Forget the bye week. Just go to the offseason because the Washington Redskins’ are done.
The offense managed one touchdown until the final seconds of the 36-22 loss at Indianapolis on Sunday. The defense was spanked just like every week. There were stupid penalties, missed field goals and a massive third quarter collapse.
It’s hard to imagine how the Redskins led, 14-13, over the Colts at halftime because they didn’t show up afterwards. It was just another embarrassing outing in a season everyone once foolishly thought would end with a playoff run.
The Redskins’ secondary is just awful. The one-time home of Darrell Green, Champ Bailey and Fred Smoot is now inhabited by Larry, Moe and Curly. Gregg Williams, please pick up the white courtesy phone. It’s reality calling. Your unit stinks.
The Redskins fell to a well-deserved 2-5. A team with lots of offensive talent can’t score and a defense with little talent can’t stop others from scoring.
Joe Gibbs, where have you gone? It sure can’t be the guy on the Redskins sideline nowadays. Not when the playcalling was so bad four third-down passes were thrown well short of the first down markers. Not when the opposition made all the key halftime adjustments — an area Gibbs once excelled.
The Redskins have a week off before continuing a brutal schedule without a break. Washington could be headed for its second 10-loss season in three years under Gibbs. The honeymoon is more than over with fans. They’re mumbling divorce.
Gibbs took a lot of hits in the postgame press conference. He deserved them. The Redskins are underachieving — the worst sin in sports.
“When you’re 2-5, there’s going to be a lot of things said,” Gibbs said. “I’m not above learning something or listening to anything, but what’s important is it has to be us to find the solution to this, not outside pressure …
“Any time you get in a situation where you’ve lost football games, are 2-5, it’s hard to figure out. It is for me. That’s part of football, too. Does it mystify you? Yeah. My way of dealing with it is work your guts out.”
Gibbs already sleeps in his office so working harder isn’t the answer. Maybe working smarter is the solution. Then again, Albert Einstein couldn’t figure out this mess. Guess that leaves another long season of shame to come.
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
