Collins & Collins
The backup quarterbacking firm of Collins & Collins lifted teams into the playoffs on the final day of the NFL season.
First, Todd Collins carried the Redskins past the Dallas Cowboys 27-6 Sunday, securing an NFC wild-card berth. Washington (9-7) has won four in a row.
"To think four weeks ago, where we were, and where we are tonight, it was a great experience and a great ride," said coach Joe Gibbs, who has quieted doubters with perhaps the best performance of his Hall of Fame career. "To get in the playoffs was a dream of ours, and four weeks ago, obviously everybody would have said, 'You know, it looks next to impossible."'
It wasn't. Nor was it for the Tennessee Titans, even when starter Vince Young went down at Indianapolis with a quadriceps problem. In stepped Kerry Collins, another veteran QB, who led his team to three field goals by Rob Bironas and an AFC wild-card spot with a 16-10 victory.
"That's life as a backup. You never know when you'll go in," Collins said.
On Saturday night, New England finished its perfect regular season with a 38-35 win over the New York Giants. The Patriots' Tom Brady set a record with 50 touchdown passes, and Randy Moss established the mark of 23 touchdown receptions.
The Redskins capped an emotional renaissance since the slaying of safety Sean Taylor. They are 4-0 since Taylor's funeral, and all the victories were engineered by Collins after Jason Campbell dislocated a kneecap.Clinton Portis ran for two touchdowns and had 104 yards on 25 carries and 27 yards on four receptions. His yards from scrimmage in the four-game winning streak: 122, 126, 124 and 131. Santana Moss caught eight passes for 115 yards and a touchdown.
At Indianapolis, A 54-yarder by Bironas retook the lead and left Tennessee celebrating and Cleveland grimacing. The Titans had to win to make the playoffs for the first time since 2003. A loss would have given Cleveland its first playoff berth since 2002.When Peyton Manning left after two series, things looked good for the Titans.Instead, the offense bogged down after a touchdown drive on the game's opening series. When Young left in the third quarter, Tennessee appeared to be in trouble. Collins replaced Young in the middle of a 13-play, 56-yard drive that ended with Bironas' tying 40-yard field goal late in the third quarter.Collins moved the Titans 58 yards in 12 play and Bironas curled the 54-yarder inside the right goal post for a 13-10 lead. Bironas sealed the win with a 33-yarder with 2:56 to go.
