Zorn: No rift between offense, defense

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By Bob Cohn and Ben Goessling and Ryan O'Halloran

Following Sunday's 7-6 loss to Dallas, Washington Redskins middle linebacker London Fletcher said in a TV interview that giving up just seven points should result in a win. Secondary coach Jerry Gray was quoted as saying that if his defense holds the Cowboys to seven points and the Redskins still lose, "then something's wrong."

The implication seemed clear: What's "wrong" with the Redskins is their offense, and the defense might be getting just a tad fed up. In the NFL, one side of the ball clearly playing better than the other has been known to cause friction in losing locker rooms.

But Redskins coach Jim Zorn on Monday denied there's a rift, and Fletcher took the diplomatic route.

"If you really think about it, the offense did enough for us to win the game," the defensive co-captain told reporters. "We just needed to not allow them to get that touchdown at the end."

Asked whether that means he changed his mind from Sunday, Fletcher chose his words carefully and said, "At the end of the day, if we keep them out of the end zone, make them kick a field goal, then we win the ballgame."

But center Casey Rabach admitted to feeling bad about the offense's performance, not just this game but the whole year.

"Obviously, we're very grateful of what our defense has been doing for us," he said. "They've kept us in a lot of games this year, and offensively we've been struggling. ... Everyone wants to hold up their end of the bargain, and on offense it doesn't seem to be happening. We need to score touchdowns. Field goals aren't gonna get it done."

Edwin Williams' chance

After right guard Chad Rinehart broke his right leg during the third quarter Sunday, the Redskins unexpectedly turned to rookie Edwin Williams, the local product who had never participated in an NFL play from scrimmage.