Tampa Bay (0-3) at Washington (1-2)

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Temp: 52° F
  • Game info: 1:00 pm EDT Sun Oct 4, 2009
  • TV: FOX

By MATT BEARDMORE, STATS Writer Sep 30, 4:58 pm EDT

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The Washington Redskins allowed one team to snap a lengthy losing streak against them last week.

They don’t want it to happen again.

Coming off a loss to a team that hadn’t won in more than a year, Washington returns to FedEx Field on Sunday to face a Tampa Bay Buccaneers club that’s dropped seven straight.

After a chorus of boos reigned on them during a 9-7 home win over St. Louis the week before, the Redskins (1-2) fell 19-14 at Detroit on Sunday. The Lions had lost their previous 19 straight games.

“It’s surprising to me that we as a team couldn’t come out and pound and jump on these guys from start to finish,” cornerback DeAngelo Hall(notes) said. “It puzzles me, too. I’m mind-boggled as well.”

Redskins coach Jim Zorn, though, remained upbeat despite growing speculation that his job is in jeopardy.

“In the big picture, I think things are progressing,” said Zorn, 9-10 as the team’s head coach. “We’re getting better. It’s not coming in the win. We’re going to continue to press on and take care of those details.”

The players, though, didn’t sound as confident following a 45-minute meeting Monday.

“Maybe guys tend to think that (we’re an elite team), and that you can just show up,” linebacker London Fletcher(notes) said. “That’s not the case. We’re struggling to win ballgames. We’re going to be in tough ballgames, week-in and week-out.

“We’re not a great football team - never have been since I’ve been here - and it hasn’t been in a long time, since, what, the ’80s? It’s been a long time since the Redskins have had a great football team. We have to come in here with a workmanlike attitude, with the mindset that we must work to win.”

Quarterback Jason Campbell(notes) was a bright spot for Washington on Sunday, going 27 of 41 for 340 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

Campbell has completed 59.0 percent of his passes for 497 yards, three TDs and two picks in two career starts against Tampa Bay, both Washington losses.

Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Johnson(notes) will make his first NFL start Sunday after first-year coach Raheem Morris gave him Byron Leftwich’s(notes) job this week.

Leftwich was 7 of 16 for 22 yards and an interception before Morris benched him for Johnson in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 24-0 loss to the New York Giants.

“I don’t want us as an organization to say that game was all Leftwich - but Byron is suffering the consequences,” Morris said.

The Buccaneers’ 86 total yards against the Giants were their fewest since they had 78 in a 17-0 loss against Atlanta on Nov. 27, 1977. Tampa Bay (0-3) was shut out for the first time since Sept. 10, 2006, and it matched a franchise low with five first downs.

“It was disappointing, a little bit embarrassing,” wide receiver Michael Clayton(notes) said. “We have to play better.”

In search of their first victory since a 23-20 win over New Orleans on Nov. 30, the Buccaneers hand the offense over to Johnson, a fifth-round pick in 2008 with 10 career pass attempts - all last Sunday.

“I’m not promising a specific thing,” Johnson told the team’s official Web site. “I’m just going to try to play the game and get us a win. It’s obvious I can run around a little bit, I can move around the pocket, I can do things with my feet.”

Tampa Bay’s running game could use a boost after finishing with 28 yards on 10 carries last week, the team’s lowest total since it had 28 in a 49-20 loss to Minnesota on Oct. 23, 1988.

The Redskins haven’t impressed with their ground attack either, ranking 24th in the NFL with 91.7 rushing yards per game. But they’ll have a good chance to break out against a Tampa Bay run defense that’s 31st in the NFL (187.3).

Redskins running back Clinton Portis(notes) has gone eight straight games without reaching 100 rushing yards, but he’s averaged 120.0 in three career games against the Buccaneers. He had 148 yards, including a 64-yard TD, in Washington’s last home game versus the Buccaneers - a 16-10 win on Sept. 12, 2004.

Portis, dealing with a calf injury and bone spurs in his ankles, missed practice Wednesday but Zorn expects him to be ready for Sunday.

Zorn is similarly optimistic that defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth(notes) will be on the field. The defensive tackle, who signed a seven-year contract worth about $100 million in the offseason, strained a hip muscle in last week’s game.

