: At the halfway point, Washington was 5-3 and feeling good. A 36-35 loss at Tampa Bay on Mike Alstott's disputed conversion was the first of three heartbreaking losses by a combined 10 points. At 5-6, the Redskins were desperate.
VETERAN LEADERS: Dismayed, the veterans met with Gibbs. They had worked too hard during the offseason to see their season slip away. A sign was posted in the locker room: "Five in a row or we don't go."
REMATCH I: After wins at St. Louis and Arizona, Washington staggered Dallas' playoff hopes with a 35-7 drubbing. Halfback Chris Cooley caught three touchdowns and Clinton Portis ran for 112 yards.
REMATCH II: Eager to avenge their worst loss, the Redskins denied the Giants the chance to clinch the division and kept their own title hopes alive with a 35-20 win. Portis ran for 108 yards.
THE CLINCHER: Needing a victory at Philadelphia to secure a wild-card berth, Washington trailed 17-7 and 20-17. Redskins linebacker Lemar Marshall changed the momentum when he returned a fourth-quarter interception to the Eagles' 22. Portis broke a tackle and scored on the next play and Washington won, 31-20.
