FB Sellers, Redskins run over Lions
LANDOVER, Md. -- Mike Sellers hasn't been asking for the ball. He's been begging for it.
With the Washington Redskins running out of options because of injuries, coach Joe Gibbs granted the burly fullback his wish. Sellers scored 2 touchdowns and rocked the stadium by bulldozing over a defensive back in the open field, a take-that kind of a statement in Sunday's creative and dominating 34-3 victory over the Detroit Lions.
"It's kind of embarrassing -- because I've really, really been begging," said Sellers, who ran 1 yard for a score in the first half and caught an 8-yard touchdown pass in the second. "Every time a coach passes by, 'Can I run this play?' 'Can I run that play?' 'Can I do this?' After a while, Coach Gibbs, he tried to avoid me.
"It worked. I got a chance to do something."
The Redskins (3-1) dominated time of possession in the first half to wear down Detroit's defense on a hot day, keeping the NFL's No. 1 passing offense off the field. The Lions (3-2) had been averaging 28.5 points and 387.3 yards per game, but they could muster only a field goal and 149 total yards against a Washington defense that had 5 sacks by four players.
"Our last two road games have been debacles," said quarterback Jon Kitna, who also suffered through a 56-21 loss at Philadelphia two weeks ago. "But it's a long season. It was bad for whatever reason."
The victory kept alive Detroit's seven-decade jinx in the nation's capital. The Redskins are 21-0 at home against the Lions since moving to Washington in 1937.
This time, the Lions couldn't complain about a lack of breaks. The Redskins played without top receiver Santana Moss, who missed the game with a groin injury. Antwaan Randle El, expected to carry the load in Moss' absence, had 7 catches for 100 yards before leaving with a hamstring injury just before halftime. Detroit fumbled four times but didn't lose a single one.
Running short on manpower, the Redskins were forced to diversify. Jason Campbell relied heavily on screens, dinks and dunks to go 23-for-29 for 248 yards with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. James Thrash, Keenan McCardell and Brandon Lloyd each caught a pass for the first time this season.
But Sellers was the undisputed -- and unlikely -- star. The 284-pound fullback had touched the ball only nine times all season and never more than five times in a game in his eight-year NFL career. On Sunday, he ran five times for 24 yards and caught 3 passes for 36 yards.
"Mike lobbies," assistant coach Al Saunders said. "We're all lobbying for Mike. Believe me, he's a guy who needs to be involved."
Sellers' biggest highlight was a rare downfield reception that went for 24 yards. After catching the ball, he knocked aside Kenoy Kennedy like a rag doll and went down only because Kennedy managed to hold on to Sellers' ankles.
"We needed the touchdowns, and the touchdowns were big," running back Clinton Portis said, who finished with 72 yards on 18 carries. "But when he ran over Kenoy, that really changed their defensive mentality, like, 'These dudes on this team are crazy.' So I really think he loosened up the defense."