TEMPE, Ariz., Dec. 9 -- The Washington Redskins stuck to the basics and kept the meaningful portion of their season going today by grinding out a 20-10 triumph over the Arizona Cardinals at Sun Devil Stadium.
It was "Marty-ball" at its nondescript best, but the Redskins (6-6) weren't about to apologize for the lack of style points. They rebounded from their home loss to the Dallas Cowboys a week ago and stayed in the thick of the NFC playoff chase. They are two games behind the first-place Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East and a game in back of Tampa Bay and New Orleans for the final wild-card playoff berth in the NFC.
Quarterback Tony Banks, background, gives the signal after running back Stephen Davis dives into end zone for touchdown in fourth quarter that sealed Redskins' 20-10 victory.
(Jonathan Newton - The Washington Post)
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| _____Game Ball_____
Who gets yours after Sunday's win?
What's your opinion?
Note: This is an unscientific survey of washingtonpost.com readers.
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_____Plays of the Game_____
Linebacker Lavar Arrington, pictured, provided late-game heroics to preserve Washington's 20-3 fourth-quarter lead.
With a little more than 5 minutes left in the game and the ball on the Washington 10, Arizona quarterback Jake Plummer completed a screen pass to Michael Pittman. Pittman charged for the right corner of the end zone and was met by Arrington, who dragged the Cardinals running back out of bounds before he could extend the ball across the goal line.
On the following play, fourth and goal from the 1, Arrington and fellow linebacker Kevin Mitchell penetrated the right side of the Arizona offensive line and tackled Pittman for a two-yard loss.
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_____He Said It_____
"I said, 'What we need to do is get a victory so we can try to start another winning streak.' "
-- Marty Schottenheimer, on how he addressed the playoff implications of Sunday's game to his team.
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_____NFC East Standings_____
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_____Next Game_____
Eagles (8-4) at Redskins (6-6)
Where: FedEx Field.
When: 4:15 p.m., Dec. 16
TV: Fox
Week 13: Donovan McNabb passed for 221 yards and two touchdowns as the Eagles beat the San Diego Chargers, 24-14, in Philadelphia.
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| ___Redskins Make a Change___
Wednesday
The Redskins hired Joe Mendes as vice president of football operations.
Steve Spurrier is scouting players at the Senior Bowl.
Tuesday
The Redskins will make Michael Bates available in the expansion draft.
Monday
The Redskins requested permission Sunday to interview Raiders senior assistant Bruce Allen for their general manager job.
Sunday
Steve Spurrier's intense competitiveness is the main reason he came to the Redskins.
The Redskins are lining up possible candidates for their defensive coordinator position. Friday
Tim Ruskell, Tampa Bay's director of player personnel, interviewed for Washington's general manager job.
Art Monk and George Allen are among the finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2002. Thursday
The Redskins would like to talk to Tampa Bay general manager Rich McKay, NFL sources said.
Now that Marty Schottenheimer is gone, Michael Westbrook said he's interested in returning.
Wednesday
Steve Spurrier says his goal is to consistently contend for the playoffs and, in time, the Super Bowl.
Bobby Beathard said he is still interested in being the general manager.
Thomas Boswell: Nothing excites this town like a new coach.
Sally Jenkins: Spurrier said all the right things.
Bruce Smith says he will come back for another season.
Transcript of Spurrier's press conference.
Tuesday
John Schneider, hired last year as the Redskins' vice president of player personnel, was fired.
Video: Spurrier's press conference
Video: The Post's George Solomon discusses the coaching change.
Monday
Spurrier, pictured, will take over as head coach after signing a five-year, $25 million deal.
Marty Schottenheimer says his refusal to give up control on personnel issues was the major sticking point between him and owner Daniel Snyder.
Michael Wilbon: Spurrier will give it the old college try.
Thomas Boswell: Schottenheimer left with class and dignity.
Spurrier's offensive scheme is deceptively simple in its design.
News Graphic: How Spurrier's "Fun and Gun" offense works.
Many college coaches have not made smooth jumps to the NFL.
Few were surprised Schottenheimer and Snyder disagreed.
Snyder's search for a general manager continues.
Monday
Rough Draft: Spurrier takes over the lead role in this Beltway drama.
Video: Schottenheimer talks about why the change was made.
Audio: Schottenheimer says he respects Snyder's decision.
Audio: Linebacker Shawn Barber talks about his new coach.
