I tried to imagine myself in the shoes of Redskins players this past Sunday. I tried to visualize what was going through their minds, when my own emotions got the best of me. How could anyone in their right minds expect these guys to come out and play at the high level that is required to compete in this league? It couldn’t be done, but in reality, it had to be done. Less than a week after the death of Sean Taylor, this group of guys played with pride, heart, and determination against the Buffalo Bills.

The end result didn’t really matter. What did matter, and what should be recognized, is the fact that this team even played — and played hard. There were no excuses, no complaining, just 60 minutes of football. The Redskins didn’t play perfect, but they played with a passion that everyone in America could see. We all wanted to see them win, to win for Sean, but they won as a team before they even took the field. They won by coming out to practice during the week, and they won by even playing. Forget about the wins and losses for a minute, because football goes a lot deeper in these men than the final score. You are judged by wins and losses in the standings, and that’s it. You are judged as men, and as teammates, by how you handle adverse situations.

This team, this organization, deserves a standing ovation for the class it showed throughout the entire week and Sunday. They could have come out flat, played without emotion, and just laid down. No one would have blamed them. Instead, they played like professionals. As an ex-member of this organization, one who still believes greatly in the leadership a coach such as Gregg Williams, I expect this team to play every minute of every game for the rest of the season as hard as they can. They will be prepared for Chicago Thursday night, and they will be in every game the rest of the season. This isn’t the time to worry about wins and losses. This is the time to sit back and watch a group of talented men play with passion and desire that will make us all proud.

Former Redskins safety Matt Bowen, a seven-year NFL veteran, contributes a weekly column to The Examiner during the NFL season.