Blowout losses have Redskins reeling

Dec 12, 2017 - 4:33 AM OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The goal for the Washington Redskins was to finish the season strong, even if the playoffs were a remote possibility.

That is not happening. A second consecutive blowout loss on Sunday left the Redskins reeling with three games to play.

"It's a tough pill to swallow, but we have to swallow it and we have to move on to Arizona, try to put our best foot forward and give these guys something to sink their teeth into from a preparation standpoint," Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said.

"From a coaching standpoint, we've got to do a better job of getting these guys ready early in games and make sure they're better prepared where they can have a plan and play fast and hard."

Washington was sluggish in a 20-10 Thanksgiving Day win over the New York Giants. That was understandable given their numerous injuries and it was a short week.

But blowout losses to the Dallas Cowboys (38-14) and, on Sunday, to the Los Angeles Chargers (30-13) have left a sour taste in everyone's mouth.

After the Chargers game, safety D.J. Swearinger again said his team wasn't ready to play and didn't practice well during the week. Cornerback Josh Norman expressed frustration about his role.

Gruden demurred when asked about Swearinger's comments, but took full blame after the game for Washington's ugly performance against Los Angeles.

"The only thing that matters is winning and winning the next game, so that's what we're going to focus on," Gruden said. "It has been a little bit of a challenge with all the new guys coming in and out -- offensive line, running backs, offensively, and then defensively, the linebacker situation, safeties and defensive linemen.

"It's something that a lot of teams go through this time of year and it's something we're going to have to go through, and we're going to have to fight through it."

--Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said he briefly thought about going for a two-point conversion after Bashaud Breeland's 96-yard interception return late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 30-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Gruden took heat from fans and media for simply kicking the extra point when he at least could have made it a two-score game and gone for an onside kick with 2:36 to play and three timeouts plus the two-minute warning.

"I just didn't think it was a realistic chain of events that would've had to occur, to be honest with you, " Gruden said. "You know, with the situation that we had offensively with Trent Williams out and we were down to one back, Ryan Grant was banged up with his ankle, down to three receivers, Josh (Doctson) was a little bit banged up.

"I just wanted to make sure I got out of that game with enough healthy bodies and didn't want to risk anymore."

Washington has been decimated by injuries on the offensive line since October. But the situation at inside linebacker grows grimmer by the week. Mason Foster (shoulder) and Will Compton (Lisfranc sprain) are already on injured reserve.

And now Zach Brown, the NFL's leading tackler, could miss the rest of the season with a foot injury. He was already struggling with a sore Achilles tendon and had to be carted off the field in the second half of the loss to the Chargers. Brown underwent an MRI on Monday, but results were not immediately available.

"We'll find out here shortly," Gruden said. "We just have to wait and see with him limping around here, Zach (Vigil) and (Martrell) Spaight will have to get some more, Josh Harvey-Clemons will have to step up his game there, too, if Zach can't go. Let's just add another one to the mix of questionable guys."

NOTES: QB Kirk Cousins' 45 consecutive starts are the second longest in Redskins history. ... CB Bashaud Breeland's 96-yard interceptions return Sunday against the Chargers was the first of 90 yards or more by a Redskins player since 2010. ... TE Vernon Davis caught career touchdown pass No. 59 on Sunday against the Chargers. Davis is one away from tying for seventh-most all-time by a tight end. That touchdown catch also pushed Davis into sole possession of 10th place in NFL history for most catches by a tight end (542). ... WR Ryan Grant (ankle) is day-to-day after sustaining the injury in Sunday's game against the Chargers. ... LB Chris Carter sustained a fractured fibula in Sunday's game against the Chargers and will need surgery. Carter's season is over.



REPORT CARD VS. CHARGERS

--PASSING OFFENSE: D - Among the worst games of the season for quarterback Kirk Cousins and the passing offense. Maybe the worst in his three years as a starter. Cousins (15-for-27, 151 yards, one touchdown, one interception) sailed some throws under pressure, but the weapons just aren't there to make plays down field. He was only sacked twice by Los Angeles' strong pass rush. Jamison Crowder and Josh Doctson caught just three passes each and tight end Vernon Davis again was a non-factor with two catches.

--RUSHING OFFENSE: D - There's almost nothing left here. When Samaje Perine went in and out of the game with a stomach ailment, where could the Redskins turn? Chris Thompson and Rob Kelley have been on IR for weeks. Mack Brown, who had been with the team two years and impressed, was cut in October because a rash of injuries hit, not because of performance. He quickly landed with Minnesota. Perine had 17 carries for 45 yards. The Redskins were reduced to handing off to LeShun Daniels (two carries, 12 yards), an undrafted rookie free agent who just signed with Washington on Nov. 14. Falling behind 23-6 at halftime didn't help.

--PASS DEFENSE: D - The Redskins were torched by Philip Rivers (18-for-31, 319 yards, two touchdowns) and Co. Keenan Allen (six catches, 111 yards) and Tyrell Williams (four catches, 132 yards) had big days. Tight end Hunter Henry (four catches, 50 yards) had a touchdown. The secondary, including Josh Norman, has cracked in recent weeks.

--RUSH DEFENSE: D - The Chargers used multiple backs to do the job, totaling 174 yards on 35 carries. They averaged five yards per carry. Melvin Gordon had a rushing touchdown. Rivers was sacked twice, but otherwise his offensive line held up against the Redskins' thin defensive front and provided more than enough balance.

--SPECIAL TEAMS: C - Kickoff returner Byron Marshall popped a hamstring while fielding a kick in the end zone. That about summed up the day. Bashaud Breeland actually did a nice job filling in with 88 return yards on four tries. Otherwise, it was a rough day for punter Tress Way (37.3 net punting average). Kicker Nick Rose didn't attempt a field goal and two of his three kickoffs went for touchbacks, but he missed an extra point in the second quarter.

--COACHING: D - Yes, there are excuses. The Redskins have been crushed by injuries for weeks. The weapons on offense have been whittled away and they never did have the depth on defense to withstand losing players. But that's no excuse for getting blown out two weeks in a row at Dallas (38-14) and Los Angeles (30-13). Jay Gruden has two years left on his contract, but his seat will start to get warm if the Redskins just pack it in with games left against Arizona (6-7), Denver (4-9) and the New York Giants (2-11).