A season that began with the Washington Redskins talking about contending for a Super Bowl title under new coach Marty Schottenheimer will end with two weeks of playing for nothing but a break-even record, dignity and job security. The Redskins lost to the Chicago Bears, 20-15, before 78,884 yesterday at FedEx Field, and were eliminated from playoff contention.
"It's a terrible feeling knowing we're not going to the playoffs," left tackle Chris Samuels said in the Redskins' somber postgame locker room.
Champ Bailey goes all-out to break up a pass for the Bears' Marty Booker, but Redskins were eliminated from playoff contention, raising
question of job security of Marty Schottenheimer, left.
(John McDonnell - The Washington Post)
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| _____Grade the Redskins_____
How would you grade the play of the Redskins on Sunday? What's your opinion?
Note: This is an unscientific survey of washingtonpost.com readers.
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_____Play of the Game_____
At the 10 minute 1 second mark of the fourth quarter, the Chicago Bears momentarily abandoned their conservative style of play when punter Brad Maynard completed a 27-yard touchdown pass to Brian Urlacher, pictured, on a fake field goal.
Facing fourth and six from the Redskins 27, the Bears lined up for a 46-yard field goal attempt trailing 13-10. After Urlacher ran in motion across the line of scrimmage, Maynard took the snap, rolled toward the right sideline and found a wide open Urlacher at the 12. Urlacher shook off safety David Terrell at the one-yard line and ran into the right corner of the end zone.
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_____They Said It_____
"Its like we were driving our own car and we let somebody steal it. Now we're walking and looking for the bus."
-- tight end Walter Rasby
"It's tough to get motivated, and I dont know how were going to do it. Were going to go back to work Wednesday and start playing again. We have nothing to lose now. Were going to go out and get loose and have fun."
-- kicker Brett Conway, on being eliminated from the NFL playoffs.
Sunday's quote sheet
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| _____Grade the Redskins_____
How would you grade the play of the Redskins on Sunday? What's your opinion?
Note: This is an unscientific survey of washingtonpost.com readers.
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According to sources close to the situation, Schottenheimer's job could be in jeopardy in the offseason, particularly if the Redskins (6-8) lose next Sunday night at New Orleans and on Jan. 6 at home against the Arizona Cardinals. The NFL confirmed that the Redskins officially were eliminated from the playoffs after they lost and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Saints. This is only the fourth time in his 15 full seasons as an NFL head coach that Schottenheimer's team failed to qualify for the playoffs.
"I'm disappointed," said Schottenheimer, in the first season of a four-year, $10 million contract as coach and director of football operations. "I'm disappointed for our fans. I'm disappointed for our players because they've taken every opportunity to do the very best that they can. They've worked their tails off, as has this coaching staff. I've been fortunate. I'm not accustomed to not being in the playoffs."
The Redskins bottled up the Chicago offense for most of the afternoon, but the Bears (11-3) again found a way to win. They used a fake field goal to move in front for good with just less than 10 minutes to play, with punter Brad Maynard throwing a 27-yard touchdown pass to linebacker Brian Urlacher. The Redskins drove to the Chicago 3-yard line with 1 minute 45 seconds left. But they opted against running tailback Stephen Davis on third-and-one and fourth-and-one plays, and quarterback Tony Banks threw a pair of incompletions.
"We're able to move the football against just about anyone," Banks said. "But when you don't move it inside the 20, you have some problems."
The Redskins recovered from their five straight losses to open the season with five consecutive victories. But they won't rebound from the 1-3 stretch that followed, including defeats at home to the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and the Bears.
"Nobody should come to our house and walk away with their heads held high," defensive end Bruce Smith said. "We had an opportunity. Opportunities don't come around all the time. We didn't take advantage of them."
Said Banks: "Nobody remembers how we came back [from the 0-5 start]. I know in here we don't. . . . As a quarterback, ultimately you're judged by winning and losing. We haven't won the last two games. You guys can figure it out."
The Bears got 82 rushing yards from tailback Anthony Thomas, and reserve running back Leon Johnson provided a 32-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. But the Redskins limited Chicago quarterback Jim Miller to 13 completions in 26 throws for 98 yards.
Davis had only 57 rushing yards on 22 carries against the league's third-ranked rush defense. He had a three-yard touchdown run in the first quarter but had only one carry in the fourth quarter. The Redskins decided to lean on Banks, who completed 23 of 43 passes for 236 yards. He did not throw an interception but lost a fumble and was sacked six times.
"We didn't have much success running it," Schottenheimer said. "We knew coming in it would be hard running on this group. . . . It didn't make much sense to keep pounding our head on it. You know I like to run the ball. But the opportunities to move the ball were throwing it, not running it."
The Redskins got an early break, beginning their first possession at the Chicago 34 when the Bears' Autry Denson fumbled the opening kickoff. But Banks fumbled the ball back to Chicago when he was sacked by linebacker Rosevelt Colvin on third down.
The Bears drove to place kicker Paul Edinger's 39-yard field goal and a 3-0 advantage. But the Redskins got a 30-yard kickoff return by Michael Bates and answered with a 57-yard touchdown drive. Davis covered the final 39 yards with six runs and one reception, and he eased into the end zone untouched, through the middle of the defense, on a second-down carry from the 3.