Updated Sep 30, 4:58 pm EDT
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Team Comparison

Team Records Standings PF PA Road/Home AFC NFC DIV Streak
Tampa Bay 1-9-0 4th NFC South 164 294 0-4-0 Road 0-3-0 1-6-0 0-2-0 Lost 2
Washington 3-7-0 4th NFC East 146 178 3-2-0 Home 1-1-0 2-6-0 0-3-0 Lost 1

Notes

K Matt Bryant finished with a franchise-record 131 points this season. He bettered the previous record of 128 points by K Martin Gramatica in 2002. ... RB Carnell Williams rushed for a season-high 78 yards and two TDs, but suffered what coach Jon Gruden said was a "serious" knee injury in the fourth quarter. Williams, who missed the first 10 games this season because of a torn ACL in his right knee in September 2007, hurt his left knee after a 28-yard run. ... The Bucs lost their fourth consecutive game. In those contests, the Bucs were outscored, 59-19, in the fourth quarter.

Dec 28, 10:13 pm EST

No team notes.

NFL

85 Comments

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  1. Loyalty Prevails
    85. Posted by Loyalty Prevails Tue Oct 6 1:29am EDT

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    Bye bye Mike Nugent.

    Have fun hunting with Uncle Ted.

    Your sorry foot won't ever see the NFL again............

    Signed with reverent Karma,
    Matt Bryant
  2. Kim
    84. Posted by Kim Mon Oct 5 8:57pm EDT

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    I'd rather have JC than Romo. ROMO STINKS!
  3. Bangathon
    83. Posted by Bangathon Mon Oct 5 8:03pm EDT

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    This is for all those Redskins hatters out there,The best is yet to come"SO BE READY"you wimps
  4. Jazz J
    82. Posted by Jazz J Mon Oct 5 7:20pm EDT

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    69. Posted by gpearlman53 Mon Oct 5 6:51am EDT Report Abuse
    the redskins are crap, they should have lost to the bucs. campbell stinks and should be replaced. they beat a real crappy bucs team, a team that perhaps would lose to the lions, so not a big deal that they won. if the bucs kicker makes the other 2 field goals they lose.


    IF the kicker makes the 2 field goals, well guess what guy, IF my aunt had balls she would be my uncle.
  5. Jazz J
    81. Posted by Jazz J Mon Oct 5 7:15pm EDT

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    I'm am sitting here dying laughing at the person that said Collins is a winner. Collins is a BACKUP, you show how much you really watch the redskins because it wasnt last year it was the year before and it wasnt 6 games it was 4. And he played well because it was the same offense he was sitting on the bench studying his entire 12 year career up to that point. I dont mnd the picks because Campbell threw them trying to make something happen, he got out of his conservative mode and went downfield. If Collins was anywhere near good dont you idiots think he would have started at least ONE season opener in his 14 year career? I read an article today that said Campbell is only the 4th qb to start 40 games in the last 35 years for the redskins and the other 3 had the same type of fan trash talk and trade rumors going on about them. 2 of those three QBs wer e Theismann and Rypien, they went on to win super bowls and one is a Hall of Famer. Jason is not the problem, Snyder is, if he kept a coach around long enough to actually build a team that can play together we would be fine. Joe Theismann himself said that JC is a great QB, he is suffering from having a different OC every year thanks to Danny boy
  6. Winter
    80. Posted by Winter Mon Oct 5 7:14pm EDT

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    The Bucs would have won this game if not for their kicker missing twice.
  7. Arun
    79. Posted by Arun Mon Oct 5 4:03pm EDT

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    The skins didn't win the game as much as the Bucs lost it. Pathetic coach RahRah and company couldn't lead a girl scout troop. For all the complaining by the fans of DC, at least your owner tries to have a winning team. No matter how hard the Bucs' players try, the coaches will sabotage their effort. The NFL should be embarrassed to send the Bucs to London, the Pats will kill them, won't even be close.
  8. waunekal
    78. Posted by waunekal Mon Oct 5 3:47pm EDT

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    They have heart !!!!!!!So, for now, redskins fans... Think very hard on what you fake fans are saying to your team!!!!Your not a real fan! Only a true fan well stick by them!! The Force is strong!!! TrueNativeSkins...az
  9. James
    77. Posted by James Mon Oct 5 1:50pm EDT

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    Post 65 and 71 say it best! It is so obvious that Jason Campbell is trying to make things happen, that he's forcing it. THAT belongs to you so-called "life long" Redskins fans who don't squat about football. Collins suck!!! All he's good for is playing in Al Saunder's offense. Guess what? Al Saunders isn't here anymore!!! Took us to the playoffs??? That defense and Clinton Portis took us to the playoffs playing inspired ball after the lost of Sean Taylor. But when the game was on the line in the playoffs, Collins coughed it up with two INT's and you @$$holes still make excuses for him??? Because you watch football, doesn't mean you know sh*t.

