Finally, we put together four quarters of football. The defense actually looked alive. The running game was actually used consistently and effectively. Jason Campbell essentially played well. Steve Smith was kept in check.

The Redskins pulled off a 17-13 victory against the Carolina Panthers in Campbell's first victory and first appearance at FedEx Field. He tossed two TDs, had an interception and shook off miscues and played to the end with poise. His pass to Chris Cooley was accurate and thrown ahead of Cooley enough for Cooley to break free from his defender and outrace the defense for the game-winning TD. Some of his passes were a bit high, but overall he managed the game and let the running game do its thing. Ladell Betts rushed for over 100 yards on a Carolina defense which usually plays the run well.

Carlos Rogers stepped his game up. Apparently during the week Rogers was challenged to perform and he came out and did so. He still gave a lot of cushion on some plays, but he made some plays that were critical to stopping the Panthers and Steve Smith. Sean Taylor, minus his penalties, also made plays, made hits and made an impact on defense.

The defense was obviously playing with some emotion. Two interceptions, including Sean Taylor's game sealing pick at the end of the game, a sack, some batted passes and the gang tackle mentality. The d-line really held their own in making sure the Panthers never got their running game going.

The special teams had two critical breakdowns, a blocked punt and a missed FG. Both of them could've contributed to a disappointing loss, but the Redskins never let that shake their confidence.

Congratulations to Jason Campbell on his first victory.

Sure, we lost the game, but there was a still a sense of optimism. That optimism is due to the QB change and Jason Campbell's play. He made mistakes, as expected, but he also did some things that we haven't seen in a long time. Such as throw the ball downfield. And passes with some zip. And escape pressure. And deliver, if nothing else, some hope that we have a QB who has the potential to lead the Redskins to another Super Bowl.

Completing 19 of 34 for almost 200 yards, Jason Campbell also engineered two TD drives, tossing TD passes to TEs Chris Cooley and Todd Yoder (who scored his first career TD against the Redskins last year). Campbell threw no interceptions (and the Redskins defense actually recorded an interception!), converted both fourth down attempts, and did it all without Santana Moss and Clinton Portis.

If anything, the game was lost on a Ladell Betts fumble which led to a Tampa TD, a defense that bent and broke, and a defense that allowed Tampa to hold the ball for 36 minutes giving the Redskins offense less time to figure out how to get into the end zone. The RBs only averaged 3.2 yards per carry allowing the Buc's defense to focus on preventing Campbell from making any significant throws down the field.

Absolute disappointment.

The Redskins fell hard to the Eagles 27-3 in a game that could mean the end of the season. At no point in the game did it seem the Redskins were any different from the team they've been all season (and preseason). Adam Archuleta wasn't out there as a starter, but the Eagles still played pitch and catch down the middle of the field. Sean Taylor, where you going!? Clinton Portis got put out the game, Ladell Betts led all receivers in catches and Mark Brunell, well, he just isn't the best chance of winning anymore.

Adam Archuleta spoke about his disappointing season thus far and lack of impact considering his huge contract. Against Dallas, he was on the field late in the game when Dallas TE Jason Witten snuck in the secondary and caught a pass deep in Redskins territory to set up a potential easy game-winning FG for Dallas. The other safety, Troy Vincent, who was signed not too long ago and in response to the fact that Archuleta has been a disappointment, blocked the kick.

Archuleta was signed for $30 million, larger than any other safety in the history of the NFL to that point. And he has consistently, ever since preseason, allowed receivers to sneak into the backfield and grab huge chunks of yards catching balls in Archuleta's face, if not somewhere behind him.

It wasn't pretty, but it counts as a win. We may only be 3-5, but the victory over the Cowboys 22-19 on a Nick Novak field goal with no time on the clock gives us a glimmer of hope.

Well, in the first half, there was a glimmer of hope that the Redskins came to play. By the end of the third quarter, Peyton Manning got his marbles back in order and reality settled into the dome as Indianapolis went on to spank the Redskins 36-22. And it wasn't even that close.

In preparation for the Halloween holiday, Redskins fan were practicing being ghosts at FedEx Field this past Sunday. My bad. Actually the booing was intended for the Redskins, if not specifically for Mark Brunell after his game-sealing interception at the end of the game.

