Redskins.com recaps Saturday's 34-28 loss to the New York Giants at FedExField:
First Impressions:
#### Revealing Moment:
The Redskins had pulled within 27-21 early in the fourth quarter and had momentum. With just over six minutes left in the game, Tiki Barber broke several tackles and out-raced several defenders to the end zone for a 50-yard touchdown run. Although the Redskins would respond with a score and get the ball back for a last-chance drive, Barber's touchdown took the Redskins out of the game.
Redskins Player of the Game:
#### Redskins Play of the Game:
The Redskins' second-half comeback got started on a key 4th-and-4 play at the Giants' 7-yard line. Trailing 27-7, the Redskins had driven downfield on an impressive drive. Jason Campbell dropped back to pass and looked to the left. His first two options were not open, so he scrambled to the right and found Betts at the goal line for a 7-yard touchdown pass.
Redskins Unsung Hero:
#### What Went Wrong
-- The Redskins' run defense struggled in tackling, as Tiki Barber rushed for 234 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. That's 10.2 yards per carry. Barber proved difficult to bring down, but Redskins defenders did not help their cause by taking poor tackling angles on his two long touchdown runs. Overall, the defense yielded 261 yards on the ground.
-- The defense did not force a turnover in the game, finishing with 12 for the season, a mark that sets an NFL record for a 16-game season. It was the eighth game this season that the unit could not force a turnover.
-- For the third time this season, Ladell Betts committed a costly fumble. On Saturday night, the ball was jarred loose from his hands by linebacker Brandon Short. Defensive tackle Fred Robbins scooped up the ball and raced 67 yards to help set up a Giants field goal.
-- The penalty problem returned again. The Redskins committed 10 penalties for 100 yards. Ade Jimoh was called for a taunting penalty late in the first half that helped set up a chip-shot field goal for the Giants. Sean Taylor was called for a pass interference penalty and Mike Sellers was flagged for a face-mask penalty.
What Went Right
#### What's Next:
With the season over, players conduct exit interviews with coaches on Sunday, then leave Redskins Park until off-season training gets underway in late March or early April. Joe Gibbs will hold his season-ending press conference on Monday afternoon from Redskins Park. But what's really next? Offseasons are always intriguing times for the Redskins. The next few weeks will certainly bear watching, and after a disappointing 5-11 season, there could be change. Whether it's an adjustment or it's an overhaul has yet to be determined.
Stats Geek:
#### Quote:
"You have to learn to handle distractions and as players and professionals, it shouldn't matter what the preseason talk is. You can't just put us on paper and say we are going to win the Super Bowl. You have to come with it every game. We played in a lot of close games this year and I feel like our offense did enough to win. We just have to stop people and get where we were the past couple of years. When we came into the season, I expected to get home field advantage through the playoffs, but you have to play the games and do the right things." -- Phillip Daniels
Lasting Impressions:
A season that began with great promise and aspirations seemed to come crashing down almost from the start. Clinton Portis's shoulder injury in the first quarter of the first preseason game at Cincinnati set a tone that the 2006 season would be a struggle. It ended on Saturday night at FedExField in a game that, in some respects, mirrored the Redskins' season. Now all that's left is the aftermath.
