Washington should have won. They ran up yards on a Denver defense that didn’t look nearly as sharp as they had over the last few weeks. They limited Denver to an anemic 257 yards in total offense (and less than 100 yards passing). Seen from that view, it’s pure luck that Denver came out ahead 12-19.

From another view, Washington would have been lucky to win. They didn’t convert field goals that would have put them on top, they penalized themselves out of scoring position at the end of the first half, and the Broncos came up with most of the big plays. Big run plays for scores, big defensive plays to keep the Redskins from tying the game late, and even a big punt to force the ‘Skins to chew up the clock late in the game.

The Broncos--who couldn’t get a consistent running or passing game going, who had a hard time stopping Santana Moss, Clinton Portis, and Mark Brunell--really didn’t do a lot of the little things right today. They just came up with big plays when they most needed them.

The whole thing was tough, gritty, and close throughout, with strange officiating (That wasn’t a fumble by Jake Plummer in the endzone and that wasn’t a catch out of bound by Santana Moss? Really?) and a frightening injury to the umpire. In other words, it wasn’t the way the Broncos wanted to win on a cold, rainy Denver day, but it’s good enough to ensure that they stay on top of the AFC for now. Ultimately, it’s true that a win is a win, but the Broncos will need to play better if they want to beat Kansas in Kansas, San Diego in San Diego, and Dallas in Dallas (just for instance).

At 4-1, the siren call of the bandwagon is growing harder to ignore, though…