WASHINGTON - The magnitude of Jay Grudens first big win as the Washington Redskins coach is nearly impossible to gauge.His team was down to its third quarterback and was being mocked nationwide. A prime-time visit to its first-place division rival would only validate all the struggles from the first seven weeks and make everyone even more ansty to see Robert Griffin III return.Its always somethin to beat the Dallas Cowboys, but this was somethin else.I read somewhere that after we lost our fifth game that were playing meaningless games from here on out, which is pretty far from the truth, Gruden said Tuesday. We wanted to come out against Tennessee and get a win and obviously come out and compete against Dallas on Monday Night Football and prove that we arent dead.We still have a pulse. Our heart is still beating, and we have a lot to play for still — and thats what that game meant for us.The Redskins 20-17 overtime victory gave them their first NFC East win since beating Dallas in last week of the 2012 regular season. They now have back-to-back wins for the first time since then. They also played with a passion not seen since — you guessed it — the last week of the 2012 regular season.Success can really do wonders for players psyches, Gruden said. They come in with a little bit of a bounce in their step and ready to roll.As outlandish as it seemed 48 hours ago, a .500 mark could be on the horizon for Washington (3-5). Its next two games are against the Minnesota Vikings (3-5) and, after a bye, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-6).For us to look past the Vikings at 3-5 would kind of be pretty stupid, Gruden said. This is a huge game for us — they all are — because we dug ourselves into this hole. We were 1-5, and weve got to pretty much win, win and win often to have a chance.Grudens big dilemma continues to be his quarterbacks. Griffin is eager to return from the dislocated left ankle suffered in Week 2 — he said Monday hed been targeting the Cowboys game — but Colt McCoy is completing 86 per cent (36 for 42) of his passes and recovered from Mondays shaky start with a strong second half and overtime.Gruden reiterated Tuesday that Griffin will be the starter when at 100 per cent, but that its very much a judgment call among the doctors and coaches as to when the third-year QB reaches that benchmark.I think Robert is very, very, very close, Gruden said. We just have to decide if hes ready. Physically I think hell be ready to go. The doctors are feeling pretty good about it. They still want to see him run around this week until they make a final determination as far as clearing him, but I just want to make sure he feels good in the pocking moving forward with everything.So much that has gone wrong this season went right for the Redskins on Monday. Young cornerbacks David Amerson and Bashaud Breeland played in another dimension — Dez Bryant was held to a season-low 30 yards receiving — and every creative blitz drawn up by defensive co-ordinator Jim Haslett seemed to work perfectly — Tony Romo was sacked five times and missed a chunk of the game with a back injury.Had McCoy been more organized getting the plays off — which can be largely attributed to having little work with starters in practice — and hit speedster DeSean Jackson in stride a couple of times, the game wouldnt have required overtime.He wasnt perfect by any stretch, Gruden said. But he competed his butt off and made some huge throws.The result is a feel-good vibe that hasnt existed in the locker room in a long time.We heard a lot of crap being talked about us this week, linebacker Ryan Kerrigan said. We had no chance. We see the guys on CBS just laughing, saying, Awww, the Redskins have no chance. I guess were laughing now.___AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow Joseph White on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP Dan Altavilla Mariners Jersey . As each game passes (each has played close with the exception of last night) it becomes clearer just how evenly matched these two teams are and how one mistake, or one bad inning, is likely to sway the result. Dan Wilson Jersey . And by all indications, the team is expected to select phenom Connor McDavid with their selection. The Buffalo Sabres, who were knocked down to the second overall pick after finishing with the worst regular season record, are expected to take the other generational player in Jack Eichel. https://www.cheapmariners.com/2415k-mark-langston-jersey-mariners.html . You can listen to the game live on TSN Radio 690 in Montreal or on TSN.ca/Montreal. Also, TSN.ca features live streaming of the post-game news conferences from the Bell Centre. The Rangers grabbed a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Final after Sundays 3-2 overtime victory against the visiting Habs. Lou Piniella Mariners Jersey . "Well over 50 (per cent)," coach Claude Noel said Tuesday after practice, where the Jets were looking at ways to cut down the scoring chances theyve been giving away. Austin Nola Mariners Jersey . - Chelseas 1-0 win at the Etihad, spoiling Manchester Citys perfect home record continues to be the talking point of the week.BOSTON -- One after another, the baseballs