It was the worst game of the Jim Zorn era.
The Washington Redskins were flat out awful. They were embarrassed by the New York Giants before a sparse FedEx Field crowd and national Monday Night Football audience. By the final quarter, the crowd largely departed and viewers gained some extra sleep.
It has been an ugly year and an ugly decade under owner Dan Snyder, but rarely have the Redskins looked so amateurish. Ending the first half on a fake field goal using some Mickey Mouse play that nearly cost a pick-six should have merited Zorn’s dismissal at intermission.
It’s one thing to stink, it’s another to look stupid.
Fortunately, this fabled story of Forrest Gump coaching a football team will end 10,000 feet over somewhere when the Skins fly back from San Diego in 12 days. Snyder doesn’t have to pretend anymore. Just go hire Mike Shanahan or whomever is willing to take over this mess. Hopefully, they’ll restore some dignity. Even Ballcoach didn’t look this foolish.
Paging Leslie Shepherd. Please call the trademark office — the Redskins are hitting rock bottom again. Sue for patent infringement.
The Giants stomped the Redskins. The visitors scored three touchdowns and a field goal on their first four possessions before the hosts managed a first down.
You wonder if fans will bother to return for the season finale on Sunday despite facing nemesis Dallas. Maybe 45,000 stayed for the first half against New York. The upper deck was 10 percent filled after halftime. The premium seats were virtually empty and the lower bowl was mostly Giants fans.
Forget coal in the Redskins stocking — pour them a cup of caring. For all the talk of playing for jobs next season given the coming roster shakeup by new GM Bruce Allen, the Redskins played for pink slips.
Washington needs a new coach that doesn’t turn the game into a comedy. Then move on to an offensive line that doesn’t get the quarterback mugged every third play. Throw in a safety that doesn’t miss tackles trying for kill shots and a defense that has lately forgotten to stop anything.
Amazingly, the Redskins came off their finest effort of the season in winning at Oakland only to completely give up against New York. They surrendered their dignity and their futures in Washington. It’s time for an offseason cleaning throughout Redskins Park.
Are there really two games left?
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
