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For Defense, the Outcome Hurts in Many Ways
. . . then in the second half, it all went wrong, including Jeremy Shockey's 3rd-quarter reception between LaRon Landry and Rocky McIntosh.
(Photos By Jonathan Newton -- The Washington Post)
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There was no need to seek comment on McIntosh's importance to a defense that isn't considered deep enough to overcome the loss of key performers, even for a few plays.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]Griffin's ankle problem also affected things. And Daniels, inactive in last week's victory over Philadelphia because of a foot injury, also spent some quality time with the medical staff.
"When the schedule first came out, some people thought the bye might be coming too soon, but the open date is coming at a great time for us," Williams said. "We've got to get some guys fresh."
The assortment of injuries was less painful for the Redskins than the way they finished the game.
New York converted 9 of 16 third-down attempts, including seven in a row in one second-half stretch, helping to overcome three turnovers. Last season, the Redskins set an NFL record by forcing only 12 turnovers in a 16-game schedule, so their work in that area Sunday should have been a positive.
"But when you don't finish the game, when you don't keep making plays, then it doesn't matter what you did," Griffin said. "You have to play until the game is finished. You have to play every play, because any team can beat you in the NFL."
The Redskins expected to be tested on third down, but the Giants took things to a higher level, players said.
"We knew what the Giants could do on third down, but they made even more plays than we expected," right defensive end Andre Carter said. "And on third down, we didn't tackle well, which is so unlike us.
"As a player, you try to look at yourself in the mirror when you're not playing well. You try to look at yourself and always do the job, and you have to look at yourself harder when you're not doing it."
In addition to injuries and poor tackling, the Redskins were not sharp in their assignments, players said.
"We got out of position on a few things," cornerback Shawn Springs said. "Whether it was me one time or somebody else on another play, we just didn't play well. There are some things that we just have to get corrected."
The Redskins will have time to rest and study during the bye week, which won't be as much fun as it would have been had the defense been able to hold off the Giants.
"I think there was some pressure," McIntosh said of the team trying to be 3-0 at the bye week. "Everybody was talking about trying to be 3-0, especially coming off an emotional win over Philadelphia.
"We just didn't finish the game we needed to as a defense. That's something we're going to have to think a lot about."
