Jason Taylor admitted last week that he was disappointed with his play this year. With 1.5 sacks through 14 games, he felt he had not made a big impact on the Redskins' defense this season.
Taylor made up for it with a two-sack performance in the Redskins' 10-3 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
He turned in the key play of the game early in the third quarter.
With the Redskins leading 3-0, Taylor got around Eagles right tackle Jon Runyan and sacked McNabb, swiping the ball loose in the process.
The ball bounded into London Fletcher's arms.
Fletcher raced 12 yards to the Eagles' 18-yard line in what proved to be a momentum-changing play.
The Redskins converted the turnover into a 1-yard touchdown run by Clinton Portis.
Said Taylor: "We had pressure from the other side [with Demetric Evans]. I had to stay outside and to get around the edge. McNabb had to hold the ball a little bit and I got there in time."
Taylor also sacked McNabb in the first half to stymie an Eagles drives.
Taylor agreed with a reporter's assessment that this was his best game as a Redskin this year. He joined the club in training camp as part of a trade with the Miami Dolphins.
"I look at it as doing my job, doing what I am supposed to do," Taylor said. "I don't look for a pat on the back for doing it. It's what I am supposed to be doing."
Taylor has persevered through a lingering calf injury most of this season. The injury occurred in Week 3 and he never seemed to get into a rhythm as the Redskins' top pass rusher.
Taylor has 3.5 sacks this season, tied for most on the club with Evans, but far from his standard.
Taylor has 120.5 sacks for his career, which is 14th best in NFL history and most among active players.
-- PLACKEMEIER'S BIG DAY
Ryan Plackemeier has had an up-and-down season, but he certainly turned in his best game on Sunday against the Eagles.
Playing amid windy conditions at FedExField, Plackemeier downed five punts inside the 20-yard line, including four in the fourth quarter.
His kicking kept the Eagles pinned deep in their own territory.
"With the way these two defenses were playing, you figured you would be punting two or three more times," Plackemeier said. "So I never got too high or too low. Stay medium, right in the middle.
"It's what I tried to focus on, and I was ready to kick once more if that game had gone into overtime."
Overall, Plackemeier had eight punts in the game for a 40.0-yard average and a 34.1-yard net.
"The way Ethan Albright was snapping the ball made it easy on me," Plackemeier said. "With the winds, I didn't have to catch the ball outside of my body. So all I had to think about was punting.
"I didn't have to think about a rush because the protection was great all night. I really just concentrated on punting."
-- GOLSTON INACTIVE
Heading into Week 15, the Redskins were as healthy as they have been all season.
Almost.
Defensive tackle Kedric Golston was among the Redskins' inactive players for Sunday's game against the Eagles. He continues to struggle with bone spurs in his ankle.
Anthony Montgomery started in place of Golston at defensive tackle. Montgomery made his fourth consecutive start of the season.
Cornelius Griffin returned to the lineup after missing last week's game against the Cincinnati Bengals with shoulder and abdomen injuries.
The Redskins' complete list of inactive players was as follows: wide receiver Malcolm Kelly, offensive linemen Will Montgomery, Jansen and D'Anthony Batiste and defensive linemen Golston, Ryan Boschetti and Rob Jackson.
-- DEFENDING THE BLITZ
For the Redskins, the hardest part of preparing for the Eagles was figuring out when they would send the blitz.
Sometimes the Eagles blitz almost everyone. Sometimes they go with a three-man rush.
The Eagles entered Sunday's game with 41 sacks, third best in the league. They posted three more sacks against the Redskins.
"With this defense, you never know what they might bring," Santana Moss said. "Right now, they are playing some of the best defense this part of the year."
Moss said he prefers to put the pressure on the Eagles as early as possible.
"If you go out there and worry about what the other team is going to do, you are starting off on the wrong foot," he said. "I go out there and let them worry about me. If they adjust, that's up to them. If they don't, then it's going to be a long day for them."
