OFFENSE
D
Brian Griese was pressed into service when Rex Grossman went down with an injured left knee and started abysmally with a pass toward Devin Hester that was intercepted and negated a crucial defensive take-away and set up a Washington 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 at the time, and passes to Hester ignited a fourth-quarter FG drive. But the run game (60 yards) was inadequate again.
DEFENSE
B
The Redskins managed just 31 rushing yards on 24 carries. Alex Brown was a force, badly beating Pro Bowl LT Chris Samuels for a sack that caused a fumble. But TE Todd Yoder beat Danieal Manning for the only score of the first half and Manning let TE Chris Cooley loose for a key catch in the fourth quarter to set up a FG. Poor tackling and a complete break-down allowed a 54-yard screen pass to Clinton Portis to set up the second Washington TD. An assignment breakdown left DT Tommie Harris alone in coverage against FB Ladell Betts, resulting in the clinching TD. Coverage allowed four Redskins at least one catch of 20 yards or longer and yielded 324 yards to two less-than-spectacular QBs.
SPECIAL TEAMS
C+
Washington was able to get enough push to block a 48-yard Robbie Gould FG try in the first quarter. Washington became the latest to take 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 Redskins’ dangerous 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 challenge to reverse the TD pass to Berrian in the third quarter. Losing Rex Grossman to injury upset the rhythm. 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 in the fourth quarter and the Bears needing a tying TD. Questionable decision settling for a FG in a game with few Bears scoring chances.
