Redskins: Special Teams Will Need Attention

[washingtonpost . com]

Wednesday, December 29, 2004 ____ NFL Playoff Picture ____ NFC Already In � Eagles (13-2)* � Falcons (11-4) � Packers (9-6) � Seahawks (8-7) * Clinched home field. The Other Two Spots � Vikings (8-7) � Rams (7-8) � Panthers (7-8) � Saints (7-8) � The Vikings make the playoffs with a Rams loss or tie; or a victory against the Redskins. � The Rams win the NFC West with a win and a Seattle loss. � If the Rams lose, the winner of the Panthers-Saints game gets a playoff spot. AFC Already In � Steelers (14-1)* � Patriots (13-2) � Colts (12-3) � Chargers (11-4) * Clinched home field. The Other Two Spots � Jets (10-5) � Broncos (9-6) � Bills (9-6) � Ravens (8-7) � Jaguars (8-7) The Jets and Broncos earn playoff berths with victories. The other teams need victories and some help. _____  Week 16 Results _____ Sunday • Dallas 13, Washington 10 • Pittsburgh 20, Baltimore 7 • N.O. 26, Atlanta 13 • Houston 21, Jacksonville 0 • Indiana. 34, San Diego 31 (OT) • Detroit 19, Chicago 13 • Cincinnati 23, N.Y. Giants 22 • New England 23, N.Y. Jets 7 • Buffalo 41, San Francisco 9 • Carolina 37, Tampa Bay 20 • Seattle 24, Arizona 21 • Miami 10, Cleveland 7 Monday • St. Louis 20, Philadelphia 7 Saturday • Kansas City 31, Oakland 30 • Denver 37, Tennessee 16 Friday • Green Bay 34, Minnesota 31 What's Your Opinion? • Who's going to win this week? Two-Minute Drill • Stars and stats from Week 16 Special Teams Will Need Attention Punter Tom Tupa, in his 17th season, had a solid year for Washington, but the Redskins' special teams were often out-produced by the opposition. (John McDonnell -- The Washington Post) The Redskins have had one of the worst kicking games in the NFL with relatively little fanfare. The team has struggled in the kicking game since starter John Hall was injured early on -- he missed several games and was ultimately placed on injured reserve -- and he attempted only 11 field goals this season. His replacements, Ola Kimrin and Jeff Chandler, have not had much success. Overall, Washington's kickers are 3-of-10 when attempting kicks of 40 yards or more. Kimrin fared well in preseason and was brought back with Hall hurt, but when Hall went down again Kimrin had already returned to his native Sweden and could not get a visa in time to return. So Chandler was signed, and was strong in his first game with the club, in Week 15 at San Francisco -- his former team -- nailing all four of his kicks, including one from 49 yards. Chandler could not make a 57-yard kick as time expired in Dallas on Sunday, although few kickers would have converted under those circumstances. The Redskins expect Hall to make a full recovery from the groin, hamstring and quadriceps injuries that plagued him this season, and keeping him healthy will be essential to improving the special teams units. Washington has been prone to giving up long returns, has broken very few -- return specialist Chad Morton missed most of the season with injuries as well -- and, save for punter Tom Tupa, is often out-produced by the opposition on special teams. Redskins note: Unless quarterback Patrick Ramsey throws two touchdowns Sunday against Minnesota, the Redskins will not have at least one passer with 10 touchdowns for the first time since 1993. Mark Brunell, the starter in the first half of the season, threw seven touchdowns. In 1993, Mark Rypien, Rich Gannon and Cary Conklin combined for 11 touchdown passes for a 4-12 club. -- Jason La Canfora Small-Scale Production His arrival was trumpeted as the return of the Redskins' power running days, but Clinton Portis averages just 3.8 yards a carry and has scored only five touchdowns this season. REDSKINS NOTEBOOK Blache Blames Rush Defensive line coach Greg Blache believes the lack of pressure on Vinny Testaverde allowed the Dallas quarterback too much time to complete his game-winning score. • Also in the Notebook: No Pro Bowl for Portis • Secondary Shuffles SPOTLIGHT ON THE VIKINGS Vikings Get Loose Last season, the Vikings missed the playoffs on a last-second touchdown to, of all teams, the Arizona Cardinals. Minnesota has a second chance to prove they are closers as a win gets them in again. MARK MASKE'S NFL INSIDER Cowher's Steelers Won't Lay Down Sunday Bill Cowher says his Pittsburgh Steelers will play to win in Sunday's regular season finale at Buffalo and he won't rest any healthy starters. That is in contrast to Andy Reid of the Eagles, who sat his best players in a loss Monday in St. Louis. • Also in the NFL Insider: More of the Same for Eagles • Giants in Disarray • McNair Undergoes Surgery NFL MIDWEEK Roethlisberger May Sit Bruised rib cartilage will likely sideline Steelers rookie phenom Ben Roethlisberger on Sunday as Pittsburgh faces Buffalo. • Also in NFL Midweek: Reid's Choices May Require Answers • Patriots' Seymour Faces Recovery E-Mail Newsletter Services To sign up for additional newsletters or get help, visit the E-mail Preferences Page. •   To unsubscribe, visit the E-mail Preferences Page (do not reply to this e-mail). •   For feedback, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]. •   For advertising information, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]. •   To subscribe to the print edition of The Washington Post newspaper, click here.     Privacy Policy © 2004 The Washington Post Company Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive c/o E-mail Customer Care 1515 N. 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