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Baxter Bits: Lions at Redskins
By Russell S. Baxter
Special to ESPN.com
The Lions head to the nation's capital for the second time in three seasons and the sixth time this decade (including playoffs) as these teams renew acquaintances for the second time this season.
|  | | | Gus Frerotte was 2-4 as Detroit's starting quarterback this season. |
Five weeks ago at the Silverdome (Week 13), Lions KR Desmond Howard (with the team less than a week) returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown and Detroit's defense sacked Redskins QB Brad Johnson five times and forced four turnovers (1 of those miscues a Washington fumble returned 11 yards for a score by DT Luther Elliss) as the Men from Motown snapped an 18-game overall losing streak (including playoffs) to the 'Skins thanks to a 33-17 triumph.
Despite the loss, the Redskins still own an imposing 26-9 edge in the series standings (including playoffs).
Lions are winless in Washington (0-19, including playoffs) and haven't defeated the Redskins on the road since the 'Skins were located in Boston (Lions 17-7 in Boston in 1935), their last visit to the D.C. area resulting in a 30-7 setback in 1997.
This marks the third postseason meeting between these clubs, with Washington prevailing in both previous encounters (by a combined score of 72-17), posting a 31-7 victory at RFK Stadium in the 1982 NFC First Round Playoffs, as well as a 41-10 win at RFK Stadium in the 1991 NFC Championship Game.
Numbers: Including playoffs, the Lions have allowed 317 points in 22 victories (17 or fewer points in 16 of those wins) and 710 points in 27 losses dating back to '97. Including playoffs, the Lions have forced 51 turnovers in 22 wins, 29 takeaways in 27 losses dating back to '97. They have allowed three or more sacks in five straight games and 13-of-16 contests in '99. The Lions have been limited to 17 or fewer points in 4 straight games. In his last 18 starts (2 with Minnesota in 1998, 16 with Washington in 1999), Redskins QB Brad Johnson has thrown for 4,402 yards, 29 touchdowns and just 16 interceptions, with his team scoring a combined 512 points (31, 38, 35, 50, 27, 38, 24, 20, 48, 17, 28, 23, 20, 17, 28, 21, 26 and 21 points) in those contests.
Redskins RB Stephen Davis has rushed for 1,405 yards and 17 touchdowns in 14 games in 1999, running for 100-plus yards in six of those contests. In his three previous seasons (1996-98), Davis rushed for 815 yards and five touchdowns in 42 games and had failed to gain 100 or more yards rushing in any of those contests. In his last 27 games dating back to '98, Redskins WR Michael Westbrook has caught 109 passes for 1,927 yards and 15 touchdowns, totaling 100 or more yards receiving in nine of those games. In his three previous seasons (1995-97), Westbrook caught 102 passes for 1,586 yards and just 5 touchdowns in 35 games and totaled 100 or more yards receiving in just two of those contests.
After allowing a team-record 61 sacks in 16 games in '98 (3 or more sacks in 13 of those contests), the Redskins have allowed 31 sacks in 16 games in '99, three or more sacks in just five of those 16 contests. The Redskins have allowed 13 sacks in 10 wins, 18 sacks in six losses in '99. Since 1993, the Redskins have given up 130 or more yards rushing in 55-of-112 games, 200 or more yards on the ground in 13 of those contests, while limiting the opposition to fewer than 100 yards rushing in just 26 of those 112 games. They have committed 18 turnovers in their last nine games (5-4) after committing just seven turnovers in their first seven contests (5-2) in '99. The Redskins have allowed 172 points in 10 wins, 205 points in 6 losses in '99. They have forced two or more turnovers in four straight games.
The Coaches: Lions head coach Bobby Ross is 3-4 in postseason play (3-3 with Chargers, 0-1 with Lions), while Redskins head coach Norv Turner is making his first postseason appearance as an NFL head coach.
Postseason History: Lions are making their 14th overall playoff appearance (9th since merger) and are 7-9 in postseason play (1-8 since merger), while Redskins are making their 20th overall playoff appearance (14th since merger) and are 21-14 in postseason play (18-10 since merger).
Things To Look For: Bobby Ross' Lions has been a pleasant surprise for most of the season, but their late-season collapse has been puzzling as their once-staunch defense has been shaky at best. Meanwhile, Washington's defense showed signs of life down the stretch, but the key to this contest will be the play of Redskins' RB Stephen Davis and a much-improved offensive front that could dominate this affair.
Etc.: The Redskins are making their first playoff appearance since 1992 and are hosting a postseason game for the first time since defeating Detroit, 41-10, in the '91 NFC Championship Game. The Lions have lost their last five postseason games (0-1 at home, 0-4 on road) dating back to the 1991 postseason (by a combined score of 163-93), and a loss to the Redskins would tie the NFL record for most consecutive postseason games lost (co-owned by 3 other teams). Teams that play in domes are 9-31 lifetime in postseason games on the road outdoors, including 6-28 dating back to 1980. The Lions have lost four straight games. The Lions have lost five straight road games. Since 1997 (including playoffs), the Lions are 22-27 under head coach Bobby Ross, 14-11 vs. NFC Central rivals and just 8-16 vs. the rest of the NFL.
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