For the first time in almost a year, the Miami Dolphins gave their home crowd something to cheer about. Reggie Bush scored the clinching touchdown and emphatically threw the ball into the stands. Bush scored twice and Rex Grossman, who got the start over John Beck this week, was picked off twice as the Dolphins cruised to a 20-9 victory over the Washington Redskins.

This was the second straight victory for a Dolphins team that started the season 0-7. ”It was nice to come in this locker room and celebrate a win,” coach Tony Sparano said. “I see 2-7 now as a hill but not a mountain. That’s how our players see it, too.” The Dolphins had a small 10-6 lead going into the half, but were able to put together 70 and 81 yard scoring drives to pull away as they held off any chance of a fourth-quarter comeback by the Redskins.

“The first seven games we were kind of in disarray,” Bush said. “We were trying to find our identity. The difference now is we’re playing 60 minutes and finishing at the end of games.”

Miami was up 13-9 with Grossman driving down the field to the 10 early in the fourth when he threw a pass right at linebacker Karlos Dansby who made the interception to end the drive. The Dolphins then came out and drove 81 yards for the touchdown on a 18 yard run by Reggie Bush, who finished with 47 yards on 14 carries

Vontae Davis, who returned from his one game benching, added another interception. Matt Moore, who had a terrific game against Kansas City last week, had an interception and a fumble but was 20 of 29 for 209 yards. The Dolphins went 8 for 14 on third down despite coming in as the worst in the NFL.

The Redskins dropped their fifth in a row after starting the season promisingly. “It’s frustrating being 3-6,” Grossman said. “We’re better than that.”Grossman was 21 of 32 for 215 yards and two picks. Grossman was the surprise starter this week after he was benched four weeks ago in favor of John Beck.

Shanahan said it had to do with the injuries to the offensive line that he decided to go with Grossman who’s more experienced. ”I thought Rex gave us a chance to win,” Shanahan said. “If you have this many guys go down, I didn’t want to go with the inexperienced guy and throw him to the wolves.”

The Redskins’ three scoring drives netted only 48 yards as they were set up close by two turnovers, but had to settle each time for field goals. Washington reached the Miami 20, 26, 5, and 10 yard lines. Graham Gano also missed two field goals form 50 and 49 yards out. The interception by Kevin Barnes set up the Redskins at the Miami 5, but they lost three yards on three plays and settled for a field goal.

On Ryan Kerrigan’s sack forced fumble the Redskins were again set up close at the Miami 24, but again settled for just three points. ”You get into the red zone three times, you’ve got to make plays to win the game,” Shanahan said. The Dolphins look to continue their new found success when the Bills come to town on a two game losing streak.

Washington heads home looking to snap the losing streak against division rivals the Dallas Cowboys winners of two straight.

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What is something that the Miami Dolphins have that John Beck doesn’t? A victory. Beck is still looking for that ever elusive first win as a starter as the Redskins travel to Miami looking to avoid losing five straight.

Beck, who was a second round pick of the Dolphins back in 2007, played in five games with four starts and failed to record a win. He was released after the 2008 season and hasn’t gotten a chance to start until last month when coach Mike Shanahan benched Rex Grossman during a game against Philadelphia. He’s now 0-3 as a starter after throwing for 254 yards, a touchdown, and an interception last week against the 49ers.

“When you’re the quarterback and the team hasn’t been winning games, you want to step up to the plate,” Beck told the Redskins’ official website. “You want to win games. I think in the league, week-in and week-out you see it — the desire to win, the feel for the need to win a game. It’s always there.

“There’s always pressure every week regardless of who you’re playing or the situation you’re in. Even when you’re winning all your games or you’re not — there’s always pressure to win.” During this four game losing streak the Redskins have been outscored 95-44, which includes a 23-0 shutout against the Bills in Toronto.

“If we come out and get some points on the board early, maybe the game would be different,” receiver Jabar Gaffney said. “But these last four games, we’ve fallen behind in all of them and, it’s like, as soon as the other team scores, it’s not the same feeling on the sideline. People aren’t looking the same, aren’t playing the same.”

