Redskins Shooting Blanks

Three games. No touchdowns. Record futility. Why? It's not as easy as most want to make it.

The Redskins haven't scored a touchdown in over 13 quarters of professional football. Think about that.

That's more than three games.

For the first time in their long and storied tradition, the Redskins organization has gone three consecutive games without more than a field goal per Andrew Siciliano of NFL Network.

Redskins have now gone 3 straight games without a TD for the first time in their 88-year history.

— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) November 3, 2019

The NFL's research department went far back as well but not as deep as Siciliano.

The #Redskins have gone 3 straight games without scoring any type of TD (their only such streak since 1950).#WASvsBUF

— NFL Research (@NFLPlus) November 3, 2019

Either way, it's not good. Pathetic might be a way to describe it.

The question is why and the answer(s) as usual are complicated.

To boil it down further.

Quarterback:

No matter who the quarterback has been, they've been limited and far from special. That's the number one problem and I don't know how anybody can dispute it.

Dwayne Haskins is a rookie and looked completely unprepared in relief of Case Keenum at halftime in Minnesota two weeks ago. He looked better and more prepared against Buffalo, but it was a limited attack for many reasons.

Keenum, who was durable during his last two NFL seasons, making 31 of 32 starts - has apparently suffered from "being a Redskins quarterback disease" or he's been hanging around Colt McCoy way too often.

Sorry, that's rude but durability is a huge factor at the quarterback position and Keenum has now come out early in two starts and was inactive Sunday in Buffalo, while in concussion protocol.

McCoy started one game (Jay Gruden's final game as head coach) and was dreadful.

Injuries:

Washington has been without Jordan Reed all year (concussion), Chris Thompson for the entire stretch that they have been without a touchdown (San Francisco, Minnesota, Buffalo), Vernon Davis for the last five games, Trent Williams is kind of here but with one foot out the door and Derrius Guice has played in one game.

Brandon Scherff and Chase Roullier missed some time as well, along with both planned starting quarterbacks being unable to get out of the trainer's room.

Opponents:

Since their first win, the Redskins were shut-out by a ferocious San Francisco defense in a monsoon of rain. They were able to get nine points in each loss on the road to Minnesota and Buffalo.

Many, will unfairly blame this on the focus by Bill Callahan on the running game. That's incorrect.

The 49ers are the best team in the NFL through week nine in yards allowed per game at 241.0. The Bills are third at 296.3 and the Vikings are seventh in the league at 320.9.

San Francisco is No. 2 in points per game allowed at 12.8, the Bills are No. 3 in the NFL at 16.4 and the Vikings are No. 4 at 17.6

Think about that. And keep blaming it on the run, while you're at it.

The reality is this: A very good offense would be challenged significantly against that murderers' row. Never mind, a terrible offense missing half of their starters and playing two of those three opponents on the road with a rookie quarterback.