First Down

WEEKEND REWIND » IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Redskins top Eagles — With a handful of likely easy games ahead of the Redskins (vs. St. Louis, vs. Cleveland, at Detroit), it might be time to start thinking about a 7-1 first half. Even the most die-hard fans would have had a hard time believing that after the offense’s performance against the Giants a month ago. But that’s how it works in the NFL — one week you’re looking at a 5-11 year, the next you’re printing playoff tickets.

Maryland lays an egg in Charlottesville — As well as the Terps played against ranked opponents California and Clemson, they played just as badly Saturday against Virginia, one of the worst BCS conference teams. The 31-0 shutout might have been the most puzzling result in Ralph Friedgen’s tenure considering the Cavaliers had been thumped by Duke just a week before. Fortunately for most Maryland fans, the game was broadcast on ESPNU, which Comcast cable doesn’t carry. After the ugly loss, Terps fans should have called Comcast to thank it for not showing the game.

Cubs lose in playoffs … again — For all the talk about the Red Sox buying into the Curse of the Bambino before winning the World Series in 2004, it’s hard to recall them allowing a priest into the dugout to bless them with holy water as the Cubs did before Game 1 against the Dodgers. Either they really are cursed (not likely) or they shouldn’t have given a boatload of money to Alfonso Soriano (1-for-14 in the NLDS).

TWT FIVE » EARLY NFL DISAPPOINTMENTS

1. Chargers — A popular preseason Super Bowl pick, San Diego is off to a 2-3 start while former MVP LaDainian Tomlinson suddenly looks old.

2. Seahawks — Maybe Mike Holmgren should have retired after all. After a 44-6 loss to the Giants, the defense has given up 30-plus points in three of four games.

3. Chad “Ocho Cinco” — With 11 catches entering Sunday’s game against Dallas, he is hereby dubbed Chad “Cuarenta y Cuatro” for his 44-catch pace.

4. AFC — Almost all of last year’s playoff teams are struggling on the field (Jacksonville, San Diego, New England) or off it (Tennessee and Vince Young).

5. Common sense — Entering Sunday’s games, one team (Pittsburgh) that won its division in 2007 was in first place.

HE SAID WHAT?

“I’m not going to say who it was. He knows who it is. I think that’s bush league. I’ve never done that. That’s blatant disrespect.” — Missouri’s Chase Daniel on being spit on by a Nebraska player