Just as I finally get my Internet back up and running and I'm hyped to return to the blogosphere with a post about how the Redskins are just a game back in the NFC East with Dallas and Philly coming up in the next few weeks, instead, I return to say the Redskins are looking dangerously close to being this season's biggest bust of the season. Mario Williams even gets a little wiggle room considering he's a Texan. The Redskins are armed with an explosive offense, a suffocating defense and a coaching staff built to build dynasties. But after six games, four were losses with Peyton Manning and the undefeated Colts waiting to finish off what confidence and hope we have left.

What can be said? We lost to the Tennessee Titans and a QB playing in his first year (while Jason Campbell rides the pine for his second year). We had them 14-3 in the first quarter and thought the game was won. And for the next three quarters, the Titans ran all over the Skins (literally) to a 25-22 victory. Humiliating.

Is it Mark Brunell's fault? What about Al Saunders' play calling? Gregg Williams' conservative style? Shawn Springs' shoulder? Andre Carter not earning his dough? Adam Archuleta's poor pass coverage skills? The d-line? The o-line? Derrick Frost? John Hall? The cheerleaders?

Someone please figure it out, share it with the coaches so we can get some victories and make blogging fun again.

It may have only been the Texans, but the Redskins 31-15 victory looked to solve a lot of little issues from the running game, the passing game and Al Saunders' play calling. Clinton Portis' return brought that dimension to the offense that's been missing, but it was Ladell Betts' 126 yards off the same number of carries that led the running game. And adding to the running games succes was Mark Brunell's miraculuous inability to not complete a pass. Image that. Brunell set a record completing his first 22 passes, finishing with only one sideline completion. And Al Saunders' play calling was better executed and favored the run more than the pass.

I was hoping to see more downfield passes considering the weapons lining up at WR, but if Brunell continued to complete those short dumpoffs and quick slants, I'll take them. With players like Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El, just get them the ball any way possible and they'll make the play.

The defense looked better, but against a well-oiled offense I wonder. Carlos Rogers got burned from time to time. Adam Archuleta got burned even more. Texan WR Andre Johnson put up 11 catches for 152 yards! A surprise on defense was the play of rookie DT Kedric Golston who really stood out among Cornelius Griffin, Phillip Daniels and Andre Carter. Kenny Wright remained quiet, which is good. He even got a pick.

A huge concern, though, is definitely the TWELVE FOR 126 YARDS in penalties. And those are just the ones accepted. Holding after holding after holding call, sometimes two on one play.

Regardless, the Redskins put together the team we were expecting and now have a solid foundation to built on to. There are still 13 more games to go and none of the NFC East teams have looked like they're going to pull away from the pack. It's a matter of who gets it together the fastest.

I tried. I really tried to believe Mark Brunell could pull it together for one more season and lead the Redskins back to the Super Bowl, but I am now convinced it's time to move on. Consistently he looked like the speed of the game was too fast in the 27-10 thumping in Dallas. Every time he threw the ball he looked like he was straining. Out of 18 completions, 11 were to non-WRs. How many passes did he even throw to either Santana Moss or Brandon Lloyd?

Hmmm, where do we start?

Back in the day of little league football, I had a coach who used to always say, "It's not what you do right; it's what you don't do wrong..." Well, the Redskins had some moments to cheer, but overall, there is nothing worth remember from this 27-14 loss to the New York Jets.

Well, the first game is now history, but the questions continue.

Primarily, how bad is Clinton Portis' shoulder injury? After a rushed pass by Mark Brunell was picked off, Portis raced downfield and laid a lick on Cincinnati Bengal Keiwan Ratliff. Portis was slow to get up, went to the locker room and came back out in a sling. The word so far is a Acromioclavicular joint (AC) shoulder separation. This injury occurs as a result of a hit or blow to the top part of the shoulder, depressing the scapula (shoulder blade) and tearing the ligaments between the scapula and clavicle (collar bone).

Tomorrow the specialists will take a closer look at the injury after the swelling goes down and we'll get a better idea of what to expect.