    First it's "Jason needs to take more risk". Then when he does, you crap on him. I don't like the two picks, but I definately feel for the guy. His career as a QB is based on the play calling of guy who's NEVER called plays before, and you still call for his head instead of Zorn's...
  10. Brett P
    76. Posted by Brett P Mon Oct 5 12:52pm EDT

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    I like the three picks. It shows him that he can take risks and make mistakes and still win!!!! Keep it up!!!! I don't want another QB in the first round, IO want a right tackle!!!!!!!!!
  11. Erock
    75. Posted by Erock Mon Oct 5 12:04pm EDT

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    Things could be worse, they could be the Titans, Panthers, Chiefs, Bills, Rams, Seahawks, Browns, Raiders, or Dolphins. Those teams suck a little more.
  12. Rashema S
    74. Posted by Rashema S Mon Oct 5 11:48am EDT

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    I agree with you 100% Eddie J

    That was two years ago when Collins won those four games straight. Think about what happened in that play off game against Seattle and all those costly interceptions that he threw. Yet people act as though he is the best thing smoking for the Redskins!
  13. <i>kingleo20135</i>
    73. Posted by kingleo20135 Mon Oct 5 10:58am EDT

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    Agree: Start Collins. He earned it last year when he was great for the last 6 or so games. What has Zorn against winning?? Collins is a winner, and maybe the coaches have been wrong about him all along--at least that's what last year's winning effort by him suggests.
  14. <i>kingleo20135</i>
    72. Posted by kingleo20135 Mon Oct 5 10:52am EDT

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    Haven't heard a thing about what the Redskins did in the 4TH QUARTER!!! Can we not have two good quarters against a lousy team like the Bucs? I would have preferred to see a respectable victory over such a team--say at least 23-13. Why nothing in the 4th?
  15. Eddie J
    71. Posted by Eddie J Mon Oct 5 10:37am EDT

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    Whoever says that Collins should start has screws loose in the skull and doesn't know jack about football. The only reason Collins looked so good during that 4 game stretch 2 years ago is because he was a product of the system. When you spend 13 of 15 years in the same system under the same coach, then you know the plays inside and out. If you look at his play after Saunders departure, then you can see why he spent his entire career as a backup.
  16. Joseph
    70. Posted by Joseph Mon Oct 5 9:01am EDT

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    i am a skin fan,but being a fan is not my whole life,all these teams are pro. teams and are capable of beating each other.when the skins play the cowboys,it like looking at a super bowl game
  17. <i>gpearlman53</i>
    69. Posted by gpearlman53 Mon Oct 5 6:51am EDT

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    the redskins are crap, they should have lost to the bucs. campbell stinks and should be replaced. they beat a real crappy bucs team, a team that perhaps would lose to the lions, so not a big deal that they won. if the bucs kicker makes the other 2 field goals they lose.
  18. YvonneH
    68. Posted by YvonneH Mon Oct 5 6:47am EDT

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    I am very happy the skins won, i love the team and win or loose i am a diehard fan.when we win it is a victory, when we loose, every one is down on us, but my motto is you win some you loose some but you still get paid. i do not talk bad about the coach the quater back or the players, they are out ther giving their best, and why do people even the fans dog us, stop being so selfish, things do not always go your way. i love my skins win or loose i love you.
  19. johnnyriva6942
    67. Posted by johnnyriva6942 Mon Oct 5 3:13am EDT

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    just keep givin the ball to moss or cooley and good ish will happen! GO SKINS!!!!!
  20. Scott Lucas
    66. Posted by Scott Lucas Mon Oct 5 2:25am EDT

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    Agreed!! PLEASE Start Todd Collins. The man took us to the playoffs a few years ago...he has not sat the bench his entire career..

    And Blitz with 5,6,7 or even 8 players on Defense!!
  21. Rashema S
    65. Posted by Rashema S Mon Oct 5 12:53am EDT

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    When they lose you guys talk bad about them and when they win you still talk bad about them.....

    Stop saying bench Campbell, so far this has been his only bad game. For goodness sake Todd Collins is not any better. The man has been on the bench almost his entire career.

    Loved the defense today
  22. HOOK
    64. Posted by HOOK Mon Oct 5 12:45am EDT

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    Sorry, they do play the Pathers next. My mistake.
  23. HOOK
    63. Posted by HOOK Mon Oct 5 12:43am EDT

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    John M, shut up. They have been the Redskins since 1937. If they haven't gotten it changed in 72 years, they never will.
  24. Andrew K
    62. Posted by Andrew K Mon Oct 5 12:32am EDT

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    The Bucs need to go 0-16 to make up for drafting Gaines Adams and Josh Freeman.
  25. SAMEER
    61. Posted by SAMEER Mon Oct 5 12:18am EDT

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    Ah they play the Panthers next week. Get it together.
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