Quotes From Sunday's Redskins Game
 

Compiled by Gene Wang
Washingtonpost.com Correspondent
Web Posted: Sunday, Dec. 23, 2001; 6:27 p.m. EST

Coach Marty Schottenheimer
Q: What are your general thoughts on today’s game?
A: We came up short again. It is a play here and there. You have to take your hat off to them on the fake field goal. If we got a stop there, then we are looking at a different story possibly. The bottom line is, from our standpoint, we have to try to find a way to get the ball in the end zone when we have made it inside the 20-yard line.

Q: Can you talk about the team’s troubles in the red zone?
A: We have been working on it for a considerable length of time, and we haven’t achieved it. You can’t kick field goals in this league and expect to win against good football teams. Chicago is obviously a good football team.

Q: What about the fake field goal?
A: We have a couple of people that are assigned to take that thing over there. I haven’t spoken to the players to see what they were looking at. Generally, you can anticipate something like that. We have prepared for any number of fakes because they have a number of fakes.

Q: What are your thoughts about missing the playoffs?
A: I am disappointed. I am disappointed for our fans. I am disappointed for our players because they have taken every opportunity to do the very best that they can. They have worked their tails off, as has this coaching staff. I am fortunate. I am not accustomed to not being in the playoffs, so obviously it’s a very, very disappointing thing.

Q: How do you approach the last games knowing you’re out of the playoff race?
A: I think you will find that virtually everyone in this league plays every single play of every single game notwithstanding what their opportunities may be. I full expect that that this is what our football team will do, just like those that have already been eliminated.

Q: How did you feel Tony Banks played?
A: I think quarterbacks are graded on one basis, and that is winning. Obviously, we didn’t win. Now there are a lot of other people that contribute to that. He made some very, very good throws, didn’t throw an interception, did fumble the ball early on, but we don’t have a big margin for error here.

Tony Banks
Q: What are your thoughts about being knocked out of the playoff race?
A: I don’t know how that whole scenario works. We’ve got these last two games. I’m going to hold onto faith. We still have two games to play. More than half the teams in this league are not going to the playoffs. A lot of guys have things to prove around here.

Q: What happened on the fourth-and-goal pass to Rod Gardner?
A: I was trying to find somebody free in the end zone, that’s that. It didn’t happen. Rod did a good job. I don’t know if he could have caught it or not. I could have put the ball probably three inches to the right and made it a little easier to catch.

Q: What contributed mainly to the loss?
A: There aren’t too many teams you can beat in this league scoring 13 points.

Darrell Green
Q: What are your thoughts about being eliminated from the playoff race?
A: This was our last chance. We were ready to go home and enjoy the holidays after a great home victory. I don’t even want to discuss the postseason. If there are any scenarios, don’t tell me.

Q: What did you think of the fake field goal?
A: No matter how you play across the board, when they get you with a trick, whether it’s offense or defense, that always hurts worse. I really have to give them credit.

LaVar Arrington
Q: Can you talk about the Bears' defense?
A: The Bears have a phenomenal defense. This might be the first time I have had a chance to see Urlacher play in person, and he really reads those guys. They played some ball today. Again, just like in the Philadelphia game, their defense rose to the occasion at a very pivotal moment in the game.

Q: Were you impressed by Urlacher?
A: They always say great players make great plays. He stepped up today. He stepped in and made a big play and that hurt us a little bit, but we did bounce back from that play. We could have tied the game, and I don’t think that play ended the game. It wasn’t the nail in the coffin, but again, I think Stephen Davis, nine times out of 10, will make that cutback and go on for a touchdown. Urlacher was on him before he even got to the line of scrimmage. Their defense is fast, and I love to watch the defense just swarm to the ball like that.

Q: Did you feel you had any momentum in the second half?
A: I think the momentum was there. The defense was picking up the momentum. I think we had a chance to do what we needed to do, and we didn’t do it. That’s the bottom line. If we all would have cut back on mistakes, we would have won the game. Because there were mistakes made by every unit, that’s what cost us the game.