After starting the season under Jim Zorn with a 16-7 loss to the Giants, this team has never been the same since.

Since losing to the Giants, the Washington Redskins won four games in a row to go 4-1 after five weeks into the 2008-09 NFL football season. New Orleans and Arizona were their first two victims but after beating the best in the NFC, Dallas then Philadelphia, it was clear that the Redskins have a trip to the Super Bowl in mind.

You read it, the Washington Redskins just completed a two-week swing that could put them in a better position to make the playoffs come January. Yes, the playoffs, who would’ve thought we’d be able to describe the Redskins as a playoff team with a new coach and a young quarterback eh?

After beating the Dallas Cowboys 26-24 last week, the Redskins followed it up with another huge win against another one of their NFC East rivals. This time, it was Philadelphia and since the NFC East is arguably the best division in football today, the Redskins have clearly shown that they belong.

The Philadelphia Eagles jumped on the Redskins right from the get-go, leading 14-0 in the first quarter thanks to the returning Brian Westbrook, who came up with a nine-yard touchdown run before Desean Jackson returned a punt for 68 yards to score Philly’s second touchdown.

After the first quarter, it was all Washington.

The Redskins systematically cut Philly’s lead little by little, coming up with three field goals in the second quarter to close in 14-9, at the end of the first half. The Redskins took the lead for the first time with an 18-yard touchdown play between Antwaan Randle El and Chris Cooley to put the Redskins ahead 16-14.

And when Clinton Portis put his team ahead for good on the ground, 23-14, Philly never regained the momentum back.

The Washington Redskins should now be in a perfect position to claim the top spot in the very VERY competitive division in the NFC East. All four teams in this group are legitimate title contenders with three teams each owning impressive 4-1 marks.

They’ve already played all three of their division rivals on the road and managed to win two of them, one in Dallas and one in Philly, after losing the first one against the New York Giants.

The have the St. Louis Rams, the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions next, all three teams at a combined 1-11 and if you’re STILL not on the Redskins’ bandwagon, the next three weeks should give you the perfect reason to hop in.

Who will win Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Florida? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

New York Giants 17.00

New England Patriots 4.50

Dallas Cowboys 7.00

Indianapolis Colts 8.50

Want more odds? Visit Bodog sportsbook for more football betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today’s biggest sporting events.

Washington Redskins NFC East