Redskins Reality Checks: Insult added to injury in Week 9 loss to Falcons

4. Reality Is, the Redskins will not face a better pass-catching corps this season.

The Falcons made the Redskins’ secondary look a bit like a practice squad. Montae Nicholson and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix took bad angles, Josh Norman looked slow, and D.J. Swearinger had his quietest game of the season. Dunbar was in and out with a leg injury and provided the only couple of real sparks for the defensive backfield.

I said the Redskins would not shut down the passing attack of Atlanta, but that if they wanted to be taken seriously, they had to pass this test and a way to limit Julio Jones and company. I thought they were up to this challenge.

Reality Check: I was wrong. They looked totally lost and unprepared for the speed of the Falcons’ passing attack. With Tampa and Houston coming up next, the Redskins have to dig deep and figure out their problems in the secondary in a hurry, or the Redskins could easily be looking at a three-game losing streak and find themselves at 5-5 before Thanksgiving.

5. Reality Is, Jordan Reed should be the focal point of the passing attack.

Once again, it looked like Washington intended to get Reed more touches. But penalties and a quick 14-0 deficit clearly got them out of their game plan. I predicted Jordan Reed would feast on the weak secondary of Atlanta, accumulating eight catches on 10 targets for 90 yards, one touchdown, and four first-down conversions on either third or fourth down. Instead, the Redskins couldn’t manage to get him going, then he got nicked up.

Reality Check: Reed ended the game with a pedestrian four catches for 34 yards. Either there’s a lack of chemistry with Smith, or there’s a lack of intentionality in play calling, but Reed has not been the focal point that he needs to be for the Redskins to reach their ceiling offensively.