OFFENSE
D
Brian Griese was pressed into service when Rex Grossman went down with an injured left knee. Griese started abysmally, reprising the turnover form that led to his losing the job after an injury. A pass toward Devin Hester was intercepted, reversing a crucial defensive takeaway and set up Washington’s first TD. The offense did virtually nothing with starting field positions in the first quarter alone at its own 34-, 39- and 38-yard lines and the Washington 46. The offense finished with 99 net yards for the first half, then penalized itself out of a TD chance to start the third quarter. Bernard Berrian’s diving catch for a TD in the third quarter was a momentum-saver, and passes to Hester ignited a fourth-quarter field goal drive.
DEFENSE
B
Alex Brown was a force, badly beating Pro Bowl left tackle Chris Samuels for a sack that caused a fumble that Adewale Ogunleye recovered. But tight end Todd Yoder beat Danieal Manning for the only score of the first half, and Manning let tight end Chris Cooley loose for a key big catch in the fourth quarter to set up a field goal. Poor tackling and a complete breakdown allowed a 54-yard pass on a screen pass to Clinton Portis to set up the second Washington TD, but the defense allowed only 218 yards through three quarters and was hurt by the offense’s inability to sustain drives or make something from the Brown takeaway.
SPECIAL TEAMS
C+
Washington was able to get enough push to block a 48-yard Robbie Gould field goal try in the first quarter, but Gould converted a 30-yard boot in the third. Washington took Hester out of the return game. Brad Maynard shook off a twisted ankle on his first kick to average 38.2 yards on six punts in a battle for field position in the first half. Bears coverage units controlled dangerous returner Antwaan Randle El, allowing returns for 0, 4 and 6 yards in the first half. Frigid conditions affected both kicking games.
COACHING
C-
Kudos for a savvy Washington challenge to reverse the TD pass to Bernard Berrian in the third quarter. Washington appeared to know exactly what play would be called on the pass to Hester that was intercepted and set up Washington’s first TD. Both execution and play design failed on a first-and-goal inside the Washington 5 in the fourth quarter. Questionable decision settling for a field goal in a game with few Bears scoring chances. The defense was prepared for the Redskins’ own version of no-huddle and was as aggressive as it has been in recent weeks. Washington kick placement negated any efforts to mount return strategies.
