Andre 'The Giant' Johnson scores a big 4th quarter TD, sending the Skins into a 27-30 OT loss at FedEx Field. AP photo.A day after the Washington Redskins succumbed to a 27-30 overtime loss to the Houston Texans, players during today's media availability gave their take on what they could have done to prevent giving up a 20-7 lead at the half that had Redskins fans, players (and coaching staff) thinking their revamped, and re-engineered team would walk away with a 2-0 record early in this year's NFL season.
What went wrong?
Two words, perhaps. Andre Johnson. Quite notably, the best wide receiver in the National Football League. Johnson left an indelible mark at FedEx Field when he caught a 34-yard touchdown over safety Reed Doughty in the end zone with 2:03 to play in regulation.
Hindsight Is 20/20
Skins' cornerback, DeAngelo Hall, critical of Reed Doughty's coverage of Johnson, explained what he would have done, had he been covering Johnson who caught 12 passes (a career high) for 158 yards on the day.
"You throw the ball my way 20 times, I'm going to make some plays", said Hall. Taking a defensive stance, Hall said today in the Redskins locker room, "It's my team, my defense. So, I'm going to follow the defense around" to win games.
Hall, admitting that Sunday was his first time playing against Johnson, still wasn't sure the team would have won the game even if did, in fact, guard Johnson.
"I guess we'll never know." Hall emphasized, however, that he would willingly accept the challenge should it present itself, saying the opportunity was one that he "definitely need."
Hall wasn't the only player who expressed frustration with the loss.
"It's a lesson to better learn week 2 than week 15, whenever you're trying to fight for a playoff run", said WR Anthony Armstrong.
Armstrong is confident (and hopeful) that Sunday's mistakes won't spill over into upcoming games.
Despite Donovan McNabb passing for 426 yards and the team earning three touchdowns (two by Clinton Portis) giving them a 20-7 lead before the half, the team just couldn't close out the game with a win.
"I'm pretty sure we're not going to have a performance where we let the game slip out of our hands again" Armstrong told us.
Houston's QB Matt Schaub was quite competitive, completing 38 of 52 passes for 497 yards, 3 TDs and one interception.
Injuries. Not So Much, But Still Relevant.
Results from an earlier MRI on rookie Trent Williams were negative. Williams sustained a sprain to his right knee and is expected to be fine in a few weeks.
Houston's Johnson, suffered a sprained ankle. He came back into the game to help his team to victory.
On the flip side (of relentlessness), Albert Haynesworth did not play in Sunday's game due to an ankle injury sustained in practice. Practice.
A Win With Haynesworth?
We asked team members would the result had been different had Haynesworth been in the game on Sunday.
Lorenzo Alexander wasn't so sure the outcome would have been any different.
"He definitely would have given us a bit more pass rush on the nickel stuff. Albert's a great player."
Alexander said the team is looking forward to the return of number 92.
"We can't wait to get him back, get him healthy. Any time Albert's out there he's going to make some plays."
Shanahan is not sure when Albert will return to action.
One thing is for sure, kicker Graham Gano thinks the Redskins are a great team, and is confident they'll make the playoffs.
Graham missed what could have been a game winning 52-yard field goal attempt - thanks to Houston's coach Gary Kubiak calling a timeout just before the snap to ice Gano.
Gano told us said the rule doesn't bother him. What did bother him, despite being "relaxed and confident" for both kicks, was his looking up to see where the ball was going.
"I think I was just so excited about the kick and just to watch it go in that I looked up too early."
Gano said he'll review film and learn from his mistake. "I can change a whole lot of things with the kicks", adding "It's better that it happen now than in the playoffs."
Yes, the playoffs.
Gano is predicting that his team will do well enough this season to make it to the playoffs.
"We have a great team. We showed we have a great team yesterday", said Gano. "I'm just as confident as ever that we're going to make the playoffs and we'll do well."
On To The Next One
The Skins chock Sunday's game up to defense and prepare to take what they learned into this Sunday's game against the Rams in St. Louis. The Rams lost Sunday to the Oakland Raiders 14-16, where former QB Jason Campbell was taken out of the game at the half.
Related: Game 2 revisited.
**Update**: Skins release Larry Johnson. Sigh Chad Simpson.
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