Redskins finally get it right with Shanahan

All sorts of clueless candidates get elected and sent to Washington, and not all of them are politicians. The Redskins made mistakes with a few head coaches before finally getting it right with Mike Shanahan.

It takes talented players to win in the NFL, but that alone is nowhere near enough. A competent coach can make all the difference.

The Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers are among the most talented teams in the league. But Cowboys coach Wade Phillips and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett look more lost than the Skipper and Gilligan, and Chargers coach Norv Turner couldn't lead a Taco Bell franchise.

Turner also was a flop with the Redskins, and Jim Zorn was even worse. Shanahan has arrived with a structured plan to clean up the mess in Washington.

Shanahan's sharpest move was to bring in veteran quarterback Donovan McNabb and put him in a run-based offense. The Redskins, 3-3 straight up and 3-2-1 against the spread, are keeping games close by staying disciplined, running the ball and not asking McNabb to do too much.

McNabb is getting support from Ryan Torain, who rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns last week against Indianapolis, and wideout Santana Moss.

Washington's defense is bending a lot, allowing a league-worst 420 yards per game, but not breaking by ranking 14th in points allowed at 19.8 per game.

The Chicago Bears are not doing enough to help their quarterback, Jay Cutler, who has been sacked 23 times and sat out one game with a concussion.

The Bears, 5-10 in their past 15 games as home favorites under Lovie Smith, are 3-point favorites over the Redskins on Sunday. I'll back Shanahan, the better coach, and McNabb in a return to his hometown.

McNabb, sixth in the league with 1,561 yards passing, is 4-1 in his five starts at Chicago.

Four more plays for Week 7 (Home team in CAPS):

■ Steelers (-3) over DOLPHINS: Pittsburgh is capable of being dominant with a punishing defense and Ben Roethlisberger returning to lead the offense. The road team has won and covered all five of Miami's games. Dolphins coach Tony Sparano is 5-14 ATS at home.

■ PANTHERS (+3) over 49ers: A weak Carolina offense should get a boost with receiver Steve Smith and quarterback Matt Moore back in the lineup. The 49ers (1-5) are in a bet-against situation as a West Coast team traveling three time zones east.

■ SEAHAWKS (-6) over Cardinals: Arizona rookie quarterback Max Hall makes his first road start in a tough environment. Seattle, 2-0 at home, still has a lot to prove, but coach Pete Carroll made a good move by trading for running back Marshawn Lynch.

■ Vikings (+2½) over PACKERS: Aaron Rodgers is a far better quarterback than Brett Favre at this stage, but the Packers are riddled by injuries and Rodgers has no running attack behind him. Favre can ride workhorse running back Adrian Peterson.

Last week: 1-2-2 against the spread

Season: 16-11-3

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports writer Matt Youmans can be reached at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.