News Graphic: Spurrier's record
Gallery: The Schottenheimer era
Schottenheimer quote sheet
Sunday
The Redskins fired Schottenheimer, pictured, as their coach Sunday and will replace him with Spurrier.
Tony Kornheiser: Spurrier is the man of the hour.
Thomas Boswell: The best thing about Snyder is his combustible impatience. It's also the worst thing.
Spurrier is set to become the 25th coach in team history.
Talks with Bobby Beathard, the team's top candidate to be general manager, have broken down.
Players have mixed feelings about Sunday's developments.
Schottenheimer got a raw deal, some fans in the area say.
Sally Jenkins: Spurrier's manner may not fit in D.C., but that's why the Redskins need him. (Jan. 11)
Schottenheimer timeline
Survey: Good move?
What's your opinion?
___From the Archives___
Spurrier abruptly resigned from the University of Florida on Jan. 4.
The Redskins hired Schottenheimer to a four-year, $10 million contract on Jan. 3, 2001.
Video: Snyder introduces Schottenheimer last January.
2001 results
___Schottenheimer's Numbers___
.500: Schottenheimer's winning percentage with the Redskins -- tied for eighth best of the 24 coaches in team history.
8-3: Redskins' record since Oct. 21.
28: Redskins ' offensive rank, out of 31 NFL teams.
3: Redskins coaches fired in past 13 months.
___Live Online___
Liz Clarke was online Wednesday to discuss the coaching change and what we can expect from Spurrier.
Tony & Mike took questions in Monday's Chat House.
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"It was an attitude by our team," veteran cornerback Darrell Green said. "It was continual pounding in every aspect of the game . . . I was so disappointed in our team last week. I thought we showed a little immaturity. I really wanted to know what we'd do this week, and I was very proud."
Said linebacker LaVar Arrington: "It was huge. We knew we needed this game. That went without saying. We didn't even have to talk about that. It was understood."
Tailback Stephen Davis rushed for 110 yards on 26 carries to become the first Redskins runner to have three straight 1,000-yard seasons. He provided a one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Tony Banks, battling dehydration after a week in which he was plagued by a stomach virus, completed 19 of 26 passes for 210 yards, with a two-yard touchdown throw to tight end Zeron Flemister in the second quarter. Banks had completions to nine players and managed to involve wideout Michael Westbrook, who had seven catches.
Place kicker Brett Conway provided two field goals after sending his first two kicks of the day off the left upright, as the Redskins scored more than 17 points in a game for the third time this season. But mostly, they used Coach Marty Schottenheimer's formula of being conservative but efficient on offense while leaning on their defense and trying to gain the upper hand in field position. And they used it well.
"We just worked our tails off throughout the entire ballgame," Schottenheimer said. "The last thing I said to [offensive coordinator] Jimmy Raye was, 'Attack.' Now, attack by our standards is not like St. Louis . . . This kind of football is giving us a chance to win every week."
Said middle linebacker Kevin Mitchell: "It was an all-around good effort -- offense, defense and special teams. We're taking the rest of our games as games we have to have."
Arrington again led the Redskins' defensive effort, with 10 tackles and an interception that set up Conway's field goal that gave the club a 10-3 lead as the first half ended. Arrington and Mitchell stopped Cardinals running back Michael Pittman on a fourth-down try from the Redskins 1-yard line with just under five minutes to play, before quarterback Jake Plummer finally got Arizona (5-7) a touchdown with a 10-yard pass to wide receiver MarTay Jenkins with about a minute left.
The Cardinals had their three-game winning streak ended a week after an uplifting triumph at Oakland. They had totaled 99 points in those three wins, but got practically nothing going while it still mattered today. They had only 80 rushing yards. Wide receiver David Boston finished with six catches for 132 yards. But Redskins cornerback Champ Bailey did a good job of keeping Boston from having a major impact on the outcome.
"It was a tough loss," Cardinals defensive tackle Russell Davis said. "We had been on a roll . . . and thought we could carry that momentum into today's game. But momentum doesn't win games. We still have to go out there and play."
On their first possession of the game, the Redskins held the ball for more than seven minutes. Westbrook had four catches on the drive, including one on a third-and-four crossing pattern he turned into a 29-yard gain. He also had a 10-yard reception on third and six.
"This week, we were able to convert third downs and move the ball," Westbrook said. "Last week, we didn't do that."
Schottenheimer opted to try for a first down on fourth and one from the Arizona 22, and Davis carried the ball for what would have been a first down. But a holding penalty on Flemister negated that, and Conway sent a 47-yard field goal try off the left upright.
