Tre Johnson expresses his frustration. (John McDonnell - The Post)

By Liz Clarke
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, October 12, 1998; Page C6

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 11 – There was neither rage nor indignation in the Washington Redskins' locker room after this afternoon's 17-12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, which dropped the team to 0-6, its worst start since 1961.

Players trudged solemnly to and from the showers, then sat by their lockers, for the most part, saying little to reporters and teammates alike. An uneasy quiet hung in the air. Only a few cared to comment about how this group – players whom Coach Norv Turner only weeks ago called the best he has had in his tenure with the Redskins – lost to one of the worst teams in the NFL and remained winless.

"We're struggling, plain and simple," said defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson. "We're just having problems getting it done."

Having missed the playoffs by one game in each of the last two years, the Redskins looked forward to 1998 as their season of resurgence. Even in a weak conference, however, it has proven anything but.

Today's results only reemphasized their nagging problems. The Redskins outplayed Philadelphia by most statistical measures, but came up short. Their last drive offered a slim but viable chance for a come-from- behind victory with 1 minute 6 seconds remaining. Quarterback Gus Frerotte, who had replaced starter Trent Green late in the third quarter, was sacked on the drive's opening play. He completed two of his next three passes, but could not lead the team across midfield.

"It's just like all year," said punt returner and running back Brian Mitchell. "We were moving the ball, getting inside the 20 and 30, but we'd make a bad mistake. The main thing, we've got to put the ball inside the end zone. I wish I was a genie – that I could just twist my nose and make it go away. We just can't come out and roll over. We were moving the ball on them, but we couldn't put it home. Until we do, it's going to haunt us."

The Redskins piled up 273 yards of offense, compared to the Eagles' 198. Washington defenders also held Philadelphia to 115 yards rushing – and a mere 3.6 yards per play.

"Our defense played damned good," Mitchell said. "As an offensive player, I feel we let them down. Our defense was shutting them down. They did a hell of a job out there, and we let them down by not scoring any points."

The statistics were scant consolation to linebacker Marvcus Patton, who had six solo tackles, a role in two more and a quarterback sack.

"It's so very disappointing," Patton said. "It's hard really to describe."

Green said the 0-6 start was "one of my worst nightmares," but vowed to keep working hard in case Turner, who said after the game that Frerotte would start next Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, reconsiders his status.

Cornerback Darrell Green, who has played his entire career as a Redskin, sought to place the loss in an understandable context.

"Hey, this is the National Football League, and anybody is capable every week," Green said. "I don't believe that they will go 1-15, and we'll go 0-16. I believe that we will go forward and continue to do a solid job."

Mitchell blamed the offense's ineffectiveness on mistakes, penalties and some questionable calls by officials. Still, he was quick to add, "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. That's how it is in professional sports. You have your ups and your downs. You can't be traitor. I'm a Redskin at heart. I love being a Redskin when we win; I'm still going to love being a Redskin when we're losing. Now, I hate the fact that we're losing. But it's not going to change anything about me. It means I have to go out there and work harder so I can try to help this team win a game."