Washington Redskins season facing the ultimate crossroads

After the worst performance in the Jay Gruden era, the Redskins are faced with the ultimate crossroad of deciding what they want his season to be.

On Monday afternoon, I wrote about the optimism the Redskins had as they entered New Orleans. The Eagles, Cowboys, and Giants all found a way to butcher their games on Sunday, and the Redskins were primed to take center stage and take a firm lead of the division. There was confidence beaming after a bye week and Redskins fans and media alike felt like this could be the time the Redskins make a statement.

Being a writer is hard. Mainly because your words are on paper, and usually when you’re wrong, they come back in the form of a club to remind you of how incorrect you are.

Before the Saints game, I wrote about how the Red Sea had parted for the Redskins, and it was their time to cross while the NFC East’s struggles paved the way for Washington to take control. Instead of racing through to the land of milk and honey, the Redskins decided to run halfway through, set up a picnic, take a nap and let the waters of Drew Brees and the Saints offense completely and utterly dismantle them.

Monday night in New Orleans was an unmitigated debacle, from the opening kick off, to the Saints taking to the victory formation at the two-minute warning. The offense couldn’t seem to make their basic bread-and-butter plays work. Alex Smith played arguably one of the worst games of his career, and one by one, the injuries that derailed the Redskins last year began to show their ugly faces again.

More from Riggo's Rag

It didn’t take long for things to take a bad turn. On the second play from scrimmage, Smith checked down a ball to Adrian Peterson in the flat. It was clear to everyone watching, A.P. was about to take a big hit. Not only did he take a shot, but Peterson also looked to have hyperextended his knee on a low hit. Not to mention by the end of the game, A.P. revealed that he had dislocated his shoulder on his longest reception of the night.

Before the game really even got started, things began to quickly unravel.

The Redskins entered the game as the league’s No. 2 ranked defense. After the game had finished, it was hard to imagine how they weren’t 32nd. The Saints first touchdown of the game came courtesy of three third-down penalties that extended the drive. Ryan Kerrigan tallied his first sack of the game on the opening defensive drive. While Kerrigan was in the middle of his sack celebration, Mark Ingram went tumbling to the ground courtesy of Montae Nicholson, and the flags took flight.

Montae Nicholson‘s boneheaded unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was only the beginning of the night full of fundamental flaws that crippled the burgundy and gold.

While ESPN’s cameras were gleefully fixated on Drew Brees the entire night, the sight of Josh Norman on the sideline holding his helmet at the start of the third quarter was an alarming sign for fans. Norman has had a horrific season so far. Clearly, for Jay Gruden, it got to the point of starting a seventh-round pick over the $75 million dollar corner from Coastal Carolina.

Greg Stroman being tossed to the wolves should be a red flag to how bad Monday night really was for Greg Manusky‘s defense. Stroman was torched for a 35-yard touchdown that put the cherry on top of a night that spun out of control for the Skins.

For Redskins fans, the frustration of inconsistency and the inability to make the most of an opportunity is at a boiling point. From Smith’s putrid performance to watching a corner who accounts for over $16 million in cap space standing on the sidelines, the Redskins have reached a crossroads.

After all of the madness from the Big Easy settles, the Redskins will have to gather the pieces of Week 5 and move forward. The attitude, professionalism, and culture of the Redskins will be put to the test this week. What do they want to be?

Oh, and by the way, the Redskins are still leading the NFC East.

While that last sentence is hard to believe, this season is still in their hands. The crossroads they face is simple. If they cannot get their defense on the same page, their receivers and Jordan Reed more involved, or keep their offensive line healthy, Monday could easily have marked the beginning of the end. But just as the Redskins have done already, when you count them out, they find ways to pull themselves back up to their feet.

Next. 3 duds from Redskins vs. Saints. dark

It is up to Jay Gruden and this coaching staff to regroup and get to ball rolling again. If they can’t, this season could be a long one for fans, especially looking at the upcoming schedule. But if they can get back to the drawing board and find answers, this division is still in their hands. It is their choice to make. It’s up to Jay Gruden’s squad to get to work.

Home/Commanders News