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  4. title => "So, why exactly did the Redskins give up 38 points vs. the Vikings?"
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  6. article_body => "<p>If you're reading this post, then odds are that you had a conversation about Sunday's Redskins-Vikings game before Sunday's Redskins-Vikings game.<\/p>\n<p>And, odds are, at some point during that conversation, you and your Redskins buddies acknowledged beating the Vikings would be a difficult task, but concluded Washington had a more than real chance of doing so because Minnesota was quarterbacked by Case Keenum.<\/p>\n<p><em>Case Keenum!&nbsp;<\/em>you said, smirking to yourself.&nbsp;<em>There's no way the 'Skins should be worried about Case Keenum.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Well, no one in Burgundy and Gold was smirking following the 38-30 result at FedEx Field, a game in which Keenum tossed four touchdowns and Adam Thielen went off for eight grabs and 166 yards.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\"It was one of the worst defensive performances we've had since I've been here, in the first half,\" Jay Gruden said in his press conference, referring to the opening two quarters in which Keenum and Co. posted 28 points. \"They had big plays, play action plays, whatever they wanted.\"<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>MORE: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/redskins-cant-cool-down-red-hot-case-keenum-outgunned-vikings\" target=\"_self\">A BLOW-BY-BLOW RECAP OF THE BAD LOSS<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\"We just got our butts kicked up and down the field defensively,\" was Ryan Kerrigan's assessment, meanwhile. \"There's nothing else to it.\"<\/p>\n<p>What was most discouraging? Take your pick.<\/p>\n<p>How about the pass rush? For the first time in 32 contests, the 'Skins failed to record a sack.<\/p>\n<p>The secondary, aside from D.J. Swearinger,&nbsp;would be a fair choice, too. Thielen had three catches that went for 38 yards or more, as Josh Norman and Bashaud Breeland struggled on the outside all afternoon against him and Stefon Diggs.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, though \u2014&nbsp;even in a week-to-week league that makes as much sense as a Skip Bayless rant and doesn't have much carry over \u2014 it was very surprising to see a unit that stymied Russell Wilson and the Seahawks in Week 9 look so helpess at home.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>RELATED: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/fresh-practice-squad-maurice-harris-just-made-catch-year\" target=\"_self\">MAURICE HARRIS' CATCH IS WORTH WATCHING OVER AND OVER<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Well, surprising to most, that is. Swearinger, for one, felt the defense's entire week at practice was lackluster and was especially so&nbsp;on Friday, the last session before the loss and one where everyone needed to be sharp but simply wasn't.<\/p>\n<p>So, even after a career day, the defensive captain was largely focused on critiquing him and his teammates after their worst performance in 2017.<\/p>\n<p>\"I guess we got too high on ourselves for whatever reason... We just weren't ready to play,\" he said. \"We just gotta get better as a group and understand we gotta do the smaller things right for the bigger picture.\"<\/p>\n<p>The Vikings were happy to show the Redskins what happens when their defense doesn't show up fully focused. And unless Greg Manuksy's guys really work to correct what went wrong, the Saints, who dismantled the Bills 47-10 in Buffalo, will gladly do the same next weekend.<\/p>\n"
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Redskins

Redskins

If you're reading this post, then odds are that you had a conversation about Sunday's Redskins-Vikings game before Sunday's Redskins-Vikings game.

And, odds are, at some point during that conversation, you and your Redskins buddies acknowledged beating the Vikings would be a difficult task, but concluded Washington had a more than real chance of doing so because Minnesota was quarterbacked by Case Keenum.

Case Keenum! you said, smirking to yourself. There's no way the 'Skins should be worried about Case Keenum.

Well, no one in Burgundy and Gold was smirking following the 38-30 result at FedEx Field, a game in which Keenum tossed four touchdowns and Adam Thielen went off for eight grabs and 166 yards. 

"It was one of the worst defensive performances we've had since I've been here, in the first half," Jay Gruden said in his press conference, referring to the opening two quarters in which Keenum and Co. posted 28 points. "They had big plays, play action plays, whatever they wanted."

MORE: A BLOW-BY-BLOW RECAP OF THE BAD LOSS

"We just got our butts kicked up and down the field defensively," was Ryan Kerrigan's assessment, meanwhile. "There's nothing else to it."

What was most discouraging? Take your pick.

How about the pass rush? For the first time in 32 contests, the 'Skins failed to record a sack.

The secondary, aside from D.J. Swearinger, would be a fair choice, too. Thielen had three catches that went for 38 yards or more, as Josh Norman and Bashaud Breeland struggled on the outside all afternoon against him and Stefon Diggs.

 

Overall, though — even in a week-to-week league that makes as much sense as a Skip Bayless rant and doesn't have much carry over — it was very surprising to see a unit that stymied Russell Wilson and the Seahawks in Week 9 look so helpess at home.

RELATED: MAURICE HARRIS' CATCH IS WORTH WATCHING OVER AND OVER

Well, surprising to most, that is. Swearinger, for one, felt the defense's entire week at practice was lackluster and was especially so on Friday, the last session before the loss and one where everyone needed to be sharp but simply wasn't.

So, even after a career day, the defensive captain was largely focused on critiquing him and his teammates after their worst performance in 2017.

"I guess we got too high on ourselves for whatever reason... We just weren't ready to play," he said. "We just gotta get better as a group and understand we gotta do the smaller things right for the bigger picture."

The Vikings were happy to show the Redskins what happens when their defense doesn't show up fully focused. And unless Greg Manuksy's guys really work to correct what went wrong, the Saints, who dismantled the Bills 47-10 in Buffalo, will gladly do the same next weekend.