ASHBURN, Va. -- Danny Wuerffel will start Sunday for the Washington Redskins, the fourth quarterback change of the season by coach Steve Spurrier.

		Wed., Nov. 20 I'm convinced now that Steve Spurrier knows nothing about the NFL. With his decision to start Danny Wuerffel at quarterback Sunday, he doesn't know anything about winning in the NFL or managing in it. In fact, even though the Redskins have a better chance to win with Kurt Warner back at quarterback for the Rams, Spurrier has already handicapped his team going into the game.

Trying to reverse a two-game losing streak as well as mounting criticism from within his own team, Spurrier said Wednesday that Wuerffel will have a the opportunity to play the entire game against the St. Louis Rams.

"He's our quarterback, his game and away we go,'' said Spurrier, who cut short his post-practice remarks after several questions put him on the defensive.

Spurrier said he never seriously considered playing Wuerffel and rookie Patrick Ramsey for one half each, as he suggested Monday.

"We were just making conversation about the halves deal,'' Spurrier said.

Spurrier was noncommittal when asked if Wuerffel is now the regular starter.

"He's our quarterback. Let's just put it that way,'' the coach said.

The latest change comes after a 19-17 loss to the New York Giants, during which Shane Matthews completed 15 of 35 passes for just 113 yards. The Washington offense is ranked 26th in the NFL in total yards, passing yards and points.

Wuerffel will be making his second start, having lasted one series before injuring his shoulder Oct. 6 at Tennessee.

"When you got a group of quarterbacks who, maybe there's not a lot of difference in how they play, to me you have to give them all a chance,'' Spurrier said. "Danny really has not had a chance this year.

"Hopefully this is not the way we're always going to be. You'd like to have a set team and go play, but we're just not all that set at some positions on offense.''

In Spurrier's rookie season as an NFL coach, receivers have openly questioned his constant lineup shuffling, and running back Stephen Davis has been unhappy with the pass-happy playcalling. Davis had just 59 yards rushing on 19 carries against the Giants.

With the offense going nowhere, defensive tackle Daryl Gardener wondered Wednesday whether his unit would have to start posting shutouts to win.

"Defensively, when you look at it, we're not in bad shape,'' Gardener said. "But it looks like now we're going to have to start scoring on defense and keep the teams from scoring on us.''

The criticism is indicative of a team with a 4-6 record and tenuous playoff hopes.

"It always happens when you lose,'' Spurrier said. "And let me tell you, it's not the first criticisms I've ever had, nor the last.

"You want us to run three and punt every time? When we can run the ball effectively or throw it, we try to do both. I know you all know a lot more about it than I do, a lot of people do, that's OK. When you're not doing well, that's the remarks you're going to get.''

Wuerffel had not taken a snap in an NFL regular-season game since 1999 and hadn't started one since 1998. Spurrier, his old college coach at Florida, traded for him in the offseason.

"I think Coach wants to give us all an opportunity to play and see what happens,'' Wuerffel said.

He relieved Matthews in the second half of the second and third games this season before starting against Tennessee. He was 8-for-14 for 82 yards with two interceptions and an abysmal rating of 34.5 on the season when he was hurt.

"I was frustrated and obviously would have liked things to go different,'' Wuerffel said. "If ever in your mind you write a script, that's not how you write it. But that's part of life.''

Wuerffel resumed practicing last week, and he said he's "as healthy as he can be.''

Spurrier has often cited Wuerffel's performance in preseason games, when he had a 104.9 rating. However, most of his completions came against backups, and he struggled when he faced first-string defenses.

Ramsey will be the No. 2 quarterback this week.