After re-watching the game, I don’t feel the way I expected to, that Washington’s defense was overwhelmed. The Redskins gave up 38 points, 478 total yards and 6.8 yards per play, but Cincinnati did not dominate the line of scrimmage or sustain drives. The Bengals averaged only 3.2 yards per carry on 23 rushes, and Washington won the turnover battle, 2-1. The difference, at least when the Bengals had the ball, was big plays through the air and quick, accurate throws that gained bits of yardage and negated the Redskins’ pass rush.
In the last two games, St. Louis and Cincinnati have established at least part of a blueprint for beating the Redskins: quick throws that exploit the secondary and set up big-plays with double moves. The Redskins were very good against the run against New Orleans and Cincinnati, so teams are going to pass against them until they prove they can stop it. And those quick throws often are just an extension of the running game.
So the question is: do the Redskins have a talent problem in the secondary or is it something that can be solved schematically? The former would mean the Redskins are in trouble. SS Brandon Meriweather (sprained left knee) is expected to return soon, possibly this week, so we’ll see what impact he has.