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Sellers Stars For Washington

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By JOSEPH WHITE, The Associated Press

Published: October 8, 2007

LANDOVER, Md. - Mike Sellers hasn't been asking for the ball. He's been begging for it.

With the Washington Redskins running out of options because of injuries, Coach Joe Gibbs granted the burly fullback his wish. Sellers scored two touchdowns and rocked the stadium by bulldozing over a defensive back in the open field, a take-that kind of a statement in Sunday's creative and dominating 34-3 victory against the Detroit Lions.

'It's kind of embarrassing - because I've really, really been begging,' said Sellers, who ran 1 yard for a score in the first half and caught an 8-yard touchdown pass in the second. 'Every time a coach passes by, 'Can I run this play?' 'Can I run that play?' 'Can I do this?' After a while, Coach Gibbs, he tried to avoid me.

'It worked. I got a chance to do something.'

The Redskins (3-1) dominated time of possession in the first half to wear down Detroit's defense on a hot day, keeping the NFL's No. 1 passing offense off the field. The Lions (3-2) had been averaging 28.5 points and 387.3 yards per game, but they could muster only a field goal and 144 total yards against a Washington defense that had five sacks by four players.

'Our last two road games have been debacles,' said quarterback Jon Kitna, who also suffered through a 56-21 loss at Philadelphia two weeks ago. 'But it's a long season. It was bad for whatever reason.'

The victory kept alive Detroit's seven-decade jinx in the nation's capital. The Redskins are 21-0 at home against the Lions since moving to Washington in 1937.

This time, the Lions couldn't complain about a lack of breaks. The Redskins played without top receiver Santana Moss, who missed the game with a groin injury. Antwaan Randle El, expected to carry the load in Moss' absence, had seven catches for 100 yards before leaving with a hamstring injury just before halftime. Detroit fumbled four times but didn't lose one.

Running short on manpower, the Redskins were forced to diversify. Jason Campbell relied heavily on screens, dinks and dunks to go 23-for-29 for 248 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. James Thrash, Keenan McCardell and Brandon Lloyd each caught a pass for the first time this season.

But Sellers was the undisputed - and unlikely - star. The 284-pound fullback had touched the ball only nine times all season and never more than five times in a game in his eight-year NFL career. Sunday, he ran five times for 24 yards and caught three passes for 36 yards.

'Mike lobbies,' assistant coach Al Saunders said. 'We're all lobbying for Mike. Believe me, he's a guy who needs to be involved.'

Sellers' biggest highlight was a rare downfield reception that went for 24 yards. After catching the ball, he knocked aside Kenoy Kennedy like a rag doll and went down only because Kennedy managed to hold on to Sellers' ankles.

'We needed the touchdowns, and the touchdowns were big,' running back Clinton Portis said. 'But when he ran over Kenoy, that really changed their defensive mentality, like, 'These dudes on this team are crazy.' So I really think he loosened up the defense.'

The Redskins had two first-half drives that lasted more than 7 1/2 minutes each, and another that went 83 yards. The Lions ran only 19 plays in the half, generating a meager 41 yards. Detroit finally crossed the 50 late in the third quarter - on a pass interference penalty.

Kitna completed 16 of 29 passes for 106 yards and two interceptions.

Was-Cooley 7 pass from J.Campbell (Suisham kick), 8:17.

Was-Sellers 1 run (Suisham kick), 1:56.

Third Quarter

Det-FG Hanson 39, 2:27.

Was-Safety, Carter tackled Kitna in end zone, :28.

Fourth Quarter

Was-Sellers 8 pass from J.Campbell (Cooley pass from J.Campbell), 10:47.

Was-FG Suisham 28, 3:06.

Was-Rogers 61 interception return (Suisham kick), :45.

A-88,944

RUSHING-Detroit, Jones 11-48, Bell 4-15, Kitna 4-3, Bradley 1-2. Washington, Portis 18-72, Sellers 5-24, Betts 8-22, J.Campbell 2-0, Cartwright 2-0.

PASSING-Detroit, Kitna 16-29-2-106. Washington, J.Campbell 23-29-0-248.

RECEIVING-Detroit, McDonald 4-19, Williams 3-36, Jones 2-17, Cason 2-5, Furrey 1-14, Walters 1-5, Fitzsimmons 1-4, Johnson 1-3, McHugh 1-3. Washington, Randle El 7-100, Cooley 4-26, Sellers 3-36, McCardell 2-39, Portis 2-19, Thrash 2-11, Betts 2-8, Lloyd 1-9.

MISSED FIELD GOALS-Washington, Suisham 48 (WL).

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