Dink, Dunk Means NFL Record for Brunell

Washington Redskins quarterback Mark Brunell looks to pass against the Houston Texans during the second quarter of their NFL football game IN Houston in this Sept. 24, 2006 file photo. Brunell broke the NFL record for most consecutive passes completed in a single game when he connected on his first 22 passes. (AP Photo/Dave Einsel, File) (Dave Einsel - AP)

ASHBURN, Va. -- Redskins quarterback Mark Brunell flicked a simple shovel pass to begin his record-breaking streak and needed a do-over to finish it.

He completed only one downfield throw, relying on screens, flares, dump-offs and floaters for all the rest. The defense he faced is the arguably the worst in the NFL.

Yet, a complete pass is a complete pass, even if it only travels a few yards to a wide-open receiver. Although no one will mistake the performance for any of the great games from Unitas, Montana or Elway, Brunell is in the NFL record books after completing 22 consecutive passes in the same game in Sunday's 31-15 victory over the Houston Texans.

"I had a lot of text messages, a lot of voice mails, and I appreciate that," Brunell said Monday. "I've got a lot of friends. It kind of reminds you that there's some good people out there still rooting for you, and it's nice to hear a lot of people say 'Good job and good luck.'"

Such warmth and fuzziness was a welcome change of pace for the beleaguered quarterback and for all of the Redskins (1-2), who needed to beat somebody _ anybody _ to boost the collective morale after losing four straight preseason games and the first two of the regular season. In essence, the game at Houston was the good exhibition the team never had, a chance for Al Saunders' new offense to stretch its legs in an atmosphere that, will all due respect to the Texans, was hardly the most competitive.

"We were at a point, where, six straight weeks, you kind of know the way everybody feels. We're down," coach Joe Gibbs said. "With what we've been through, I was proud of our guys, the way they fought."

They'll have to fight harder next week. Washington, despite winning by 16 on the road, will be an underdog at home against Brunell's former team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, whose stingy defense is unlikely to allow receivers to roam as free as they did in Houston.

Still, the 36-year-old quarterback has bought at least a little bit of slack after a week of heavy criticism.

"A lot of people have been getting down on Mark, saying he is washed up," tackle Chris Samuels said. "But he went out there, blocked out all the negativity and he just played outstanding."

The Redskins were in a no-win situation against the Texans. Anything short of a big victory would have been a disappointment, and a loss would have dug an 0-3 hole that might have been killed the season in September.

Even so, the feeling of victory counts for something, and Brunell's record is a lot more fun than analyzing why the offense had managed only one touchdown in the first two games.

"We like to get the ball in the hands of the playmakers, whether it's down the field or if it's a short pass," said Brunell, who completed passes to eight receivers. "Yesterday was a good example of what we want to be."