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| Robert Griffin III sacked six times as Redskins fall to lowly Bucs, 27-7 | Robert Griffin III sacked six times as Redskins fall to lowly Bucs, 27-7 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| With a full week’s rest and two weeks to reflect on the countless opportunities they’ve let slip this season, the Washington Redskins couldn’t have looked more ill-prepared and inept in their first game back after a bye. | With a full week’s rest and two weeks to reflect on the countless opportunities they’ve let slip this season, the Washington Redskins couldn’t have looked more ill-prepared and inept in their first game back after a bye. |
| In what should have been a feel-good FedEx Field homecoming against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, an opponent that entered with just one victory , the Redskins fell behind in a turnover-prone, penalty-strewn first half and never recovered. | In what should have been a feel-good FedEx Field homecoming against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, an opponent that entered with just one victory , the Redskins fell behind in a turnover-prone, penalty-strewn first half and never recovered. |
| First-year Coach Jay Gruden called the 27-7 defeat , which dropped Washington to 3-7, “horrific.” | First-year Coach Jay Gruden called the 27-7 defeat , which dropped Washington to 3-7, “horrific.” |
| Franchise quarterback Robert Griffin III, who was intercepted on his first and seventh throws and sacked six times, called it a “travesty,” conceding that he had trouble “seeing the field” as well as he would have liked and vowing to improve. | Franchise quarterback Robert Griffin III, who was intercepted on his first and seventh throws and sacked six times, called it a “travesty,” conceding that he had trouble “seeing the field” as well as he would have liked and vowing to improve. |
| The fast-exiting crowd, announced at 77,442, had no words — just boos — at least until the offense’s futility reached its peak on Tampa Bay’s sixth and final sack of Griffin, and isolated chants of “We want Colt! We want Colt!” rang out with more than 10 minutes remaining. | The fast-exiting crowd, announced at 77,442, had no words — just boos — at least until the offense’s futility reached its peak on Tampa Bay’s sixth and final sack of Griffin, and isolated chants of “We want Colt! We want Colt!” rang out with more than 10 minutes remaining. |
| Backup quarterback Colt McCoy, who led Washington to victories over Tennessee and Dallas last month while Griffin completed his recovery from a dislocated ankle, stayed on the bench. | Backup quarterback Colt McCoy, who led Washington to victories over Tennessee and Dallas last month while Griffin completed his recovery from a dislocated ankle, stayed on the bench. |
| Griffin, making his fourth start this season, played to the conclusion despite the battering he took — partly due to poor protection by an offensive line that lost two starters, partly due to his own indecision. Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams (ankle and knee injuries) and left guard Shawn Lauvao (concussion) left the game and did not return. Griffin finished 23 of 32 for 207 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also rushed six times for 41 yards. | Griffin, making his fourth start this season, played to the conclusion despite the battering he took — partly due to poor protection by an offensive line that lost two starters, partly due to his own indecision. Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams (ankle and knee injuries) and left guard Shawn Lauvao (concussion) left the game and did not return. Griffin finished 23 of 32 for 207 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also rushed six times for 41 yards. |
| “All the sacks are on me,” Griffin said, setting a tone of personal responsibility that he hoped the locker room would follow. “I’m looking myself in the mirror and saying, ‘I can do better. I have to do better.’ And I need every man in that locker room — player, coach everyone — to look themselves in the mirror and say, ‘What can I do better?’ ” | “All the sacks are on me,” Griffin said, setting a tone of personal responsibility that he hoped the locker room would follow. “I’m looking myself in the mirror and saying, ‘I can do better. I have to do better.’ And I need every man in that locker room — player, coach everyone — to look themselves in the mirror and say, ‘What can I do better?’ ” |
| Griffin, 24, has gone more than a year without starting and finishing a Redskins’ victory. His last triumph came Nov. 3, 2013, against San Diego. | Griffin, 24, has gone more than a year without starting and finishing a Redskins’ victory. His last triumph came Nov. 3, 2013, against San Diego. |
| Sunday’s defeat highlighted the grim reality that Washington, under Gruden, has failed to fix the problems that have bedeviled the team all season — turnovers, penalties, red-zone impotence and late-game defensive collapses. | Sunday’s defeat highlighted the grim reality that Washington, under Gruden, has failed to fix the problems that have bedeviled the team all season — turnovers, penalties, red-zone impotence and late-game defensive collapses. |
| It also underscored Griffin’s inability to get rid of the football in a timely manner. The quarterback’s hesitation, as he repeatedly scanned the field for open targets, became even more perilous after Williams’s injury on the Redskins’ second series. | It also underscored Griffin’s inability to get rid of the football in a timely manner. The quarterback’s hesitation, as he repeatedly scanned the field for open targets, became even more perilous after Williams’s injury on the Redskins’ second series. |
| The loss wasn’t the most lopsided of Gruden’s tenure, but it was the most inexcusable. Tampa Bay (2-8) represented a low bar, with an offense that ranked 29th in the NFL and the league’s worst defense in terms of points allowed (30.2 per game). | The loss wasn’t the most lopsided of Gruden’s tenure, but it was the most inexcusable. Tampa Bay (2-8) represented a low bar, with an offense that ranked 29th in the NFL and the league’s worst defense in terms of points allowed (30.2 per game). |
