LANDOVER, Md. – The gorgeous opening drive, like a 4-3 start to the season, served only as a mirage. The Redskins couldn’t sustain the momentum, found itself sputtering on offense once again and suffered one huge self-inflicted wound.
And now a flawed team needs to be perfect to reach the postseason. Of course, now that the Redskins have dropped to 5-6 after Sunday’s 17-13 loss to Minnesota, the playoffs are a longshot and any talk of it should be scrapped. It’s hard to discuss the postseason when the team involved has now lost three of four games.
“A good team will push it over the top,” Redskins tight end Chris Cooley said. “We have the potential to be that team. We are not. That’s the truth. I’m not saying we’re a bad team. I truly believe we can win every game we’re in. No doubt about that. Good teams win.”
Now, once more, they’re in a position where every game is a must win.
“If we think we can afford to lose another game down the stretch and make the playoffs,” Redskins linebacker London Fletcher said, “I don’t think so.”
| Report card |
| Early trend |
| Tight ends Fred Davis and Chris Cooley caught a combined seven passes in the first quarter against a team that struggles to cover this spot. But Davis played sparingly in the second half, and Cooley only caught one more ball. |
| Under the radar |
| Minnesota rookie RB Toby Gerhart is serviceable at best, but his ability to average 3.5 yards a carry made a tremendous difference, especially with Adrian Peterson sidelined. It enabled the Vikings to run their bootleg plays, which hurt Washington. |
| Did you notice? |
| The Redskins’ last 15 plays from scrimmage were Donovan McNabb passes because of a running game that managed just 29 yards on 13 carries. McNabb completed seven of those throws for 69 yards and an interception. He was sacked once. |
| From the sidelines |
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» Vikings coach Leslie Frazier deserves credit for keeping his team focused, especially when RB Adrian Peterson was hurt. They stuck with their original game plan and relied on their defense to hold a lead. It was basic, but it worked. » The Redskins’ offense was creative early, finding ways to spread the ball around. But after gaining 83 yards on their first drive, Kyle Shanahan’s offense, with backups at running back, managed just 133 the rest of the game. |
Washington lost despite the Vikings (4-7) losing its best offensive player, running back Adrian Peterson, midway through the second quarter to an ankle injury and playing for an interim coach, Leslie Frazier. In less than two quarters Peterson had 70 yards from scrimmage. The Vikings only gained 299; but Washington managed just 216 – 83 coming on an opening-series touchdown drive.
Minnesota did control the ball for the final six minutes, 13 seconds. So the Redskins’ last chance was a 77-yard return by Brandon Banks that was nullified by a Perry Riley block in the back.
But here’s how else they managed to lose:
Drops
The Redskins dropped a handful of passes Sunday, but none bigger than the one that bounced off Santana Moss’ hands and facemask and into those of Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson at the Redskins’ 9-yard line. The defense stiffened, but Minnesota still kicked a field goal for a 17-7 lead after three quarters.
“Plays like that can cause you to lose,” Moss said. “That might have been one of those plays.”
Missed chances
Banks returned a kickoff 65 yards to the Minnesota 28-yard line at the end of the third quarter. The Redskins settled for a 40-yard Graham Gano field goal.
On their next possession, Donovan McNabb hit Anthony Armstrong for 45 yards to the 24. Another field goal capped the series.
A potential 14 points resulted in only six.
“Those hurt,” Moss said.
No running game
This could be an issue the rest of the season as Clinton Portis is done for the season and Ryan Torain’s return from a hamstring is uncertain. That leaves inexperienced backs such as Keiland Williams (three carries, five yards) and James Davis (six carries, 11 yards). The Redskins passed the ball on their final 15 plays. Their offense suffered by becoming one-dimensional.
“We felt it would be more productive,” Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said.
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