Skins fall short Against Patriots 34-27

With no support of a chance to win against the New England Patriots, the Washington Redskins played with heart and nearly pulled off a major upset.  Near to the end of regulation with 29 seconds remaining from the Patriots’ 9, Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss bobbled a short pass from quarterback Rex Grossman into the arms of Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo to seal the victory, 34-27.

“I was just thrilled that the defense made a huge play,” Grossman said about the final drive. “They kick a field goal and it is pretty tough to score twice. I was just pumped up that we had an opportunity. And then [we] converted some big third downs and kept moving the ball, and all of a sudden, we are in the position to tie the game, or go for two to win it.

“It’s just frustrating to play well and move the ball and then be in the position to win the game. To have it go the other way is frustrating.”  

The Redskins' (4-9) affair with the Patriots was back and forth, as it appeared that the team who had the ball last was going win as they matched touchdowns with touchdowns and field goals with field goals.

Despite outstanding numbers, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who finished 22-of-37 for 357 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, struggled to complete passes to his pass-catchers throughout the contest, especially in the red zone.  Brady’s passes were either too high or behind his targets.  If Brady was at his normal best, the Patriots would have had scored close to 50.

“We are always trying to score. We moved the ball pretty well,” Brady said. “We just didn’t necessarily get it in the end zone when we needed to get in the end zone. The frustrating part about today is that we left a lot of points on the board. The defense finished the game well and made a great play at the end to really save us.”

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However, the Redskins were moving the ball as well.  Grossman was making his normal bad passes mixed with timely, clutch attempts to his receivers.  Grossman finished 19-of-32 for 252 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

Clearly, the best aspect of the game concerning the Redskins was how balanced their offense was for the first time this season, but it is all about finishing.

“I don’t think there’s any question about it,” Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan said. “We made some plays. Unfortunately, we had a few penalties late in the game that really cost us. That holding down there on the 10-yard line, the one they called on [Maurice] Hurt.  We had a couple mistakes down there—pass interference.

“We had a chance to finish a couple drives and we didn’t. We set ourselves back a little bit. Overall, I was pleased with the effort, displeased not being able to finish it and do what you need to do to win.”

The Redskins’ rookie running backs carried the load for Washington. Roy Helu finished with 126 yards on 27 carries and Evan Royster contributed with 44 yards off six carries.  Helu became the first rookie running back to host three consecutive 100-plus-yard games.  The Redskins were fluent in their offense, in dramatic fashion converting on big third-down plays.

“It’s huge (the running game). Unless you have a one-dimensional offense, you have to have a balance,” Grossman said. “The runs have to put you in good positions to throw the ball, put you in third and manageable, getting first downs on first down, or getting first downs on second downs to keep you out of third downs.  Or getting big chunks helps open up the play-action pass. 

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“It’s everything to this type of offense and it was a pretty special today.  Every time I’d come out of my fake, [Roy] Helu was running down the field making guys miss, stiff-arming guys, and running through some wide open holes and making some plays.  It was good to see.”

The Redskins defense struggled to tackle Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski as he over-powered, carried and dodged defenders all afternoon for 160 yards on six catches and two touchdowns (a career high).

Nevertheless, when it was time to make a play, the defense responded.

On 3rd-and-4 at the Redskins’ 4, Brady targeted wide receiver Tiquan Underwood for the touchdown.  Redskins cornerback Josh Wilson played the ball and got the interception at the back end zone to give Grossman and the offense an opportunity to win or force overtime.

After the interception, Brady and offensive coordinator/quarterback coach Bill O’Brien got into a nasty shouting match from the sideline.  About two minutes after argument, Brady and O’Brien were going over game notes.

“I made a terrible play, so he just let me know I made a terrible play,” Brady said. “It’s football man, it’s a game of emotion. It’s athletics…I was looking there and then I was trying to throw to Tiquan [Underwood] in the back and was trying to get it over [tight end Rob Gronkowski] and there were two other guys on him and I put too much air on it. I gave the DB a chance to make a play.”

Grossman orchestrated a 13-play drive, which could have ended with a touchdown to set up extend play.  Moss caught an apparent touchdown with 1:15 remaining in the contest, but the play was called back due to his "questionable" offensive pass interference penalty. Instead, the drive ended with the ball bobbling off Moss’ hands into Mayo’s arms.

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“[I] didn’t make the play, plain and simple,” Moss said. “I didn’t make the play but, you know, it’s football.”

When asked if Grossman played better without suspended tight end Fred Davis, knowing he could not rely on his tight end, Redskins wide receiver Donte Stallworth suggested otherwise.

“It was difficult to tell because I was focusing on getting away from my man to get open,” Stallworth said with laughter, who led the team in receiving yards with 96.  “After I review some game tape, then I will know how Rex performed.  But Rex don’t get enough credit.  He’s a solid quarterback who knows how to get the job done and he did everything he could to help get us a win.