After their preseason opener, the Redskins had fans toasting their new-found success, dreaming of what could happen once the regular season arrived.
After Saturday night, they might want to wait a little.
Baltimore defeated Washington, 23-3, in a game every bit as lopsided as the score indicates. But it was the lackluster play of the Redskins’ starters that highlighted this game. In the first half, when the starters played, there were too many penalties (five) dropped passes (at least four) and overall bad offense (three points and failing to complete their last five third downs).
“We couldn’t get anything going,” Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said.
Quarterback Donovan McNabb completed 11 of 26 passes for 206 yards and was intercepted once. Another potential interception was dropped.
Even rookie left tackle Trent Williams, solid all camp, finally looked like a rookie and struggled vs. Terrell Suggs. He later hurt his right forearm and had it in a sling for the second half, when the starters were out. Fullback Mike Sellers (knee) and safety Kareem Moore (knee) also were hurt.
Williams said X-rays were negative on his forearm and that he was OK. Moore said he had a minor sprain of his MCL and will undergo an MRI on Sunday. And Sellers said his knee was sore, but that he’d be OK – “It’s felt worse,” he said.
Meanwhile, running back Larry Johnson, hoping to solidify his hold on the No. 2 spot, had a miserable first half. He gained just four yards on eight carries and dropped one pass. It appeared that he failed to pick up a blitz, but he actually was heading out on a screen pass and was not assigned to pick up any rushers. He decided to try, but failed.
“We were surprised they blitzed as much as they did,” Johnson said. “We knew they would blitz, but we didn’t know how much … . When you game plan, it’s different.”
As for his night, Johnson said, “It set me back.”
Washington’s starting defense was better. The lone touchdown it allowed came after a 51-yard run on a fake punt to the 1-yard line – Moore was hurt on this play.
The Redskins’ lone points came on a 25-yard Graham Gano field goal on the first drive of the game. Washington had a first and goal from the Ravens’ 7-yard line, but failed to gain any yards. Tight end Fred Davis dropped a pass in the back of the end zone. He had to reach high for it, but still had a chance.
The lone bright spots offensively were receivers Santana Moss (four catches, 79 yards) and Anthony Armstrong (four catches, 82 yards).
“We all have confidence in Armstrong that he will be able to make the play just like Joey [Galloway] or anyone else in that position,” McNabb said.
McNabb was intercepted once, at the Baltimore 26-yard line when corner Cary Williams got him. Backup Rex Grossman was picked off in the red zone when he forced a pass to Keiland Williams in the flat.
It was a much different feeling after the game than when they beat Buffalo by 25 points a week earlier.
“We lost, but it’s the preseason, we can’t take anything from it,” Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo said.