The Redskins will likely look to rookie running back Roy Helu again this Sunday with Tim Hightower lost for the season with a torn ACL and backup Ryan Torian struggling. He got his first start last weekend rushing for 41 yards on 10 carries, but sparked the team by setting a franchise record with 14 receptions for 105 yards.

“Helu has the speed to make some big plays,” Shanahan said. “I think you can see he is a pretty good all-around back. He made some plays. I think he’d like to have that fumble back.” Miami is coming off their first win of the season after taking out seven games worth of anger on the Kansas City Chiefs winning 31-3. Matt Moore threw for 244 yards and three touchdowns.

“It was absolutely great to get a little reward for all the work we’ve put in, just to have that feeling of getting a win under your belt,” Moore said. “I think guys now understand that, ‘Yeah we can do this,’ and they’re hungry and we’re going to enjoy this one and get ready for Washington.”

The Dolphins look to turn their luck around at home. They’ve lost seven straight at Sun Life Stadium. The defense should get a boost, as corner back Vontae Davis is expected to play after being held out of last weeks’ game after showing up late to practice. Reggie Bush who had another solid game last week rushing for 92 yards on 13 carries and a score will look to continue that against the 21^st ranked rush defense. Washington is giving up 122.6 yards per game.

John Beck will try to one up his old team as he takes on one of the worst passing defenses in football. Miami is ranked 27^th giving up 265.3 yards per game. He will have to look to tight end Fred Davis with wide receiver Santana Moss being out for the season.

With Miami coming off their first victory, they are riding some momentum. John Beck won’t get his first win against his former team as Miami should get their first win at home this season and make it two in a row. Final Prediction: Washington 10 Miami 21

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Thanks to the help of David Akers and Alex Smith, the San Francisco 49ers were able to beat the Washington Redskins 19-11 on Sunday. Neither team was able to score in the first quarter; however, the 49ers were able to get on the scoreboard with two field goal kicks off the boot of Akers. One of the field goals was kicked 52 yards.

With a minute left in the second quarter, Smith threw a 30-yard pass to Bruce Miller to give the 49ers a 13-0 lead. The Redskins were able to get on the scoreboard before the end of the half with a 59-yard field goal kick from Graham Gano. Akers was able to put another 45-yard field goal through the uprights in the third quarter, increasing the lead to 16-3.

Akers struck for the last time halfway through the fourth quarter with a 20-yard field goal, bringing his total contribution in the game to 13 points. The Redskins had the last say in the game, with a 9-yard pass from John Beck to Jabar Gaffney. Beck was also able to get the two-point conversion with a pass to Leonard Hankerson, leaving the Redskins eight points shy of bringing the game into overtime.

According to Fox Sports, the 49ers have their longest winning streak since 1997 and are 4-0 on the road for the first time since 1992. ”We have to do something to keep that confidence up,” Gaffney said in an interview with Fox Sports. ”And stop playing like we’re seeing ghosts out there.” The Redskins have lost their last four games.

The San Francisco 49ers (7-1) head back home to face the New York Giants next Sunday, while the Washington Redskins (3-5) travel to Florida to face the Miami Dolphins.

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It’s the home game away from home. For the past few years the Buffalo Bills travel north of the border to play a ‘home’ game in Toronto, but until Sunday this hasn’t been a good thing for the Bills. Sunday was the first win in four tries since the cross-border series started back in 2008.

This was also the first shutout in Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan’s long and illustrious 24 season career as a coordinator or head coach. For the Bills it marked the paying off of the recent contract extension given to Ryan Fitzpatrick, 6 years $59 million, as well as, giving the fans in Canada, who haven’t been the most supportive of their Buffalo brethren, reason to cheer.

Fitzpatrick was able to find TE Scott Chandler for two touchdowns and the Bills defense which has been one of the worst in the NFL this season had a monster game racking up 9 sacks, 2 interceptions, and a blocked field goal. They held the Redskins to 178 yards of total offense and only 10 first downs. The injury riddled Redskins had no answers for the Bills on either side of the ball all game.

Safety George Wilson called the Toronto fans passion as well as loyalty into question in the week leading up to the game, but came to find that the Bills were the drawing most of the cheers from the crowd. ”That was one of the things coming in, give them something to cheer about. And I thought we did that today,” said Fitzpatrick, “I think there was more excitement out there than there has been in years past.”

