Washington Redskins find failure again, even on a good day

Grossman’s early fumble cost them a lot. If that kind of stuff doesn’t stop, Shanahan won’t have any chance here.

Shanahan also needs all of his team’s leaders to truly lead. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall made another wrong turn in his uneven season.

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On New England tight end Rob Gronkowski’s spectacular 49-yard reception in the first quarter, Hall, Washington’s co-captain on defense, incorrectly presumed the play was over.

Hall did not help safeties Reed Doughty and DeJon Gomes bring down the imposing second-year player, listed at 6 feet 6 and 265 pounds. Instead, he walked away from the sideline as they tried to corral him.

Bouncing off tacklers as if he were in a pinball game, Gronkowski rambled to the 11-yard line. He caught a touchdown pass from Brady on the next play.

“I thought he stepped out,” Hall said.

Hall’s teammates defended his inaction.

“That happens,” Doughty said. “You always wanna hustle, but at the same time, I thought he stepped out of bounds. I was right there.”

Said Fletcher, who shares captain duties with Hall: “The way the league is now, you worry about a late-hit penalty [along the sideline]. I’m sure that’s what D was thinking right there.”

Hall and the Redskins offered no excuses for his big mental blunder in the third.

Called for holding on Patriots slot receiver Wes Welker, Hall picked up the official’s flag and tossed it. In addition to the five-yard holding penalty, Hall was assessed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty for his flag toss. The possession ended with Brady and Gronkowski teaming on a 37-yard touchdown.

Although Hall knows he erred, you just can’t have that. Especially in the first week left tackle Trent Williams, a co-captain on offense, and tight end Fred Davis, Washington’s top player in the passing game, began serving season-ending suspensions for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.

Each week, the Redskins’ offseason to-do list grows. There’s still so much work ahead. Somehow, they’ve got to start to break this bad cycle. It’s way past time.