cleared the fences at Fenway Park -- a franchise record-tying eight home runs in all for the Boston Red Sox. And David Ortiz led the way. The Red Sox DH homered twice and he also doubled for his 2,000th career hit on Wednesday night to lead the Red Sox to a 20-4 romp over the Detroit Tigers. "Ive never really seen that many happy faces in the dugout at the same time," said Ortiz, who was one of a franchise-record seven different Red Sox batters to homer in the game. "It was like lighting a firework. ... I see everybody happy. Its like the fireworks just keep on coming." Boston pulled away in an eight-run sixth inning when Will Middlebrooks hit a grand slam, Ortiz had an RBI double to reach 2,000 and Daniel Nava added a two-run homer. Ortiz homered again in the five-run seventh -- the 427th of his career to move past Billy Williams and into 47th on baseballs all-time home run list. "Congratulations to David. Thats a heck of a milestone," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "Im sure the Red Sox fans are proud of him and hes proud of himself. Hes had a wonderful career and hes popular here. A very kind man, really. Im very happy for him. It came against the wrong team, but thats OK." AL East-leading Boston has won nine of 11, taking two out of three from the Central-leading Tigers to hold onto the best record in the league. After scores of 3-0 and 2-1 in the first two games of the series, the Red Sox burst out with a franchise record-tying eight homers and a season-high 20 runs. Jacoby Ellsbury, Stephen Drew, Mike Napoli and Ryan Lavarnway also homered as the Red Sox turned a game that was tied 4-4 after four innings into a blowout. "Just a rare and outstanding offensive night tonight," said Red Sox manager John Farrell, who had Shane Victorino steal second in the fifth inning to try to get the go-ahead run in scoring position. "You think at that point youre looking to somewhat manufacture a run any way you can. Little did we know it would turn out like it did. ... We had no idea of what was about to take place shortly after that." Ryan Dempster (8-9) allowed four runs on six hits and two walks in six innings, striking out seven to win his second straight start since he was suspended for five games for intentionally hitting New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez. The Red Sox open a four-game series with the Yankees in New York on Thursday night. Rick Porcello (11-8) gave up nine runs -- eight of them earned -- on seven hits and four walks in five-plus innings. He allowed three homers, Al Alburquerque gave up two, Jeremy Bonderman allowed two and Evan Reed gave up one.dddddddddddd "That was pretty ugly," Leyland said. "Obviously we just didnt a good job of keeping the ball in the ballpark. The Green Monsters one thing, but you normally dont see them going out to right field like that. They were hitting them out like ping pong balls." Ortiz homered in the fourth to tie the game 4-all, then added an RBI double in the sixth for hit No. 2,000. He waved his batting helmet as he stood on second base while the crowd cheered and home plate umpire Jeff Kellogg helped the Red Sox dugout retrieve the ball. Ortiz homered the next time up, prompting another standing ovation from the crowd at Fenway Park. The fans remained on their feet until he popped out of the dugout for a curtain call. Prince Fielder homered for the Tigers, who were without Miguel Cabrera for the third time in four games with a strained abdominal muscle. A reigning triple crown winner, Cabrera leads the majors again with a .355 average with 130 RBIs and is four behind Baltimores Chris Davis with 43 homers. Detroit shortstop Jose Iglesias, who was acquired from Boston at the trading deadline, left in the fifth inning with pain in his shins. Shane Victorino singled with one out in the fifth, stole second and took third when catcher Alex Avila threw the ball into centre field. On the 11th pitch of his at-bat, Dustin Pedroia hit a sinking line drive that left fielder Andy Dirks caught just off the grass but he could not keep Victorino from tagging up and scoring to make it 5-4. The Red Sox blew it open with eight in the sixth thanks to a bases-loaded walk, two homers and Ortizs double. They added two more in the eighth to make it 20-4. NOTES: The only other time the Red Sox have hit eight homers in a game was July 4, 1977, against Toronto at Fenway Park. ... Nava has reached base safely in 39 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the majors. ... The Chicago Cubs, run by former Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein, claimed former Red Sox reliever Daniel Bard off waivers. ... Boston manager John Farrell said Clay Buchholzs wife gave birth to a daughter. The right-hander will resume his rehab stint with Triple-A Pawtucket in Rochester on Thursday night before joining the Red Sox in New York. ... Porcello had allowed three or fewer runs in 10 of his last 11 starts. But in his career he is 1-3 with a 10.42 ERA against the Red Sox. ... Victorino went over the short wall along the first-base line to retire Austin Jackson and end the fourth inning. Victorino then returned what appeared to be a cellphone to a woman in the front row. ' ' '