It was a great overall performance,” said defensive end Spencer Johnson, who had a sack and blocked Graham Gano’s 49-yard field-goal attempt in the second quarter. “To shut anybody out in the NFL, that’s a big feat, a big accomplishment and a big step in the right direction.”

Fred Jackson, who’s putting up MVP numbers, had another great game posting 120 yards on the ground and 74 yards receiving. This put Jackson at over 1000 yards from scrimmage 7 games into the season which makes him only the fourth Bill in history to do so and the first since Thurman Thomas did so in 1991.

Another bright spot for the Bills was the emergence of first round draft pick Marcell Dareus who started in place of injured NT Kyle Williams. Dareus had 2 ½ sacks, leading the defense for the day.

The Bills overall looked solid against the injured Redskins, but they will face a much tougher test next week as they square off against division rivals the New York Jets back in Ralph Wilson Stadium. With the Patriots loss, the Bills are currently tied for first in the AFC East.

This will be a real measuring game for the Bills as the Jets have a better offense and a much better defense than the Redskins. The Jets are also riding a two game win streak and have had an extra week to prepare for the Bills.

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This past week, the NFL released its list of its top 100 players. The list is voted by the players and can feature a player from any position or team. The voted superstars are revealed on NFL network with in a ten show special. Each player is presented by a fellow teammate or coach who then explains why the player honored is one of the games current greats. The list is very prestigious and let me repeat, it is for the top 100 players in the NFL. This means you had to have been extremely successful and respected around the league for the 2010 NFL season. In laments terms; you’re probably really good and at least start. So how does a benched quarterback for the dreadful, Washington Redskins land at #100 on the list? Maybe the players were filled in on a little secret that Donovan McNabb isn’t washed up after all. Eh, lets not get ahead of ourselves.

Donovan McNabb’s career ended on April 4^th, 2010. Well not technically, but this is the day that McNabb was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Washington Redskins.  The Eagles had to be so confident that McNabb’s best days were behind him that they dumped him to a division rival. That’s like if your smoking hot girlfriend is so over you that she tries to hook you up with her annoying fat friend.   Talk about getting slapped in the face; it wasn’t all heartbreak though.

Washington welcomed McNabb with open arms. The man was named DC Donovan and titled the savior of the franchise. In other words, the marriage got off to a great start. Washington attempted to convince the sports world the trade was a steal. They received a middle aged quarterback who has played in four NFC Championships (lost three) and one Super Bowl (lost that one too). Philadelphia received two extra draft picks and found their next pro bowl quarterback out of the U.S.  Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. Guess the ‘skins thought all those losses were just flukes. Maybe he just needed a change of scenery? Yeah, to a retirement community in Boca.

McNabb went into the 2011 season looking to bring the Redskins back to the playoffs with new head coach, Mike Shanahan. He started off rather pedestrian going 4-3 in his first seven games, but looked promising after posting two comeback wins. It was in week 8 when we watched McNabb’s career slowly start to combust. In the fourth quarter in a game vs. the Detroit Lions, McNabb was benched due to poor play. The benching caused a rift between a disgruntled McNabb and new coach Mike Shanahan. McNabb would later be relegated to the 3^rd string quarterback behind Rex Grossman and John Beck. Sounds like a successful trade. Who wouldn’t give up a second round pick for the highest paid third string quarterback in the league?

If he was worried about being a back up in Philadelphia, how much more embarrassing is it that he now backs up Rex Grossman for a pitiful Washington squad? If I were him I’d do my best to build a time machine and go back to April 3^rd, 2010 and beg the Eagles to keep me to regain some pride. Why not take him back Philly? He’s a hero in the city and clearly most of the league has a man crush on him if they voted him as one of the NFL’s top 100 players. He’ll cause drama? Please; I am sure if Andy Reid can handle Michael Vick he can control McNabb’s ego. Face it Donovan, you’re a back up.

If you’re asking if you can hang up your #5 jersey, the answer is 100% yes. Not because McNabb is the 100^th best NFL player (there has to be an explanation for this) but because the guys done. Donovan, I wish you good luck on your 401k but please just get out while you still have a little respect. It’s been fun Donovan but your time on the playing field has come to an end. Philadelphia superstar to Washington wash up.

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