If the FedEx Field crowd had its way, Mark Brunell's regime as starting quarterback would have ceased two weeks ago, when the 12-year veteran was booed consistently by Redskins fans during another inept performance. The vocal contingent of the fan base compounded its sonic assault almost as soon as Brunell dropped back for his first pass yesterday against the Cincinnati Bengals, and their hearty chants for understudy Patrick Ramsey morphed into a loud ovation midway through the second quarter (after the Bengals had built a 17-0 lead), when Coach Joe Gibbs finally elected to insert the backup.
Gibbs had been unwavering in his loyalty to Brunell -- a quarterback he pursued immediately after returning to coaching and signed to a seven-year, $43 million contract -- and had defended him after each game. Over his last five starts Brunell, who said he was surprised by the quarterback change, completed just 53 of 120 passes (44 percent) for 460 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions. In three of those games he failed to complete even 10 passes or total over 100 yards passing.
Washington got the next ten points to make it a game at17-10, but ran out of time. The Redskins held on to the ball for 10:33 in the fourth quarter, with Ramsey connecting on 12 out of 23 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown. Ramsey, who finished the game 18 for 37 for 210 yards, likely did enough to merit the start Sunday in Philadelphia, although a final decision will come today after a staff meeting, Gibbs said.
The Redskins have now lost seven of their last eight games at FedEx Field dating from last season -- the franchise was dominant at home at RFK Stadium under Gibbs -- and remain inconsistent. Washington has failed to win consecutive games since opening last season 2-0, and is 6-17 overall since then.
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