Giants End ‘Skins

Needing a win to all but assure themselves of a playoff berth, the Washington Redskins delivered a performance in their regular season finale that was lacking in every facet.

Against a New York Giants team with little to play for but pride, having already secured its playoff spot, the Redskins’ offense misfired, the defense was porous and discipline was lacking. Rather than heart and intensity, the Redskins brought empty burgundy-and-gold uniforms to FedEx Field and were handed a 19-10 loss that was topped by jeers from fans who expected so much more.

After getting roundly outplayed through the first three-and-a-half quarters, the Redskins had a chance at a comeback. But with 72 seconds remaining, quarterback Kirk Cousins threw haltingly to wide receiver Pierre Garcon and was intercepted for a second time by cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who made a perfectly timed leap into the ball’s path.

The defeat scuttled the Redskins’ playoffs hopes, leaving them with an 8-7-1 record that is a half-game back and a world away from the 9-7 mark that last season won them the NFC East.

Sunday’s defeat, before a dispirited crowd of 79,471, not only ended the Redskins’ season but also raised questions about Coach Jay Gruden’s ability to prepare his team — both tactically and emotionally — for their most important game of the season. Just two weeks earlier, Gruden’s Redskins had a chance to clinch a playoff spot on their home field but got manhandled instead by a Carolina Panthers team that, like the Giants, had far less at stake.

Asked Sunday night whether he felt he had the Redskins ready to compete, Gruden said: “I like to think so, but obviously the results say otherwise, so what can you say?”

Sunday’s defeat had no turning point. There was no single play or crucial drive when things started going awry for the Redskins, who were favored by a touchdown. The Redskins were poor from the start in every way.

Their third-ranked offense, which was averaging 411.3 yards, was stymied by the Giants’ aggressive front seven. Protecting Cousins had been a strength all season, with the offensive line allowing just 19 sacks through 15 games. On Sunday, Cousins was sacked four times by early in the third quarter. And Cousins played throughout as if pass rushers were converging from all corners.

As promised, the Giants’ first-year head coach, Ben McAdoo, played the majority of his starters the full game, even after taking the 10-0 halftime lead. McAdoo said he knew only one way to compete — to win. And he and his defense did just that, rattling Cousins and nullifying the Redskins’ running game, which managed just 38 yards.