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10 greatest in-season turnarounds in Washington Football Team history

By Jonathan Eig

WASHINGTON, D.C. - CIRCA 1984: Head coach Joe Gibbs of the Washington Football Team talks with quarterback Joe Theismann #7 on the sidelines during an NFL football game circa 1984 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.. Gibbs coached the Redskins from 1981-92 and 2004-2007. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, D.C. - CIRCA 1984: Head coach Joe Gibbs of the Washington Football Team talks with quarterback Joe Theismann #7 on the sidelines during an NFL football game circa 1984 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.. Gibbs coached the Redskins from 1981-92 and 2004-2007. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Marty Schottenheimer of the Washington Football Team looks on against the Kansas City Chiefs at FedEx Field on September 30, 2001 in Landover, Maryland. The Chiefs defeated the Redskins 45-13. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Marty Schottenheimer of the Washington Football Team looks on against the Kansas City Chiefs at FedEx Field on September 30, 2001 in Landover, Maryland. The Chiefs defeated the Redskins 45-13. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

2. 2001

Speaking of looking bad. During Marty Schottenheimer’s first and only year in DC, he got off to an 0-5 start. And it wasn’t just that the team was losing. They were getting crushed. They were averaging fewer than seven points a game. They were giving up an average of more than 28. What would the new owner Daniel Snyder do?

Perhaps recalling what the franchise had gone through 20 years earlier, he supported his coach. Lavar Arrington may have saved the season in the Week 6 match-up with Carolina. Washington had again looked helpless. Turnovers, failed 4th down conversions, missed field goals.

Trailing 14-0 and well on their way to 0-6, Arrington’s pick-six was followed by a long Tony Banks-Rod Gardner TD to tie the game. In overtime, Brett Conway, who had missed a game-winning chip shot at the end of regulation, won it for Washington with a short field goal.

That was the beginning of an 8-3 run which would get Washington to .500 by the end of the season. In the season’s penultimate game, WFT would run off 40 straight points against the New Orleans Saints.

Rarely seen things were happening. A Dan Wilkinson interception. Ki-Jana Carter running for more than 50 yards. Bruce Smith recording a sack in a Washington jersey. Miracles on top of miracles.

Behind the scenes, a power struggle was going on between professional football man Marty Schottenheimer and player personnel exec/movie actor Vinnie Cerrato. The owner would make his choice. Marty was gone. Momentum from 8-3 was gone as well.

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