| For all the derision Griffin and the offense took from the crowd, Washington’s defense bore a significant share of culpability, failing once again to get a single turnover and allowing Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Mike Evans to finish with 209 receiving yards, including second-half touchdown catches of 36 and 56 yards that put the game out of reach. | For all the derision Griffin and the offense took from the crowd, Washington’s defense bore a significant share of culpability, failing once again to get a single turnover and allowing Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Mike Evans to finish with 209 receiving yards, including second-half touchdown catches of 36 and 56 yards that put the game out of reach. |
| Gruden said he had no explanation for a performance that looked, to him, like an NFL team’s first preseason game. The failings were across the board, he noted, citing the three turnovers, six sacks, nine penalties, lack of game-changing plays and host of mental mistakes. | Gruden said he had no explanation for a performance that looked, to him, like an NFL team’s first preseason game. The failings were across the board, he noted, citing the three turnovers, six sacks, nine penalties, lack of game-changing plays and host of mental mistakes. |
| When the Redskins regrouped from their bye this week, Gruden had made a priority of narrowing turnover differential. | When the Redskins regrouped from their bye this week, Gruden had made a priority of narrowing turnover differential. |
| But it only got worse, sinking from minus-nine to minus-11, with Griffin intercepted twice, Roy Helu Jr. fumbling once and Darrel Young supplying the lone bright spot by recovering a muffed punt. | But it only got worse, sinking from minus-nine to minus-11, with Griffin intercepted twice, Roy Helu Jr. fumbling once and Darrel Young supplying the lone bright spot by recovering a muffed punt. |
| And normally steady place kicker Kai Forbath missed both of his field goal attempts, from 47 and 50 yards . | And normally steady place kicker Kai Forbath missed both of his field goal attempts, from 47 and 50 yards . |
| The tone was set from the start. Griffin’s first pass, which he flicked to Niles Paul under pressure, was bobbled by the tight end and picked off by Tampa Bay’s Danny Lansanah. Taking over at the Washington 29, the Buccaneers managed a field goal. | The tone was set from the start. Griffin’s first pass, which he flicked to Niles Paul under pressure, was bobbled by the tight end and picked off by Tampa Bay’s Danny Lansanah. Taking over at the Washington 29, the Buccaneers managed a field goal. |
| Washington’s next drive opened with false-start penalty. Griffin had a chance at a touchdown but overthrew DeSean Jackson in the end zone. | Washington’s next drive opened with false-start penalty. Griffin had a chance at a touchdown but overthrew DeSean Jackson in the end zone. |
| Taking the field for the third series, Griffin threw a pass that was tipped and picked off by Johnthan Banks, who returned it 19 yards for a touchdown, putting Washington 10-0 in arrears. | Taking the field for the third series, Griffin threw a pass that was tipped and picked off by Johnthan Banks, who returned it 19 yards for a touchdown, putting Washington 10-0 in arrears. |
| Young’s recovery of Marcus Thigpen’s muffed punt set up what looked like a sure-fire score. But the drive, which started on the Tampa Bay 17, retreated with breathtaking efficiency from a first-and-goal on the 6. What followed was a penalty and back-to-back sacks that lost 10 and nine yards, respectively. That brought up Forbath, who was wide right from 47 yards. | Young’s recovery of Marcus Thigpen’s muffed punt set up what looked like a sure-fire score. But the drive, which started on the Tampa Bay 17, retreated with breathtaking efficiency from a first-and-goal on the 6. What followed was a penalty and back-to-back sacks that lost 10 and nine yards, respectively. That brought up Forbath, who was wide right from 47 yards. |
| Washington’s defense limited the damage of Helu’s fumble, with cornerback Tracy Porter breaking up a third-down throw. | Washington’s defense limited the damage of Helu’s fumble, with cornerback Tracy Porter breaking up a third-down throw. |
| With time for one final drive in the half, Griffin kept his faith in Helu, finding him on a screen pass that the running back stretched into a 30-yard touchdown . | With time for one final drive in the half, Griffin kept his faith in Helu, finding him on a screen pass that the running back stretched into a 30-yard touchdown . |
| The Redskins entered the locker room on a high, having pulled within 13-7. | The Redskins entered the locker room on a high, having pulled within 13-7. |
| Tampa Bay was forced to punt on its first drive of the second half. But a promising Redskins drive stalled on Griffin’s fourth sack and Forbath sent his second field-goal attempt wide right again. | Tampa Bay was forced to punt on its first drive of the second half. But a promising Redskins drive stalled on Griffin’s fourth sack and Forbath sent his second field-goal attempt wide right again. |
| Tampa Bay proceeded to march 60 yards to restore its two-score margin. McCown hit Evans for the key completion, and safety Ryan Clark arrived just in time to see 6-foot-5 receiver streak in for the score that made it 20-7. The duo teamed up for the Buccaneers’ final touchdown as well. | Tampa Bay proceeded to march 60 yards to restore its two-score margin. McCown hit Evans for the key completion, and safety Ryan Clark arrived just in time to see 6-foot-5 receiver streak in for the score that made it 20-7. The duo teamed up for the Buccaneers’ final touchdown as well. |
| More Redskins and NFL coverage: | |
| Summary: Buccaneers 27, Redskins 7 | |
| Reid: Redskins appear to be even worse than last season | |
| Boswell: Coming to grips with reality: This is a bad team | |
| Poor showing in second half dooms Washington | |
| Bucs WR Mike Evans puts himself in rare company | |
| Photos: Scenes from FedEx Field | |
| Video: The Wrap on the Redskins’ loss | |
| Bog: Best and worst from Redskins-Bucs | |
| Trent Williams sprains MCL in loss to Tampa Bay | |
| McCoy says defenders prepared for Griffin’s slow release | |
| Federal drug agents launch surprise inspections on NFL teams |