Missed opportunities and costly penalties have hurt Redskins
ASHBURN – The block in the back was an untimely, unfortunate and costly penalty. What it shouldn’t have been is a surprise. If the Redskins had executed at key moments of games this season, they wouldn’t be in the position of needing a five-game winning streak to make the playoffs.
In every season, several plays stand out as examples of missed opportunities. And in many cases it comes down to not having good enough players to make certain plays.
“I truly believe we can win every game we’re in,” Redskins tight end Chris Cooley said after Sunday’s 17-13 loss to Minnesota. “No doubt about that. Good teams win.”
The Redskins have indeed found ways to win games. They rallied to beat Green Bay. They gutted out a win over Tennessee when starters exited with injuries. Brian Orakpo drew the hold to help beat Dallas. But the Redskins haven’t always made the right play at the right time, which is why they’re 5-6 and not, say, 7-4.
Linebacker Perry Riley was the culprit Sunday, nullifying Brandon Banks’ 77-yard punt return for a touchdown — with veteran savvy he would have known to just let up right before the block and obstruct the defender. Chris Wilson did exactly that earlier in the game, and no penalty was called.
Other plays in losses loom large:
The missed throw
With less than four minutes remaining and holding a seven-point lead vs. Houston, receiver Joey Galloway was open in the end zone for a potential 46-yard score, but quarterback Donovan McNabb’s throw was long. The Texans then drove for the tying touchdown. In overtime, Washington’s Graham Gano missed a 52-yard field goal in an eventual 30-27 loss.
The 11-point sequence
The Redskins lost by 12 to Detroit, though seven came on a late Rex Grossman fumble returned for a touchdown. Had this earlier sequence unfolded differently, Grossman wouldn’t have been in the game nor would the Redskins have been dropping back to throw.
It started with Phillip Daniels jumping offsides on a fourth-and-1 field goal attempt in the third quarter. In fairness to Daniels, the center flinched but no false start was called. Regardless, Daniels was flagged and Detroit had new life and two plays later scored a touchdown for a 14-13 lead.
But the Redskins, for a moment, appeared to have overcome that gaffe. Banks returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. Except, starting a trend, it was called back for a Reed Doughty block in the back.
An 11-point swing meant the Redskins trailed by one instead of possibly leading by 10.
The underthrow
Before the block in the back against Minnesota, McNabb and Anthony Armstrong connected for a 45-yard pass that should have been a 69-yard score. Armstrong broke free off the line, but McNabb had to complete his seven-step drop. Meanwhile, Vikings left defensive tackle Pat Williams looped through the Redskins left side. Left guard Kory Lichtensteiger was blocking the other tackle, but Williams somehow slipped inside left tackle Trent Williams, who was not engaged.
McNabb — under pressure — couldn’t fully step into his throw. And that led to a higher pass, causing Armstrong, open by five yards, to wait and make a sliding catch. Instead of a tying touchdown, it led to a field goal. And another loss.
