Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
September 7, 2007, Washington Post

Super Bowl? Not in Your Lifetime

Kids know more about certain things than adults do. For example, kids know more about iPods, computers and . . . the Washington Redskins.

Adults are old enough to remember when the Redskins won the Super Bowl after the 1982, 1987 and 1991 seasons. So lots of older Washington football fans think the Skins are just one player or a few lucky bounces away from being champions again.

But let's say you are 12 years old, and you started watching Redskins games on TV with your family when you were 5. That's seven seasons of singing the "Hail to the Redskins" fight song. It's also seven seasons for which the team's regular-season record is 49 wins and 63 losses. In fact, Washington had only one winning season in those seven years. That stinks.

So kids know that the Skins are not close to going to the Super Bowl. They are a bad team in need of major improvements and some breaks in order to have a winning season.

Let's take a look at their chances of improving last year's 5-11 record.

Offense: The key will be whether running backs Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts can move the ball on the ground. That means the offensive line will have to do a good job blocking. The problem is that all five starters will be 30 or older this season. They have to stay healthy for the Skins to have a chance.

If Washington can't get its running game in gear, there will be lots of pressure on quarterback Jason Campbell to make big plays. Campbell has looked good at times, but he is still young and inexperienced. Don't expect him to be Peyton Manning this season. He'll make some mistakes.

Defense: The Redskins will be better this season, because they can hardly get worse. Last season, the Skins had the 31st-rated defense in the 32-team National Football League. They were awful at taking the ball away from other teams through interceptions and fumbles.

The defense looked solid in this year's preseason. Newcomers, including linebacker London Fletcher and rookie safety LaRon Landry, might force more turnovers and limit the number of big plays.

Special teams: Washington probably will be in a lot of close games again this season. Last year, 10 of the 16 games were decided by a touchdown or less. This season might depend on the foot of place kicker Shaun Suisham. He's young and hasn't proven that he can kick a tough field goal when the game is on the line. That might spell trouble.

Prediction: Washington should be better than last season. Still, with a schedule that has nine games against teams that made the playoffs last year, don't expect the Skins to make it to the Super Bowl.

But kids already know that.

Fred Bowen writes KidsPost's sports opinion column and is an author of sports novels for kids.

© 2007 The Washington Post Company