3 plays that encapsulated first half of Washington’s season

1. The Saints’ Hail Mary in Week 5

We hate to bring up such a poor and raw memory, but there was simply no other candidate for the top spot on this list.

For all the strides Washington’s defense — and secondary — made in the last two weeks before the bye, the groups’ ineptitude over the first six weeks was one of the stories of the NFL season, and the Saints’ Hail Mary at the end of the first half in Week 5 was basically a culmination of the group’s struggles.

Anyone else have nightmares that Sunday night? If you look back at the replay, though that isn’t necessary for fans whom have this completion burned into their memories, Landon Collins was the only defender in position to make a play on the ball … and he was unfortunately pinned between two Saints receivers.

Kendall Fuller didn’t even jump, William Jackson somehow didn’t make it to the end zone, Bobby McCain ended up behind the play and Kamren Curl, maybe the secondary’s most consistent performer thus far, was lagging behind everyone.

The reason for that? Well, Collins revealed after the game that the defense was prepared for a quick out pass to set up a long field goal. Once the Saints lined up in Hail Mary formation, the defense had to sprint back to the end zone.

It will go down as the easiest Hail Mary completion of the last five seasons. Short of another disaster result in the closing seconds of a game, fans will no doubt look back at this play as the defining moment of 2021, including the second half.

We hope we’re wrong…