24-0 anyone?

By Nate Sandstrom

You can usually count me among the skeptical end of Redskins fans, but I'm very optimistic about this year. Although most NFL prognosticators are picking the 'Skins to finish last in the NFC East, (their Vegas over/under win total is 7.5) I'm optimistic they will be in the race for the division title in December.

Yes, there's a new HC, OC and DC and new systems. But player continuity counts in this league (sorry Jets), and nearly everyone is back from last year's playoff team. I'll get more into actual predictions later this month, but after being at Fed Ex Field for the preseason home opener last night (a 17-14 win), let me tell you what I'm most excited about:

• Jason Taylor will have offensive lines worried. Buffalo was flagged twice for false starts early in the game yesterday, including on a third-and-long when the prospect of blocking Taylor and Marcus Washington had the Bills right side spooked.

• Jason Campbell has completed 80 percent of his passes in the first two preseason games. Although many people are worried about Campbell learning a new offense, it's about the eighth time he's done it in nine years so he considers it part of training camp. With some added size in the receiving corps in Malcolm Kelly teams will also not be able to double Cooley as much and he shut cut down on the turnovers that cost the 'Skins in the red zone so often last year.

I know preseason game don't count for anything, but I'd rather win them then lose. The starters were mostly sharp last night and it was nice to see Ladell Betts back in the end zone. The backups were OK; #4 RB Marcus Mason racked up 80 yards on 16 carries but fumbled the opening kickoff and was stuffed twice on the one-yard-line on a drive that would have put Washington up 24-14.

Despite that, Washington is 2-0 in the preseason; and with just three more preseason victories, a perfect regular season and a Super Bowl title they can be history's first 24-0 team:)