Welp, this season was fun, wasn’t it?
With 14 minutes left in the fourth quarter at a rain-soaked FedEx Field, the Washington NFL team was down by just 10 points. And I have just one question to ask all of their fans: did anyone truly believe that this team would mount a comeback against the hated Dallas Cowboys? Of course you didn’t, and Washington did indeed fall, 33-19.
That is the problem. This team just does not inspire anything but laughter, jokes and apathy. With every missed third-down conversion that results in a field goal attempt (more on that later), dropped pass, bonehead penalty and missed tackle, this team is just…blah.
Surprisingly, for the sixth game in a row Washington scored on its opening drive. But today it was with a field goal after Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, who finished with 150 yards and two touchdowns, fumbled on the first play of the game.
The fact that Washington just does not take advantage of these situations is exactly why they are who they are: a middle-of-the-pack franchise trending downward.
Don’t let anyone fool you, this was a winnable game. Stupid offensive play, along with backbreaking mistakes, cost this team dearly again and again.
There was Kirk Cousins once again performing below average when the team needed him to be great. Granted, there was a steady rainfall which limited the passing game, but everything can’t be blamed on the lackluster receiving corps.
This loss cannot be laid on the Washington defense. I will not tolerate any defensive slander, considering the circumstances. Yes, the offensive line was in shambles, but there were plays to be made on that side of the ball and Washington just didn’t capitalize.
The play that changed the game, though, was the blocked field goal attempt by new kicker Nick Rose as Washington led 13-6. On the previous play, Cousins was able to get out of the pocket, but for some strange reason did not throw the ball away and was sacked for a loss, making the field goal attempt longer than what it needed to be. Of course, in true D.C. sports fashion, the kick was blocked and almost taken to the house by Dallas cornerback Orlando Scandrick aka Draya’s boyfriend. Two plays later, Elliott was in the end zone and the Cowboys never relinquished the lead again.
The chances were there for the taking, and the team even had the ball with 59 seconds left with no timeouts remaining. All that was needed was something we have never seen in the Kirk Cousins-era: him leading a team from the depths of despair to victory on the strength of his arm. Instead, he threw a pick-six to end the game.
This week, Washington fans are going to be bombarded by numerous unfunny memes and ridiculed into oblivion by Cowboys fans and, unfortunately, the team deserves it. It was a pitiful offensive effort and until there is a sense of urgency from the head coach to demand the best from everyone on the roster, this will not change.
