ASHBURN, Va. -- Steve Spurrier has never been one to follow conventional wisdom.
Perhaps that's why the unorthodox coach -- going against the football experts and statistics -- has opted to turn over the Washington Redskins' ever-dwindling playoff chances to quarterback Danny Wuerffel.
Wuerffel, a six-year journeyman who has thrown just nine touchdowns against 18 interceptions in 22 career games, will attempt to lead Washington (4-6) out of its third two-game losing streak of the season at 1 p.m. today against the visiting St. Louis Rams (5-5) at FedEx Field.
Wuerffel will get his first start since Oct. 6, but is he the quarterback who can revitalize an offense that is 26th in the league in total yardage, passing yards per game and points?
After starting Shane Matthews, Wuerffel, Patrick Ramsey and Matthews for a second round, Spurrier hopes that switching quarterbacks for the fourth time this season will be the cure-all, but even he is cognizant of the limitations of the personnel at that position.
"It's just the way we are right now," Spurrier said. "Hopefully, this is not the way we're always going to be. We'd like to have a set team and go play. But we're just not all that set at some positions on offense."
It would seem that Spurrier, the coaching legend from the University of Florida, thrives on change.
Besides the quarterback position -- only St. Louis, the Carolina Panthers and the Cincinnati Bengals have gone through three signal callers -- Spurrier has shuffled the wide receivers, rotated three at right guard and inserted a new left guard for today's matchup.
But it's the quarterback role that has been Spurrier's bread and butter. Spurrier, the 1966 Heisman Trophy winner as college football's best player, was signed by Redskins owner Daniel Snyder in March as the league's highest-paid head coach, in part, for his reputation for molding successful quarterbacks.
Washington has chewed up an NFL-high 14 quarterbacks since 1993, and Spurrier's arrival was considered to be the first step in ending that trend.
Wuerffel, who played for Spurrier at Florida between 1993 and 1996 and won the Heisman Trophy in his senior season, said Spurrier doesn't make switches haphazardly.
"Whenever there's been a time when somebody was clearly the established quarterback, he went with that person," Wuerffel said. "[Changing quarterbacks is] not his idea. It's just something that you do when you're trying to find out who that guy is."
Wuerffel hasn't played since opening Oct. 6 against the Tennessee Titans. Wuerffel, who has completed seven of 11 passes for 71 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions in relief, played only one series that day before injuring his throwing shoulder and being shelved for six weeks.
The offense, which is scoring 17.9 points a game, is averaging just 293.8 yards.
If Spurrier needs a refresher course on prolific offenses, all he has to do is look across FedEx Field at the Rams, who are ranked second in the league after averaging 384.3 yards.
St. Louis, which is putting up 21.5 points a contest, has a two-time NFL MVP at quarterback (Kurt Warner), a six-time Pro Bowl player at running back (Marshall Faulk), and two dangerous speedsters with a combined six Pro Bowl appearances at wide receiver (Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt).
While Spurrier can marvel at the Rams' wizardry on offense, it's defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis' task to prepare the league's ninth-ranked defense against St. Louis.
"It's a challenge for us as coaches, and I think it's a good challenge for our players," Lewis said. "It's coming at a good time. It's coming at a time when everybody's looking around and questioning everything and everyone. This is a big week for us."
A loss today would all but end Washington's bid for the club's first playoff berth since 1999. Players still believe that they have a shot at the postseason -- a thought that was reinforced by a players-only meeting Thursday.
But Spurrier, whose job security is not an issue for Snyder, knows the scrutiny could grow more intense if the offense continues to sputter. But if Spurrier is supposed to be concerned, he doesn't show it.
"I can handle it, whatever it is," he said. "We're going to carry on, trying to do what we think is best for the Redskins. That's the only thing we can concern ourselves with."
Redskins today
Matchup:Redskins (4-6) vs. St. Louis Rams (5-5)
Site:FedEx Field, Landover
Time:1 p.m.
TV/Radio:Ch. 5/WNAV (1430 AM), WJFK (106.7 FM)
Line:Rams by 4
THREE KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Will Faulk play?
Marshall Faulk, the league's most versatile threat, might miss today's game with injuries to his left foot and right ankle. But St. Louis has a capable backup in rookie Lamar Gordon, who totaled 97 yards and a 22-yard receiving touchdown against the Chicago Bears last week. The Redskins' defense is ranked 15th against the run.
2. Attack Kurt Warner
Six weeks healing a broken pinkie on his throwing hand has had an effect on Warner, who was sacked once and threw a pass behind Torry Holt before completing a 13-yard pass on third-and-17 in his only series last Monday night against the Bears. Blitz hard and often to rattle his timing.
3. Ball control
What's the best way to neutralize a high-powered offense? Keep the ball away by having your offense hold onto it. Washington's best defense against the Rams' offense is a ball-control plan that takes advantage of Stephen Davis' running. Plug away with Davis to give Danny Wuerffel third-and-short situations.
-- Edward Lee