A sure thing has become a long shot.
Promising 4-1 and 6-2 starts have slipped to 6-4 while the Redskins keep losing players. Suddenly, the playoffs seem doubtful with 9-7 the potential ceiling.
What happened?
The offense is grounded. Playmakers are hurt. An offseason splurge on a second receiver didn’t work despite three second-round picks. The aging offensive line is graying faster than a lame duck president. A defense limited by a rash move for aging defensive end Jason Taylor and several injured starters has its miracle meter blinking red.
The smoke and mirrors of the season’s first half are being shattered by game film. Defensive coordinators are solving coach Jim Zorn’s offense that has scored 72 points over five games. Fearless attacking has gone conservative. The swagger has been replaced with a limp.
The Redskins seem spent. Sorry, it was a good run.
“It’s not a panic. The season is like a roller coaster — up and down,” quarterback Jason Campbell said. “It’s like riding a wave. Right now, we’re at the bottom of the wave.”
The Redskins have five winnable games over the final six weeks. Games they probably would have won in October. If Washington can’t score more than its recent 14.4 point average over five games, then road wins at Seattle, Cincinnati and San Francisco aren’t absolutes any more than the past stretch against combined 1-11 St. Louis, Cleveland and Detroit merited only two victories.
Washington needs at least 10 wins to earn a wild card. Tampa Bay (7-3), Dallas (6-4), Atlanta (6-4) and Philadelphia (5-4-1) are competing for NFC slots along with three 5-5 teams. Tampa Bay probably gets one unless catching Carolina (8-2) in the NFC North, which means the latter will be a wild card.
There are no easy fixes for the Redskins. The receiver core is down to two starters nursing injuries and a top pick that has done nothing. Rookie receiver Malcolm Kelly may be placed on injured reserve, but there’s no free agent who can quickly help.
Zorn may return tackle Stephon Heyer for better pass blocking. Send second-rounder Devin Thomas deep more often. Stretch the field. Be fearless like the opening weeks while taking some pressure off worn running back Clinton Portis.
“You can’t tread water on this league for long,” Zorn said. “You have to be swimming. We’re not swimming.”
No, more like gasping for their last breath.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
