The bloated point spread led to jokes, sarcastic comments and who-really-cares lines. But that beat what the defenders did when asked about the New England offense. Most of them clammed up, declined comment or walked away.
And when secondary/cornerbacks coach Jerry Gray was asked what they should do against the Pats’ offense, he offered one word:
“Pray.”
The Redskins (4-2) enter Sunday’s game against New England as 16-point underdogs.
“Should we show up?” Redskins center Casey Rabach asked.
Of course, they have no choice. But they also know that no team has gone undefeated since the 1972 Miami Dolphins. And they also know that the Patriots have not played a game against a defense as good as Washington’s. The Redskins’ fourth-ranked unit represents the biggest test New England has faced. To date, the Patriots have played one game against a defense currently ranked higher than 16th. Of course, they scored 48 points on Dallas’ seventh-ranked unit.
In the open locker-room session, one defender after another had nothing to say or offered very little. Even normally talkative Fred Smoot limited his interview time to a little more than a minute.
“Read the stats, they’re doing good, man,” corner Carlos Rogers said. “There’s nothing more I can say. I don’t want to boost their heads up more than anyone else is doing. We just have to stop them.”
The question is: how?
And that question pertains to the entire team, not just the Pats’ offense.
“You haven’t seen them play a normal game,” Redskins receiver Antwaan Randle El said. “They haven’t had to do all phases a lot in one game and that’s what you want to get a team like this to do.”
Ball control is clearly one way to help slow the Patriots’ offense, which averages 39.9 points per game. But the defense allows 4.4 yards per carry. However, the Redskins have struggled to run consistently. And even if Washington wins the time of possession, it still must score more than the 20.3 points it is averaging this season. A one-dimensional attack won’t work.
“If we get up, we still have to move the ball,” Redskins tackle Chris Samuels said. “You can’t sit back on your heels the whole time.”
They also need the Pats to be looking ahead to their showdown againstundefeated Indianapolis a week later. That might not happen.
“We’re playing one of the best defenses in the league,” Pats quarterback Tom Brady said. “They’re 4-2, but they could easily be 6-0.”
Said Rabach, “We’ll show up and good things will hopefully happen for us. What can I say?”
