When healthy, Clinton Portis was regularly one of the top running backs in the NFL. Unfortunately, three of Portis’ seven seasons in Washington were cut short due to injury. A combination of that, and the fact that I’m still bitter about the trade that landed Portis in Washington, is all the excuse I have for why this ranking isn’t a little higher. 

After trading away Champ Bailey to Denver in exchange for the 2004 budding young star, Portis was asked to change his style of play in order to fit head coach Joe Gibb’s running scheme. Not only did Portis alter his style, he produced in a major way. 

In 83 games over seven years, Portis finished his Redskins career with 6,824 yards on 1,667 carries (4.1 ypc) and 46 touchdowns. Portis also hauled in 176 receptions for 1,340 yards and three touchdowns. 

Portis represented the Redskins in the 2008 Pro Bowl after rushing for 1,487 yards and nine touchdowns. 

Although debatable, for me Portis has been the Redskins best running back since the days of John Riggins. 

The Washington Redskins and Arizona Cardinals on Sunday meet for the first time since 2008 but for the 120th time in the history of the two franchises.

The last time they faced each other, Washington topped Arizona, 24-17, at FedEx Field. But some of they key figures involved have changed. Jim Zorn was the Redskins’ coach back then, and Jason Campbell and Kurt Warner were the quarterbacks. Edgerrin James and Clinton Portis were the featured backs for Arizona and Washington, respectively. Last time around, Tim Hightower was a backup running back for the Cardinals, but now he is Washington’s featured back.

The Cardinals are coming off of a 28-21 victory over the Carolina Panthers. In that game, Kevin Kolb threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns in his first game as Arizona’s quarterback. Rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson returned a punt 89 yards for the game-winning touchdown. Arizona’s secondary struggled on the day, giving up 422 passing yards and two passing touchdowns to Cam Newton.

The Cardinals are nursing some injuries on the defensive side of the ball. Starting inside linebacker Daryl Washington missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday with a calf injury. Outside linebacker Joey Porter missed Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury and was limited in Thursday’s practice.

Here are some key matchups for Sunday’s game:

WAS CB Deangelo Hall vs. ARI WR Larry Fitzgerald

Hall and Fitzgerald have played against each other since their college days and train together off and on throughout their offseasons, so they have great familiarity with each other. Hall said he’s looking forward to the challenge of covering Fitzgerald, whom he calls one of the best in the game. At 6 feet 3, 218-pounds, Fitzgerald has a significant size advantage on the 5-10, 195-pound Hall, but Hall is up for the challenge, although he knows he will receive help from teammates. The Cardinals like to move around Fitzgerald, so Josh Wilson likely will match up with him at times as well.

WAS LT Trent Williams vs. ARI OLB Joey Porter, DE Calais Campbell

If Porter can go on Sunday, Williams will find himself matched up against a veteran pass rusher who isn’t as dominant as he once was, but still is capable of causing some problems in this blitz-happy Cardinals defense. Other times, Williams could match up with Campbell, a fifth-year defensive end who recorded seven sacks last season. Although Campbell isn’t not a big name like Porter or Darnell Dockett on the other side, he too is a strong pass rusher with good strength and quickness. If Williams and his fellow lineman can’t pick up the blitz, Rex Grossman will have a rough outing.

WAS NT Barry Cofield vs. ARI C Lyle Sendlein

The anchor of Washington’s defensive front, Cofield was the only starting lineman not to record a sack in last week’s win over the Giants, but he still had an impact and created opportunities for teammates. Cofield likes to get after the quarterback and likely is eager to get a sack of his own if the opportunity presents itself. If not, he’ll aim to manhandle Sendlein, and collapse the pocket and create blitzing lanes for Washington’s linebackers.

WAS WR Santana Moss vs. ARI CB Patrick Peterson

Peterson endured a long day last week while being charged with covering a veteran wide receiver in Steve Smith and was burned for eight catches, 178 yards and two touchdowns. Moss had six catches for 76 yards against the Giants, and appears likely to have a big day against the Cardinals. Jabar Gaffney and Anthony Armstrong also are eager build on strong performances last week.

The Washington Redskins in the last decade have posted a winning record just twice. But there has been no shortage of star power and flashy, big-name free agent signings or trades – until this year.

With Donovan McNabb now in Minnesota, Albert Haynesworth in New England and Clinton Portis still without a team, Coach Mike Shanahan purged the team of the big names and stars.

The most recognizable players still on the roster are DeAngelo Hall, Chris Cooley, London Fletcher and Brian Orakpo. But none of them are considered to rank among the league’s biggest names.

Washington passed on the chance to sign high-profile players in free agency and instead pursued role players willing to sacrifice for the greater good. Shanahan repeatedly has stressed that this year, the Redskins’ roster comprises hungry, high-character players.

Hall last season recorded six interceptions and earned Pro Bowl MVP honors, but said the Redskins are better off this year despite a lack of big stars. The seventh-year veteran declared that although Washington may not have Pro Bowl players at every position, the roster features solid players at nearly every position.

“Just because people in the media aren’t making them out to be Tom Brady or Peyton Manning or anyone like that doesn’t mean that we don’t have players,” Hall said. “If you go down our roster and you ask opposing teams about guys in this locker room, they’ll definitely say, ‘You’ve got to watch out for this guy, and you’ve got to watch out for this guy. That guy’s a [bull] dog.’ Each individual person brings something different to the table. Do we have a guy that we’re paying $100 million to? No we don’t. But who needs a guy that you’re going to pay $100 million to if he won’t come out onto the field and play?”

Fletcher is team’s vocal leader and captain of the defense. But the Redskins still don’t even know who their quarterback will be.

Hall said this year’s group doesn’t concern itself with who’s team the Redskins are, so to speak.

“It’s the team. The best part about this team is that it’s a team,” said Hall, who doesn’t hesitate speaking up when needed. “The Dallas Mavericks might’ve had Dirk Nowitzki but they played as a team. Different guys stepped up at different times. It wasn’t about one or two guys that were made to lead the franchise to a championship. It was about the whole team working together as a team to get that done.”

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