Finally, an opportunity to exhale

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By Ryan O'Halloran

Three days before arguably the Washington Redskins' best defensive performance of the season, Greg Blache already knew what he didn't want to see from his players against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Despite Washington's three-game losing streak and 1-5 tailspin, Blache didn't want players walking through the halls of Redskin Park with a woe-is-us attitude or to give up on the last two games.

“Winners don't do that,” he said. “You have to get up, continue to fight and see where you can improve. We have to get off the mat, get our attitude right and compete like heck on Sunday.”

The Redskins' defense did exactly that, holding the previously rolling Philadelphia offense to 275 yards and five three-and-outs in a 10-3 win at FedEx Field. That effort, culminated by Fred Smoot and LaRon Landry teaming to stop Reggie Brown a yard short of the game-tying touchdown, allowed for a lighter atmosphere Monday at Redskin Park, even though the team had been eliminated from playoff contention a day earlier.

Gone were questions about coach Jim Zorn's thought-to-be tenuous job status and speculation on whether he had the support of the front office.

“It just gives a real lift to everybody,” Zorn said. “Everybody can take a breath basically. We're all breathing in, but not too many people these last couple games have been breathing out. ... Personally, it was a big game for me to see our team and know the resiliency and toughness they showed.”

The Redskins' defense has shown moxie all year. After starter (Phillip Daniels) suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first practice of training camp, Washington lost its best cover cornerback (Shawn Springs) for seven games, placed starting strong safety (Reed Doughty) on injured reserve and has received little production from its marquee pass rusher (Jason Taylor).

But entering the season finale Sunday in San Francisco, the Redskins are among the top 10 in nine defensive categories, including fourth in yards and points, eighth in rushing and sixth in passing.

“When you have some losses like we've had, it's very easy to get kind of down, and everybody is on your case, and maybe guys start blaming other guys in the locker room as opposed to owning up to things,” Blache said after the win. “The guys took it in stride. They came back, rallied and responded.”

On Monday, some of the players said it was different having everybody healthy. Only defensive tackle Kedric Golston did not play against Philadelphia.

“We're a talented group, and if we can get everybody out there together, it can make a difference,” said linebacker Marcus Washington, who returned from a four-game absence.

More able bodies gave Blache more options with his game plan, which focused on Eagles running back Brian Westbrook. With Westbrook limited by a rib injury in the Redskins' Week 5 win at Philadelphia, Blache sent pressure - 13 times he rushed five or six defenders. His base pressure package was a four-man rush (16 times).

The rematch featured a completely different game plan. Donovan McNabb dropped back 48 times. The Redskins rushed three players 21 times, followed by 18 four-man rushes and eight five-man blitzes.

Taylor was barely in a three-point stance, rushing from a variety of gaps and spying Westbrook or playing coverage nine times. Defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin dropped into coverage seven times.

The scheme limited McNabb, who finished 26-for-46 for 230 yards. Zorn, though, has been most impressed by the Redskins' run defense, which has allowed only 10 touchdowns this season. Westbrook was limited to 45 yards on 12 carries.

“We've faced some very good run teams, and we don't have the huge run stopper at defensive tackle,” he said. “We have good-sized guys, and they haven't got pushed back. They've maintained the point of attack and then rallied to the ball. We've forced teams to throw the ball to win games.”

While Blache has coordinated a cohesive group, changes are bound to happen this offseason. Veterans will be cut to create salary cap space, and the Redskins are always a player in free agency. Regardless of what happens, the Redskins are halfway to the strong finish Blache demanded last week.

“I have a lot of men with great character and great integrity,” he said. “That's why I get upset when people say negative things about them. I know who they are and know what they're capable of doing. I'm glad they showed up [Sunday] and showed people what they're made of.”