One nagging question remains for the Ducks

If they can just make to the three-week layoff and get that home playoff game, the Ducks could be a dangerous team, but it could go a lot of ways over the next two weeks.

Does Oregon have one more supreme. focused effort left in them? In three straight weeks they've overcome the adversity of a sleety, wind-whipped game at Iowa in Kinnick Stadium, a short turnaround versus Minnesota and a shootout versus USC.

They've seen so many key players go to the injury tent. They've won games without three of their starting offensive linemen and four of their best receivers. Their star quarterback missed a half with a broken nose.

They've answered every call and met every challenge. Yet the one in front of them may be hardest of all.

They are a better team than Washington. The Huskies lost to the two best teams they've faced in Ohio State and Michigan, and they stumbled against Wisconsin, losing 13-10 to a 4-7 team with almost no offense. The Badgers' punter led them in passing with 24 yards,

But football games aren't won by the better team, not always. They're won by the better team that day, and the Huskies have a mobile quarterback and a defense that's given up 205, 267, and 208 yards in their last three games.

Can Oregon clean up pass interference penalties and explosive plays?

Last year's decisive victory won't help them now. If anything it provides Washington with more motivation. Demond Williams is a much more seasoned and resourceful quarterback than he was a year ago in his first start, on the road and in a hostile environment.

"When I saw him last year, I knew that, okay, this guy's gonna be a really good player" Dan Lanning said. "The speed is is unique at quarterback. I don't think there's anyone we've seen that can run like he runs this year, and he can make really impressive throws as well."

"He has some wideouts that he can go to. So when he's on, man, they're dangerous. They're really dangerous, and it's hard to get him off. So he plays really well. Can make all the throws. Can run with his feet, you know, tough guy to get down."

Against the Trojans the Ducks were vulnerable to explosive pass plays and 50/50 balls. One of the goals going on the road is to take the crowd out of it. Big plays and a fast start by Washington are two pitfalls the visitors have to avoid in Husky Stadium, an environment that rivals Autzen for noise.

In his fourth year as a head coach, Lanning is 1-3 against Washington and 0-1 in Seattle. Oregon has to borrow a theme from last week and be prepared for one more round.