WP:For Fans, It's a Positive Spin

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20162-2003Nov9.html

For Fans, It's a Positive Spin

By Jon Gallo

Washington Post Staff Writer

Monday, November 10, 2003; Page D12

Two hours before kickoff, Jim Apperson of Churchton, Md., stood beside his deep fryer and expressed the hopes and worries of his fellow tailgaters in the parking lots at FedEx Field.

"This is the biggest game of the season, it might as well be the Super Bowl," said Apperson, 47, as he finished a batch of french fries. "If we win, then there's still hope that we'll be in the hunt for the playoffs. But if we lose, then we might as well hang it up the rest of the season."

With the Washington Redskins on a four-game losing streak, fans were as quick as the brisk wind swirling around the stadium to acknowledge the significance of yesterday's game against the Seattle Seahawks.

"Their whole season rides on this game as far as I'm concerned," said Tom McKay, 48, of La Plata, as he flipped burgers on the grill for his 70-person tailgate party. "Today's game will tell the tale of what to expect the rest of the season. But I think the Redskins are going to surprise some people [against Seattle], and a win could change the rest of the season."

McKay was at least half right; the Redskins surprised the Seahawks, their fans and perhaps even themselves yesterday as they pulled out a 27-20 victory.

Much of the fans' chatter did not focus on the Redskins' inability to protect its passer or stop the opponent's running game. The hot topic on this chilly day revolved around Coach Steve Spurrier.

"I personally would not have let him come back after the loss to Dallas last week," said Doug Williams, 43, of Richmond. "This is not the University of Florida, where you get to play Florida International and pick your schedule like he did. This is the NFL, and you don't get to decide what teams you play."

A day that started out with guarded optimism outside the stadium changed from pessimism back to optimism within the game's first half, as Seattle jumped to a 14-3 lead before the Redskins rallied to tie Seattle at 17 entering intermission.

"I don't know what anyone else saw, but it was like I saw two different teams of Redskins out there," Jessica Smith, 32, of Arlington, said at halftime. "At first they looked like a high school team that wasn't even very good one, but then all of the sudden it was like they decided to play like professionals. If the Redskins play the way they did in the second quarter, they can turn the whole season around and get back on a winning streak. We'll just see how it plays out in the second half."

It played out well for the Redskins. With the score tied at 20 and the Redskins facing a third-and-five situation from the Seattle 10-yard line, quarterback Patrick Ramsey threw a lateral to wide receiver Rod Gardner, who took a few steps, drawing the defense. But instead of turning up field, Gardner lofted a pass across the field to running back Trung Canidate, who was wide open in the end zone with 1 minute 57 seconds to play. The Redskins secured the win when cornerback Fred Smoot intercepted a pass after it deflected off wide receiver Darrell Jackson's hands with 39 seconds remaining.

"This win saved the Redskins' season, because if they would be 3-6 instead of 4-5, then the season is probably over," said Ryan Reese, 18, of Greenbelt as he exited the stadium. "Hopefully this gives them some momentum and gets them on a winning streak."

Though the Redskins' much-needed victory was gratifying for fans, the significance of the win won't be determined for the next few weeks, starting with Sunday's game at Carolina.

"If the Redskins turn their season around, then this win will be the one that started it all," said Bobby Hedgpeth, 15, of Chantilly. "But if they go out and lose their next couple of games, then winning this game was pointless."

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