The Redskins, fresh off two things they’ve had enough of this season – a loss followed by controversy – vowed to show the nation they were a different team in prime time. They were different. They were still not good enough.
So all they showed was this: They’re a bad team finishing out the season.
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And Jim Zorn’s last home game – it’s expected he’ll be fired at season’s end – finished with a resounding thud as Dallas beat the Redskins, 17-0, to sweep the season series. It came one week after a 45-12 loss to the New York Giants and two days after defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth was sent home from practice for arriving late; he later ripped defensive coordinator Greg Blache for his schemes.
“This just sums up our season,” Redskins corner Carlos Rogers said. “It’s been downhill since even the Rams game [in Week 2]. We have so many problems, offense, defense, stuff off the field with players and coaches.”
It’s the first time Washington had been shut out since 2005; and the first shutout to Dallas since 2003. It’s also the first time Washington has not scored a touchdown in a season vs. Dallas. They began playing in 1960.
The Redskins (4-11) have been outscored 62-12 in the past two games and will finish winless in the NFC East for the first time since 1994.
“It’s been a hard season,” Redskins center Casey Rabach said.
In other words, trot out whatever stats you want to — but this is an indisputable fact: Dallas, and the rest of the NFC East, dominated Washington this season. It’s why Zorn will be elsewhere in 2010.
“It’s devastating to go 0-6,” Zorn said.
He said last week’s latest round of controversy didn’t impact the game.
“I don’t think there were any more distractions than the last seven or eight weeks,” Zorn said.
At least Washington’s defense showed up at times Sunday night, twice stopping the Cowboys on fourth and 1’s in its territory in the third quarter. But it’s tough to do much when the offense can’t produce. In two games vs. Dallas (10-5) this season, the Redskins scored just six points.
While the Redskins had improved offensively in the second half of the season, they matched up poorly vs. the Cowboys. Dallas’ defensive line was too quick for the Redskins’ makeshift line, which was unable to sustain blocks.
“The frustrating thing was their front four beat us,” Zorn said.
If the Redskins used five-men protections, then Dallas would send an extra rusher and batter quarterback Jason Campbell. Holes closed quickly as the Cowboys’ front seven dominated.
The result? A night where Washington could not run the ball or protect Campbell. Typically, that means one thing: trouble.
“He couldn’t get it off when we was going up top,” Redskins receiver Santana Moss said. “If you can’t drop back and go downfield, you got to adjust to what we can do.”
The Redskins never really threatened Dallas, making an early two-touchdown lead seem unusually safe. The Redskins rushed for just 43 yards while Campbell passed for only 175.
Meanwhile, Dallas gained 393 yards.
About the only thing left for Redskins fans to do was boo ex-Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham, who, in a bit of irony, made a 23-yard field goal in the fourth quarter – the same length of the kick he missed that landed him in the unemployment line earlier this month.
Dallas scored the only points it needed on their first possession, getting a four-yard touchdown pass from Tony Romo to Roy Williams in the right corner of the end zone.
Safety LaRon Landry gave up a 69-yard pass to tight end Jason Witten to the Redskins’ 3-yard line in the second quarter, setting up Marion Barber’s scoring run on the next play. The Cowboys outgained Washington in the first half, 216-97.
