WASHINGTON — Folks, it’s official: the Washington Redskins have found rock bottom. I won’t waste space breaking down why. The reasons are so obvious that old D.C. isn’t the only place noticing the ‘Skins’ rapid decline. On pace for their second straight 3-13 season, this week the Redskins took a beating on a national level. A comedian with local ties actually <a href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nNT7s44Xm0″>broke up with the team during ESPN’s SportsCenter. Bill Simmons damn near wrote a book on all the collateral damage of Daniel Snyder’s reign as the worst owner in pro sports. (If you’re a frustrated Redskins fan and haven’t read it yet, do yourself a favor and click that link. In fact, I’ll even <a href=”http://grantland.com/the-triangle/daniel-snyder-washington- redskins/”>put it here again so you’re sure to do it.) I’m not necessarily joining this chorus, in large part because I’ve basically been humming this tune all year. I could sense myself pulling away from the team I grew up rooting for as early as last year, during the drama-filled, eight-game losing streak to end the 2013 season. My feelings on the subsequent Jay Gruden hire can be summed up in one word: meh. And so started an unimpressive offseason that was by far the most apathetic I’ve been about the Redskins. No quality free agents or first round draft pick to shore up the offensive line, or bolster an awful defensive backfield. Nothing to air out the stink of a putrid 2013. I have a hard time seeing myself shaken out of this apathy without seeing significant changes to the way the organization does business — and that’s change I don’t believe is coming. It’s been 15 years. I only gave my marriage half that time to improve, so the Redskins have literally been given every benefit of the doubt I can physically muster. The Redskins won’t leave my life, though. I actually get paid to watch and cover this team. So swearing them off or threatening to take up a new hobby or go antiquing with my girlfriend instead of watching football on Sundays simply isn’t feasible…or realistic. So while I’m not going as far as talking “divorce,” or moving the team away, I am in a trial separation. Throwing my allegiance to another team isn’t an option, but I’m still young and can focus on fantasy football and the NFL Recap until the Redskins get their act together. So hail to the Woodfork Warpath…hail victory. And all hail the Week 15 NFL recap: Cardinals 12 Rams 6 Once again proving the football gods are just, <a href=”http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/12/bruce-arians-takes-shot- at-always-8-8-rams-after-cardinals-victory/”>Jeff Fisher got some comeuppance in his own home just a few days after showing up the ‘Skins in theirs. I think it’s in the Bible or something. <a href=”http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/12/hail-mary-ryan-lindley- tweeted-offer-of-bibles-during-game/”>Ask Ryan Lindley. Redskins 13 Giants 24 Odell Beckham set all kinds of Giants rookie receiving records by lighting up the ‘Skins secondary for 12 catches, 143 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, ex-Redskins safety Bacarri Rambo twice intercepted Aaron Rodgers for Buffalo. This is all you need to know about the personnel department in Ashburn. Jaguars 12 Ravens 20 In a game that should’ve featured <a href=”http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-jaguars- coach-gus-bradley-who-cut-justin-forsett-happy-for-former-running-back- 20141210-story.html”>Justin Forsett running all over his old team, the defense (8 sacks) and special teams (TD on a blocked punt) stole the show. Just the kind of thing Baltimore enjoyed in 2000… Steelers 27 Falcons 20 Ben Roethlisberger did the Dirty Bird all over the Atlanta secondary to total a franchise-record 4,415 yards this season. I don’t care how many rings Terry Bradshaw has…Big Ben is the greatest Steeler QB of all-time.
Browns 0 Bengals 30 Marvin Lewis mocked Johnny Football before the game…and the Cincy defense <a href=”http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2014/12/14/bengals- defense-makes-mockery-of-manziel/20397537/”>made a mockery of him during the game. This looks a lot like Tim Tebow 2.0…only without the fluke playoff run. Dolphins 13 Patriots 41 Welp…looks like Joe Philbin’s talents are leaving South Beach in the new year. And Philip Wheeler’s ankles left his cleats courtesy of some shake and bake from…Tom Brady? Raiders 6 Chiefs 31 Kansas City scored touchdowns from 81, 70, and 20 yards. Was this a football game or a track meet? Texans 10 Colts 17 Indy clinched the AFC South Sunday by extending their streak of 12 straight divisional games, and improving to 22-4 all-time against the Texans (including 13-0 at home). And Houston lost more than a game — they lost all their quarterbacks and probably any hope of J.J. Watt winning MVP. Packers 13 Bills 21 The upset of the day gave Buffalo their first season with at least 8 wins since 2004…and most importantly, their best shot yet at ending their 15-year playoff drought. Bucs 17 Panthers 19 Carolina is a hideous 5-8-1…but still in the mix for first place in the NFC South. I hate to say it, but this is going to change the way the playoffs are currently seeded. Jets 16 Titans 11 This is the first 16-11 result in NFL history. Chris Johnson failed to <a href=”http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/12/jets_chris_johnson_wants_to_mak e_tennessee_titans_regret_releasing_him.html”>make the Titans regret cutting him. Unless you’re interested in the top of the upcoming draft order, that’s the full list of things that mattered about this god awful game. Broncos 22 Chargers 10 The AFC West title resides in Denver for a fourth straight year despite another modest outing by Peyton Manning. <a href=”http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/15/pot-roast-promises-a- broncos-super-bowl-win/”>A man named Pot Roast is promising a Super Bowl. Is it weird that this gives me more confidence in the Broncos’ title hopes? Vikings 14 Lions 16 Detroit is 10-4 for the first time since 1991, when they finished 12-4 and got beat to sleep by the Redskins in the NFC championship game. I bring that up mostly to reminisce about the last time the ‘Skins went an entire season without being embarrassing. Niners 7 Seahawks 17 On offense, Marshawn Lynch is now the seventh player in NFL history with at least four consecutive seasons of 10 rushing TDs and 1,000 yards rushing. On defense, Bobby Wagner is described as, um, really fast. Seattle is definitely peaking at the right time. Cowboys 38 Eagles 27 Yes, Dallas rallied late to keep their hopes of winning the NFC East alive. Yes, they’re undefeated on the road. But now <a href=”http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/story?storyId=12032987″>their workhorse back is banged up and there’s still two more games left for them to choke. I’ll believe a winning December for the Cowboys when I see it. Saints 31 Bears 15 Ok, Chicago. Time to move on from the Jay Cutler experiment. There’s no way this ends as well as his postgame press conference. Follow @WTOP and <a href=”https://twitter.com/WTOPSports”>@WTOPSports on Twitter and <a href=”https://www.facebook.com/wtopnews”>WTOP on Facebook.
