After four months of blown coverages, missed tackles, dropped passes, frequent turnovers, bad penalties, nagging injuries, poor pass protection, mediocre to awful quarterback play, and embarrassing losses at a half-empty home stadium, the 2014 season came to a merciful end for the Washington Redskins on Sunday afternoon.
It ended with a game that unfolded like so many others, with Washington falling behind early and spending three quarters trying to recover. The Redskins couldn’t stop Dez Bryant and the Dallas offense, even though the Cowboys had little at stake with the NFC East division title already in hand. Nor could the Redskins muster anything resembling a comeback, sputtering in the end zone on multiple occasions in the second half.
The result was the Redskins’ 12th defeat of the season, a 44-17 loss to the rival Cowboys in the regular-season finale for both teams. Afterwards, coach Jay Gruden walked across the decaying grass at FedEx Field with a 4-12 record in his first season in Washington. The Redskins finished last in the division for the sixth time in seven seasons. A long offseason lies ahead.
Several moments in the game served as microcosms of a disappointing season. In the first quarter, Bryant juked Redskins cornerback David Amerson and sprinted untouched for a 65-yard score. In the second quarter, Bryant leaped over Amerson in the end zone, dragging his feet for another touchdown catch. Bryant finished with four catches for 99 yards.
With a 20-7 lead midway through the second quarter, the Cowboys attempted a surprise onside kick. The ball rolled past Gabe Miller and Trenton Robinson and was easily recovered by Dallas. DeMarco Murray capped the ensuing drive with a nine-yard touchdown run, and the game was suddenly just about out of reach for the Redskins.
Attempts to muster a comeback in the second half stalled on red zone turnovers. On the first, the Redskins had two opportunities from the 8-yard line to gain one yard. Tight end Logan Paulsen dropped a pass on third down, and quarterback Robert Griffin III threw an interception on fourth down, staring down his receiver and allowing Cowboys linebacker Bruce Carter to jump the route.
The Redskins had another opportunity to reach the end zone when Jackson Jeffcoat picked off Tony Romo on the first possession of the fourth quarter. The turnover gave Washington possession on the edge of the red zone trailing by three possessions. But Griffin threw another interception, which was bobbled by Andre Roberts. Left tackle Trent Williams was also injured on the play.
Griffin completed 27 of his 41 pass attempts for 336 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Washington eventually got back in the scoring column in the fourth quarter, when Griffin scampered around the left side of the line to score his first rushing touchdown since 2012. As the quarterback crossed the goal line, however, wide receiver Pierre Garcon laid out Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens, and cornerback Orlando Scandrick took exception. Scandrick and Garcon grappled in the corner of the end zone, and a small scuffle ensued.
But ultimately that scuffle, like DeSean Jackson’s 69-yard touchdown grab in the first quarter, was merely a footnote. The enduring image of Sunday afternoon was Griffin standing in a collapsing pocket and being sacked by Terrell McClain. Anthony Spencer plucked the ball off the ground and strolled into the end zone.
The Redskins fans, who were widely outnumbered by dark blue and white jerseys on Sunday, grabbed their coats and headed for the exits. A light drizzle filled the air. Another abysmal season was finally over.
• Tom Schad can be reached at tschad@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.