Dome, sweet, dome? For Joe Gibbs, it usually is. The Redskins are 16-3 all-time when playing indoors under Gibbs. That record includes Super Bowl XXVI in Minneapolis, where the Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills 37-24 at the Metrodome.
This Sunday, the Redskins will play in a dome for the second time this year when they take on the Indianapolis Colts at the RCA Dome.
In Week 3, Washington defeated the Houston Texans 31-15 at Reliant Stadium with the roof closed.
To prepare for the RCA Dome, the Redskins have simulated crowd noise during practice. Standing from afar, it sounds a little like waves crashing at the seashore, except louder.
"I think it's louder here than it is in any stadium I've ever played at," running back Clinton Portis said. "I usually can hear something in the stadium. Out here, I have to figure out what the play is."
Added head coach Joe Gibbs: "It is extremely loud [in Indianapolis]. They have a great crowd. They are in a dome. There's a lot of preparation that goes into that. We've put in the crowd noise [simulation] this week and we'll spend a few days getting used to that."
The Redskins will also play at domes in consecutive weeks in December. They play at New Orleans (the Superdome) on Dec. 17 and at St. Louis (the Edward Jones Dome) on Dec. 24.
The RCA Dome now uses FieldTurf, a softer synthetic playing surface that should help players hobbled by foot, knee and hip injuries get through the game. The Dome used AstroTurf through the 2005 season.
"I don't think the field turfs are major factors anymore," Gibbs said. "It used to be that AstroTurf was, but the FieldTurf is pretty close to grass, I think."
-- GRIFFIN REMAINS QUESTIONABLE
Defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin remains listed as questionable heading into Sunday's game against the Colts. He sat out practice for the third time this week on Friday.
"It's still day to day for me," Griffin said after practice. "I won't know until Sunday."
Joe Gibbs said the Redskins would evaluate Griffin on Monday morning to determine his availability for game day.
"I'm always lobbying [to play]." Griffin said. "You always want to play. It's one of those things where you have to be smart and think about team first."
Meantime, Joe Salave'a practice again on Friday, increasing the likelihood that he will be available for the Colts game. He is listed as probable with a calf injury.
Linebacker Lemar Marshall sat out practice on Friday. He remains listed as probable with an ankle injury.
