The Washington Redskins blew it.
The defense couldn’t come up with a needed stop. Kicker Graham Gano was iced on what would have been the winning kick. That quarterback Donovan McNabb was terrific as the offense reversed its opening-day stinker was irrelevant.
Coach Mike Shanahan will rewind these game film reels until they fall apart. He’ll find plenty to criticize in the Redskins’ 30-27 overtime loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday. And he won’t be afraid to play the blame game internally.
“You’ve got to go back and be tough on yourself,” Shanahan said.
If quarterback Donovan McNabb can say, “You have to be hard on yourself” after throwing for 426 yards — including a pair of 62-yarders — and posting a 119.0 rating, then teammates surely will feel the lash during Monday’s film review.
The Redskins were so close to starting the season 2-0. So close to a two-game lead over Dallas in the NFC East and playing with house money after two wins as underdogs. A 27-10 second-half lead lets the mind wander.
But then it’s gone, just like offensive tackle Trent Williams, who injured his knee and toe in the fourth quarter. That seemingly ended any hope of the Redskins breaking the scoreboard deadlock in their favor. Williams will have an MRI on Monday, and local fans can only hope it goes better than Stephen Strasburg’s did last month. What is it about Washington’s top picks getting hurt? Beware John Wall — drive safely.
If the Redskins enter the season’s final month as postseason long shots, they’ll remember this game as the reason. It’s the one they wasted. Someone other than Santana Moss and Chris Cooley caught balls. Joey Galloway grabbed three, including a 62-yarder. Fullback Mike Sellers caught four as McNabb found eight different receivers.
This was a game in which Washington managed to run for two goal-line touchdowns despite rushing for 18 total yards on 17 attempts. The Redskins never cracked the Texans’ defense. That just can’t continue.
And what happened to this defense? Washington held Arian Foster in check but let former Virginia quarterback Matt Schaub throw for 497 yards and three touchdowns. The Redskins managed five sacks and still surrendered 526 total yards.
It doesn’t matter that defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth was scratched with a sprained ankle considering his recent lackluster efforts. The Redskins couldn’t stop Kevin Walter, who caught all 11 balls thrown his way, nor could they slow down Andre Johnson, who leaped and hauled in the tying touchdown late in regulation.
Special teams is begging for a makeover. A 28-yard field goal was blocked. Gano hit a 52-yarder, but it was nullified by Houston’s timeout. The follow-up went wide right, ending Washington’s final scoring hope.
There’s plenty of blame. It’s going to take a week for Shanahan’s stoic stare to thaw.
Maybe longer.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
