DETROIT, Nov. 7 -- The Washington Redskins, bolstered by a stingy defense, energized special teams play and the legs and throwing arm of tailback Clinton Portis, grinded out a hard-fought 17-10 victory over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday, improving their record to 3-5 halfway through the season.
The Redskins' passing game under quarterback Mark Brunell was anemic once again. But it didn't matter as Washington scored on Portis's halfback option pass to wide receiver Laveranues Coles early in the third quarter and a blocked punt by wide receiver Taylor Jacobs six minutes later that safety Walt Harris returned 13 yards for the score.
Fred Smoot, left, swoops in to intercept Joey Harrington's up-for-grabs pass intended for Detroit's David Kircus in the end zone midway in the fourth quarter. Safety Todd Franz helps out.
(Jonathan Newton - Jonathan Newton -- The Washington Post)
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| Game Day: Redskins 17, Lions 10
• Clinton Portis runs for 147 yards and throws a tiebreaking touchdown pass to lead the Redskins.
• Michael Wilbon: Redskins can still muscle up a victory the old-fashioned way.
• Special teams, led by James Thrash, play significant role.
• Notebook: Defensive end Phillip Daniels could be lost indefinitely.
• News Graphic: The record's the same as '03, but games closer.
• Play of the Game: Portis hits Laveranues Coles with a 15-yard TD.
• Best & Worst
• Sunday's Post: In year five, owner Daniel Snyder keeps his distance.
_____ On Our Site _____
• Photos
• Given that the Eagles look human after all, maybe it was too early to panic. While you contemplate all this, try our postgame quiz.
• Summary
• Grade the Redskins.
• Talk about the game.
_____ As Portis Goes ... _____
Whether its cause or effect, when Clinton Portis rushes well and often, the Redskins win:
| Per Game | In | In | | Average | Wins | Losses | | Carries | 33 | 21 | | Yards | 155.3 | 68.8 | | Yards per carry | 4.7 | 3.3 | _____ Chat House _____
• Get Michael Wilbon's take on the game at 1 p.m. EST Monday.
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| _____ Week 9 Games/Results _____
• Washington 17, Detroit 10
• Baltimore 27, Browns 13
• Buffalo 22, N.Y. Jets 17
• Tampa Bay 34, Kansas City 31
• Pittsburgh 27, Philadelphia 3
• Arizona 24, Miami 23
• Cincinnati 26, Dallas 3
• Oakland 27, Carolina 24
• Seattle 42, San Francisco 27
• San Diego 43, New Orleans 17
• Chicago 28, N.Y. Giants 21
• Denver 31, Houston 13
• New England 40, St. Louis 22 Monday
• Indianapolis 31, Minnesota 28
Open Date
Atlanta, Green Bay, Tennessee, Jacksonville
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• Who's going to win this week?
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"With our football team every game has been a fourth-quarter game, so any score in there anyway we can get it is going to really be a big deal," Gibbs said. "I think our defense is playing extremely well and so every point we get is cherished. For us to get one on special teams was great. I thought our special teams played solid all day."
Gibbs gave a game ball to wide receiver James Thrash, whose hustle on punt coverage three times pinned the Lions inside their own 5-yard line and whose 43-yard punt return in the second quarter helped set up a Redskins field goal.
Portis, meantime, gained 147 yards on 34 carries, and his 15-yard touchdown pass -- Washington's longest completion of the game -- early in the third quarter snapped a 3-3 tie, giving the Redskins a lead they did not relinquish. Portis became the first tailback this season to run for more than 100 yards against Detroit's defense.
Detroit, which entered the game with the league's lowest-ranked offense, finished with 322 yards. But the Lions were hurt by poor field position throughout the game, in large part because of excellent punt coverage by the Redskins.
"Defense played great, special team came up with a big play, we ran the ball really well," Brunell said. "It was a combined effort. It was not pretty but it was effective."
"We played as a team today for the first time," cornerback Fred Smoot said.
The Redskins face an imposing schedule in the weeks ahead. After a game at FedEx Field next Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, who beat the Dallas Cowboys, 26-3, on Sunday, the Redskins have road games against the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers before hosting the New York Giants and Eagles.
"The difference between 3-5 and 2-6 is huge," Brunell said of Washington's record. "Hopefully, this is the start of something."
Brunell's passes again consistently went astray on Sunday, especially when he faced pressure from Detroit's defensive line. Left defensive end James Hall constantly nipped at Brunell's heels. Brunell wasn't helped by Washington's receivers, who dropped several passes. Brunell finished with a season-low 58 yards, completing 6 of 17 passes for a 45.7 quarterback rating.
It was Portis who had the throw of the game. Less than five minutes into the second half, the Redskins had a second and nine at the Detroit 15-yard line. Brunell handed the ball to Portis for what appeared to be a running play. Portis looked comfortable in the pocket, juking to his right before unleashing a rainbow pass to Coles in the back of the end zone for the wideout's first touchdown reception this season.
"From where I was standing," Gibbs said, "it looked like a pretty good throw."
Coles, who had gone eight consecutive games without a score, was covered by safety Brock Marion, who never turned his head. After the play, which gave the Redskins a 10-3 lead with 10 minutes 31 seconds left in the quarter, Portis sprinted toward the end zone, flapping his arms, before congratulating Coles.
