The Washington Redskins are about to learn what awaits them the rest of the season. Upsetting NFC West front-runner San Francisco at FedEx Field on Sunday would make Washington 4-4 at the season’s midpoint. It would end a three-game slide, infuse confidence and defuse frustrated fans ready to move on to the offseason.
But losing means a 3-5 record with four straight losses and a high-speed slide to another 6-10 season or worse. It confirms this team is flat-out rebuilding. Even worse, it opens speculation to owner Dan Snyder’s thoughts, and that’s never good.
Win and coach Mike Shanahan’s in control. Lose and start wondering if Vinny Cerrato is warming up his car.
Bingo callers and consultants may be coming soon if Snyder starts second-guessing whether Shanahan is the chosen one. At some point, maybe years from now, Cerrato will return to Redskins Park.
It has been nearly two years since Cerrato’s circus left Redskins Park, but the team better start winning or the once meddlesome owner will re-emerge. After all, it’s his billion-dollar baby.
There’s so much at stake for the Redskins in a matchup that two decades ago was for NFC dominance. Now it’s just another game, though the 6-1 49ers look headed for the playoffs.
San Francisco has a dominant runner in Frank Gore while former Dunbar High/Maryland tight end Vernon Davis has blossomed as the 49ers’ leading receiver. With a 3-0 mark on the road, including a victory over Detroit, San Francisco looks real after finishing 6-10 last year.
Washington needs a shocker and the NFL often permits it. That’s the greatness of the league. The problem is the Redskins can’t score. As in zero points last week. Maybe offensive tackle Trent Williams will limp back after missing two games with a high ankle sprain, but there are no real solutions to this offensive drought.
Certainly, if the Redskins remain blanked in the second half under quarterback John Beck, then Shanahan might return to Rex Grossman. That will officially end any hope of emerging from this season with a passer. Grossman can at least score — sometimes for both teams — but Beck is 0-6 in the league. For now, Shanahan can at least offer hope that Beck is next year’s passer, not that anyone will believe it.
If the offensive line can merely allow only five sacks, it will have done twice as well as the previous week and maybe Beck will make it to middle age without needing replacement parts.
If the defense revives after three poor games, maybe the team can at least look respectable. But if San Francisco turns Washington into statues, then the confidence is broken.
This is the game when either the horror of eight meaningless games is confirmed or a new spark of hope is discovered.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
