Redskins Halftime Takeaways: Case Keenum, offense entirely outmatched

It’s half time in D.C., and the Redskins have a lot of ground to cover.

In a home game against a team with an anemic offense, it was theorized that perhaps the Washington Redskins could compete. The Redskins showed flashes against the Eagles, and they’ve have limited bursts of success. Perhaps, against a team with a surefire weakness, they could find breathing room.

But breathing room, as it turns out, is a limited commodity against the Bears defense. Chicago’s defensive unit is still very much legit, even after losing defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, and so far, Washington has learned the hard way on Monday Night Football. Two quarters are down, and the Redskins trail the Chicago Bears by a score of 3-28.

Washington’s defense has still been porous, giving up 21 points to an offense that scored one touchdown in the first two weeks of the season. Receivers have gotten open consistently, and Mitchell Trubisky threw his first three touchdowns of the 2019 campaign in the first half. But even then, the defense hasn’t been the worst part of the game.

Washington’s offense has been entirely ineffective in the first half. Case Keenum threw two interceptions on erratic passes, and he showed a lack of comfort and pocket awareness under center. But Keenum hasn’t had any help from his offensive line, either. He’s encountered pressure on approximately half of his drop backs, and Khalil Mack in particular has been a terror against Morgan Moses.

There are still two quarters left to play, but this one already feels like it’s over. The Bears have dominated the game in just about every facet, and the Redskins, if anything, have lost ground after halftime adjustments in Weeks 1 and 2.  This is the kind of performance, under the lights, with jobs on the line, that causes swift change.