Immediate success by the Redskins' first-team offense in Week 1 of the preseason against the Steelers could have been called a fluke. Or luck. Or, well, take your pick of skeptical phrases.
But when it happens again in Week 2 against the Colts, it may be time to take some notice.
And when it happens with John Beck as your starter, heads start spinning.
So what should Redskins' fans make of the team's 16-3 win Friday night in Indianapolis -- a win highlighted by Beck's 14-of-17, 140-yard performance?
Pigskin pundits, let the opinions fly.
There's no questioning that the first-team offense looks good, even with the unknown commodity named Beck at the helm.
"It was good to get back in the swing of things and get back into the game environment, and I felt comfortable out there," Beck told Comcast SportsNet after the game.
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Coach Mike Shanahan said Beck did a "good job" against the Colts.
"It was good for him to get some playing time and get some confidence in a live situation," Shanahan said.
Add in Friday night's performances by rookie Roy Helu (14 carries, 101 yards) and Tim Hightower (6 carries, 70 yards and 1 TD), and the offense already offers much more hope than it did last year.
"Our big plays on offense came on runs," Beck said. "So then the passing game was make quick decisions, get the ball in their hands and let them run."
But how much stock should fans burned by years of optimism put into the 2011 Redskins? It's still early, but the outlook seems to be much better than what transpired on the field last season.
Perhaps our former Redskins' beat writer, Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan, put it best after Friday night's win -- in less than 280 characters, to boot:
"Remember that the #Steelers and the #Colts don't have to approach the preseason with the same fervor as building clubs. That said, the #Redskins can either go out and look crisp and inefficient or they can look ineffective. And they've been sharp. More young talent for sure."
Grant's Twitter assessment: No reason to be giddy, but there was plenty of good in the first half for the Redskins.
So what's your take? Post your comments below, and check back for our current Redskins writer Jack Anderson's thoughts soon.
