The Redskins won 4 games with a tough first half schedule.
But when you go back and look at the team fundamentals, how well the team runs the ball, passes the ball, protects the quarterback, stops the run and limits the pass, Washington is near the bottom of the NFL statistics.
The one statistic in Washington's favor has been the turnover differential - 2nd best in the NFL.
That is what contributed the winning points in the opener against Dallas, against Green Bay and certainly against the Chicago Bears.
So, what happens when that fickle bounce of the ball goes the other way?
We saw a glimpse of that in the Detroit game. McNabb threw an ill-timed interception, and the game turned for good on the Grossman sack/fumble.
In the meantime, Detroit didn't throw the game to the Redskins. There was no pick six for Hall or sack/fumble for Orakpo to return for an easy 7.
The end result was a 12 point loss to a team that lost the next week to the 0-7 Bills 14-12.
The Redskins back end schedule is not easy. And there is no way the turnover differential is going to maintain itself in current balance.
One wonders whether the pass protection problems and failure to establish a ground game will ultimately catch up.
But when you go back and look at the team fundamentals, how well the team runs the ball, passes the ball, protects the quarterback, stops the run and limits the pass, Washington is near the bottom of the NFL statistics.
The one statistic in Washington's favor has been the turnover differential - 2nd best in the NFL.
That is what contributed the winning points in the opener against Dallas, against Green Bay and certainly against the Chicago Bears.
So, what happens when that fickle bounce of the ball goes the other way?
We saw a glimpse of that in the Detroit game. McNabb threw an ill-timed interception, and the game turned for good on the Grossman sack/fumble.
In the meantime, Detroit didn't throw the game to the Redskins. There was no pick six for Hall or sack/fumble for Orakpo to return for an easy 7.
The end result was a 12 point loss to a team that lost the next week to the 0-7 Bills 14-12.
The Redskins back end schedule is not easy. And there is no way the turnover differential is going to maintain itself in current balance.
One wonders whether the pass protection problems and failure to establish a ground game will ultimately catch up.