--After the 35-7 pasting of archrival Dallas on Dec. 18, Washington quarterback Mark Brunell had 20 touchdowns, eight interceptions, 2,797 yards, a 58.9 completion percentage and an 86.9 passer rating.

In the last three games, all victories, Brunell is 23-of-51 (45.1 percent) for 294 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions and a 58.8 passer rating.

"We can look at these last two weeks, but we tend to look at the whole season," said Brunell, who left the Dec. 24 games against the New York Giants with a sprained right knee that he admitted bothered him in the Jan. 1 finale at Philadelphia but not in the Jan. 7 playoff opener at Tampa Bay. "We should have every reason to believe and have confidence because we're a good football team on offense."

But good offenses don't set NFL records for fewest yards by a playoff victor (120) or have their quarterback average fewer than three yards a pass.

"Mechanically, I was a little off (at Philadelphia), and I didn't do much work in practice, and it bothered me on a couple throws," Brunell said. "I would completely agree that we didn't get into a rhythm (at Tampa Bay). To have that lack of production and get the win is very rare."

Brunell passed for fewer than 226 yards just once in his first eight starts this year. The closest he has come to that total in his last eight starts was 194 in the Nov. 27 overtime loss to San Diego.

--Marcus Washington said he wasn't that ticked off about not being chosen for the Pro Bowl after going in 2004. However, the strongside linebacker has been making a statement with his play. In the three games since the rosters were announced on Dec. 21, Washington has 28 tackles (24 solos), two sacks for 23 yards in losses, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, an interception and two passes defensed.

"Marcus is the best linebacker in the league," Redskins safety Ryan Clark said. "It's really a slap in (the) face to him, to me as his friend and to our teammates that he didn't make it to the Pro Bowl. The greatest thing about him is he didn't complain. He just started making more plays. Ever since that came out, he has been proving he's the best player on the field."

Washington had more tackles (130) last season, but he had more sacks (7 1/2 to 4 1/2) and more forced fumbles (4-1) this season.

"I'm just really disgusted that nobody made it from our defense," Washington said. "We're almost a no-name defense. We have a lot of guys that have chips on their shoulders. It causes us to play harder."

BY THE NUMBERS
4 - Seasons the Redskins reached the NFC Championship Game from 1982-1987 (1982, 1883, 1986, 1987).

1 - Season the Redskins have reached the NFC Championship Game since 1987 (1991).

QUOTE TO NOTE
"I changed is because we have a lot of coaches here that have done that and I talked it over with the players and they were up for it. You're going to Seattle, and it's a playoff game, and it's so far. It's a little different than going to Arizona (in the regular season)." - Redskins coach Joe Gibbs on why he and the team are traveling two days before a game for the first time in his 14 seasons.

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