The Takeaways, Week 16: Washington at Dallas
December 27, 2021
by Steve Thomas
After a one week absence due to some extreme scheduling difficulties brought on by the move of last week’s game to this past Tuesday night, we’re back with another edition of The Takeaways, which is our effort to address the big picture, “around the watercooler” topics from each week’s Redskins Washington football game. This week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys was obviously a total disaster on all fronts, in a game that embarrassed the players and coaches alike. We’ll discuss it all, or at least as much of it as I can tolerate, in this week’s Takeaways, so read on.
This was legitimately one of the worst losses in franchise history
Because I needed something interesting to occupy my time during this game, I spent the bulk of the second half checking every game in franchise history going all the way back to 1937. My goal was to determine where yesterday’s 56 – 14 loss ranked in the pantheon of embarrassing Washington games. And the answer is . . . it’s pretty high up the list. The worst loss in franchise history – which is also the worst loss in NFL history – was a 73 – 0 destruction by the Chicago Bears in the league championship game on December 8, 1940. The second worst loss was a 62 – 0 beating at the hands of the Cleveland Browns on November 7, 1954. The Redskins went down to the New York Giants 53 – 0 on November 5, 1961. That game was probably worse than yesterday as well. Then, we have the 52 – 7 loss to the 7 – 0 Patriots on October 28, 2007. Finally, there was the infamous Monday Night Massacre against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 15, 2010, which Washington lost 59 – 28. I’d put the 2007 New England game below yesterday’s contest simply because it was an interconference game played in the 4:00 time slot, not on national TV, but it’s not an exact science. Realistically, this game is somewhere between the third and sixth worst game ever played by this franchise since they moved to Washington, depending on how one subjectively ranks the 1961 and 2010 games.
Ron Rivera is wrong to not punish Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne
ESPN’s John Keim reported that Ron Rivera stated that there would not be punishments for the sideline fight between Allen and Payne. This is a huge mistake. You can’t let your team captain punch his friend and longtime teammate going back to college on the sidelines on live national television. I’m sure the root of the fight was born out of frustration from a terrible game, but still: a team captain taking a swing at another player in these circumstances is inexcusable. We don’t know exactly what Payne said to get Allen to react, but he did poke Allen in the face, so he might be at fault, too. Players certainly fight, but it usually happens in practice, away from cameras. In my view, Rivera and Jack Del Rio brushing this event off as nothing makes them look weak and lacking leadership. Allen, at a minimum, should’ve been benched, suspended from next week’s game, and had his captaincy removed. Anything less is wrong.
The offensive line was a total disaster
I don’t have the stats for this, but it sure seemed like Taylor Heinicke was under significant pressure on just about every dropback until Ron Rivera mercifully pulled him from the game in the fourth quarter. The running game was also a total disaster. While it is true that the 5x Pro Bowler, Brandon Scherff, didn’t play, and Keith Ismael is the fourth-string center, the other three spots were manned by the team’s regular starters. They were completely owned by the Dallas Cowboys in every conceivable way. Having a vastly inferior offensive line is no way to run a professional football team. Something simply has to change with this group from a long-term perspective in order for Washington to have sustained success.
The secondary was a total disaster
Yes, William Jackson III and Landon Collins were both out due to injury, but Dallas’ receiving corps was simply too good for Washington’s secondary. The Cowboys were able to consistently find holes in Washington’s zone, to the tune of 389 passing yards. Even taking the injury situation into consideration, there was no excuse for just how badly Dallas’ receivers were able to take advantage of Washington in this game – five separate receivers had more than 50 yards each, Amari Cooper, Malik Turner, Dalton Schultz, CeeDee Lamb, and Michael Gallup. Malik Turner’s 62 yard reception in the second half was one of the worst performances by a secondary you’ll ever see in the NFL, with at least 10 missed tackles. There was no excuse for the nightmare performance from this position group.
Trevon Diggs has Terry McLaurin’s number
Look, no one has more respect for Terry McLaurin’s talent than I do. He’s one of the most naturally gifted receivers in the NFL. The television broadcast made a point to note that McLaurin leads the NFL in contested catches. However, this is the second game in a row in which Diggs has gotten the better of McLaurin. He had zero receptions two weeks ago and was just 3 for 40 yesterday. Furthermore, Diggs’ interception on Washington’s first offensive play of the game was man coverage on what looked like a deep 9 route, and Diggs simply outplayed McLaurin. Going forward, McLaurin is going to have to figure out how to do better in this battle, because Diggs isn’t going anywhere.
Bonus Takeaway: Dustin Hopkins Chris Blewitt Joey Slye Brian Johnson Lirim Harullahu Brian Johnson Joey Slye watch
Because one simply isn’t enough, Washington now has both Johnson and Slye on the active roster, with Harullahu being signed off the practice squad by the Carolina Panthers and Slye coming off of injured reserve. Johnson inactive for this game. Slye made both of his extra points and is now 16 for 20 in extra points this season, and remains 17 for 19 on field goals. At this point, I simply find the never-ending kicker roster churning humorous. Meanwhile, Dustin Hopkins has made 24 of 27 of his field goal attempts this season.
That’s it for this week. I’ll be back with another edition after Washington’s blowout loss to game against the Eagles at Fed Ex Field next Sunday.