Redskins-Bears Preview
By KEVIN MASSOTH STATS Writer
After coughing up a chance to separate themselves in the cramped NFC East, the Washington Redskins are still in the driver's seat. The road to the playoffs, though, is a bumpy path away from home. The Redskins haven't won a road game in about 13 1/2 months but will play three of four as the visitors down the stretch, starting Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Washington (5-7) is winless in five games away from FedEx Field and is 0-9 on the road since a 20-17 overtime victory at Dallas on Oct. 27, 2014 - the longest current skid in the NFL. But that's not even the end of the Redskins' visiting woes. They have won once in 19 games away from home dating to October 2013, including a 1-12 mark the last two seasons under coach Jay Gruden. ''We understand our struggles on the road and we have to address them,'' Gruden said. ''We have to address them head on and go compete against Chicago.'' But where to start? Washington is 5-2 at home while allowing opponents to score more than 20 points once, but the Redskins are giving up 32.4 points per game on the road. They have also averaged 17.2 points on the road compared to 24.4 at home. The problem could be the six turnovers at home as opposed to 14 on the road, or maybe the average of 129.6 rushing yards at home to 44.8 on the road. ''You search for answers. It's hard," left tackle Trent Williams said. "You can't just put your finger on one thing. If that was the case, then it would have been fixed. It's always something different, it seems, every time.'' The numbers working in the Redskins' favor is their run against the Bears, who have struggled to a 1-5 mark at Soldier Field. The Redskins have won five in a row in this series and 11 of 13, including four of five in Chicago. They will likely have to win as a visitor at least once to finish ahead of Philadelphia and New York, who are also 5-7. Washington hosts Buffalo next week before closing the season at Philadelphia and Dallas (4-8). It was Monday's 19-16 home loss to the Cowboys that kept the Redskins from their first winning streak of the season and added to the crowded division. The final minute and a half was a frenzy. The highlights were DeSean Jackson's adventure of a punt return - which ended with a fumble to set up Dallas' only touchdown with 1:19 to play - Jackson's 28-yard TD reception from Kirk Cousins 30 seconds later to tie it and Dan Bailey's game-winning 54-yard field goal. Jackson's score was possible after Rashad Ross' 41-yard kickoff return and a face mask penalty, but the final field goal was set up by Dallas' 46-yard return. Even with the gut-wrenching loss, it could be worse. Like for Chicago, which also dropped to 5-7 but likely kissed its postseason hopes goodbye. Last week's 26-20 overtime loss came at home to lowly San Francisco and only needed extra time after Bears all-time point leader Robbie Gould hooked a 36-yard field goal left at the end of regulation. An offense that scored seven points in the second half was flat in overtime, and the defense allowed Torrey Smith to get past the secondary for a game-winning 71-yard touchdown. ''I promise you, it will get better,'' right tackle Kyle Long said. ''Gosh, we're in every game. But it's not good enough and we need to be better.'' The Bears had surprisingly crept back into the playoff picture with a 17-13 win at Green Bay on Thanksgiving, but reality hit with their fourth consecutive loss by less than seven points. ''Obviously the playoffs are a long shot,'' defensive end Jarvis Jenkins said. ''We can't go in these last couple of game saying the season is over. These last four games are definitely going to be a test of character for the whole team.'' Chicago will finish the season without tight end Martellus Bennett as he was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with a fractured rib. Bennett leads the Bears with 53 catches despite missing the win over the Packers and playing in a limited role against the 49ers. They might soon get a boost on the receiving corps, though, as Eddie Royal (knee) practiced for the first time in five weeks and No. 7 overall pick Kevin White (leg stress fracture) participated in 11-on-11 drills. Royal hasn't played since Nov. 1, and the Bears have until Tuesday to activate White from the physically unable to perform list. |