Football is entertainment.

That maxim is easily forgotten in Washington, DC, where professional football seems to take on a much more serious role. Bad losses can feel as if the British just set fire to the White House again - that we've been beaten in war and have lost our way of life.

This Sunday's incredible loss to the Saints does not feel like that to me. I don't mean to downplay the emotions of those fans that do feel obliterated, but I would suggest that they re-read the title of this post and remember that the experience of watching that game was thrilling. I'd go so far as to say that I would prefer a couple of games like that, with the Redskins losing hard-fought close contests through a crazy series of edge-of-your-seat doozies, over a couple of blowout wins against dead fish opponents. Everyone's always going on about how a W is a W, and that's what matters, but I think we're all being brainwashed a bit. Would you rather relive the Rams' game (Skins over St. Louis 9-7) or the New Orleans game? Great games, those that seize your full attention and come down to the final play, are why we watch football. I know the Colts won a Super Bowl recently, but doesn't New York's win against New England feel much more impressive because the game was so great? So I say (for the next couple of years at least), screw Ws and bring on the entertainment!

This loss means nothing from a playoff point of view. It only matters for pride. I am very proud of the Redskins for reminding us of the thrills possible in this game, that comebacks and zany plays make the sport a drama in motion, and that there are some very fine athletes and coaches associated with this football team. I'll remember this one for a long time, and I expect that the non-Skins parts of the country may have had their spirits brightened by such a compelling game, and that they may be saying to their co-workers this Monday, "How bout that Skins-Saints game?"

What a game. Hail to the Redskins.