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 Todd Collins came on for the injured Jason Campbell and threw for two touchdowns Thursday night, leading Washington to a 24-16 victory over the fading Chicago Bears that ended the Redskins' four-game losing streak.
"It seems like it's been forever since we won a game," Washington coach Joe Gibbs said. "This team's overcome so much. ... It's been an emotional roller coaster for us."
In a rough-and-tumble game befitting two teams that entered on the very fringe of the playoff chase in the so-so NFC, both starting quarterbacks left in the first half. Campbell departed in the second quarter with a dislocated left kneecap a few plays after hurting his throwing elbow, and Rex Grossman never returned from a left knee injury on Chicago's second possession.
Grossman's replacement, Brian Griese, threw interceptions on consecutive passes in the second quarter, both picked off by Shawn Springs. The cornerback returned the first 53 yards, setting up Collins' 21-yard touchdown pass to another backup, tight end Todd Yoder, to put Washington (6-7) ahead 7-0.
Collins wound up 15-for-20 for 224 yards and his first two scores since 2002, when he played for Kansas City.
"I don't know that I've ever had a better performance coming off the bench. Ever," Gibbs said.
Griese was 21-for-45 for 295 yards and one TD, but also raised his interception total to 12 in seven appearances this season for the reigning NFC champion Bears (5-8).
Both teams had a short turnaround from their previous games Sunday, but the Redskins' preparation was even more limited. The entire organization traveled to Florida for Monday's funeral of safety Sean Taylor, who died after being shot last week.
Coincidentally, tickets for this game, printed months ago, featured a picture of Taylor.
Several players and coaches spoke about feeling a sense of closure after paying their respects, and being able to focus on football.
One sign of moving forward: The makeshift memorial to Taylor, set up on a patch of grass outside the stadium where his number 21 was painted, is gone. Fans dropped off flowers, candles, teddy bears, homemade signs and other tokens before Sunday's game, but nothing remained in that spot Wednesday, other than some piles of snow.
The temperature was 26 degrees at kickoff, and perhaps a combination of the cold and the lack of regular rest contributed to all of the injuries. It wasn't the case that someone was forced off the field after each play, but it sure seemed that way.
The list of ailments begins with the two starting QBs and included running back Clinton Portis (stomach illness), right guard Randy Thomas (elbow) and cornerback Fred Smoot (cramps) of Washington, and defensive tackle Antonio Garay (ankle) of Chicago.
Also, Redskins tight end Chris Cooley left two plays before Campbell did, and limped off to the locker room at the same time his QB was driven there on a cart. Cooley, though, was able to return, and Portis made it back, too, although he was limited to 36 yards rushing on 17 carries.
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Neither team mustered a running attack, combining for 92 yards.
There were plenty of blunders on both sides, the sort that can make the difference between a win and a loss: turnovers, missed field-goal attempts, penalties. Lots of penalties, a total of 10 in the third quarter alone.
Things began inauspiciously for the Bears, when Grossman buckled under the weight of defensive lineman Cornelius Griffin. On Chicago's next possession, kicker Robbie Gould had a field-goal try blocked. Washington's Shaun Suisham did him one better
-- well, one worse -- by erring on two field-goal attempts, leaving a 47-yarder short and pushing a 37-yarder wide left.
The trouble for Campbell began when he was hit on his throwing arm by Brandon McGowan at the end of a scramble. Campbell left for one play, allowing Collins to record his first NFL completion in three years, a 5-yarder to Reche Caldwell.
Campbell returned on Washington's next possession, but lasted three plays. That's when three Bears converged on him, bending his left leg awkwardly. Campbell grimaced as he left, a temporary brace covering that leg.
Then, on Collins' fourth play of the game, he fumbled the ball away when sacked by Alex Brown. In keeping with the rhythm of things, three plays later, Griese threw his first interception. Springs stepped in front of Devin Hester at Washington's 26 and raced the other way. On the very next play, Collins found Yoder.
Collins-to-Yoder -- not exactly the way the Redskins would have drawn it up. After all, Collins had not so much as attempted a pass this season, and he had a grand total of one touchdown toss over the past decade.
"It was so abrupt," Collins said. "I haven't gotten any reps lately or any game action."
Yoder, meanwhile, hadn't caught a TD this season or a pass of any sort over the previous five games.
Washington went ahead 14-0 on its opening drive of the second half, highlighted by Portis' 54-yard catch-and-run to Chicago's 1. Mike Sellers then bulled over the left side of the line for the touchdown.
Chicago scored the next 10 points, including Griese's 17-yard TD pass to Bernard Berrian, the first touchdown allowed by Washington in nine quarters. The original ruling was an incompletion, but the Bears challenged that call.
[Associated Press; By HOWARD FENDRICH]
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
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