Dave Johnson, wtop.com

In ending a six-game losing streak, the Redskins were simply better than average.

That’s not to discount the effort that was put forth in the team’s 23-17 win over the Seahawks. Seattle is a hard to place to play, nothing has come easy for the Redskins this season and Sunday was no exception.

The comeback by the Redskins was impressive, but it also masked familiar problems. A better team might have finished off the Redskins. On the season the Seahawks are only averaging about 16 points per game and reasons for their 4-7 record were clear.

To secure the victory the Redskins needed to rally from 10 points down and rattle off 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. The late rally included Roy Helu’s 28-yard run with a leap over a defensive back for a touchdown and Rex Grossman’s 50-yard scoring strike to Anthony Armstrong.

Yes, the Redskins had not one, but two big plays in the same game.  Helu’s resume included 108 yards rushing and maybe he will add to Mike Shanahan’s track record of developing running backs. The win over the Seahawks also marked the first time all year that the Redskins scored a touchdown on their first possession.

In between that promising start and the fantastic ending, there was plenty for Redskins’ fans to be concerned about. Grossman had two interceptions and the team showed a lack of discipline with too many penalties. Fred Davis’ unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was particularly troubling because it happened on a first down play and not a winning touchdown.

It is encouraging for the second straight week the Redskins’ offense scored at least 20 points and reached at least 400 yards. The recent surge doesn’t erase doubts about Grossman’s long term future, but in the short term provides hope for at least a respectable finish to the season.

Better than average is not exactly a battle cry to rally around, but after the last couple of months it is more than welcome.

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