The Washington Football Team needs the defense to be nearly perfect if they want to have a chance to win games. That was not the case in the first half on Sunday.
The breakdowns in the first half against the Detroit Lions in Week 10 just can’t happen. Especially when Alex Smith and the offense are struggling to score points in the red zone.
After Washington’s first drive resulted in a punt, Mathew Stafford took over deep in their own territory. But they quickly put together a 92-yard scoring drive thanks to a 55-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Marvin Hall.
On a second look, you can see how badly Fuller misread the play.
Stafford would enter the half with just 139 yards on 10-for-16 passing and two touchdowns, but it has been very easy for him and he's averaging 8.7 yards per attempt. (In fact, the Lions have a handful of drops that have hurt them.)
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Fuller has been Washington’s best player in a so-so secondary, but he was cooked on that play, committing a penalty couldn’t even stop the touchdown.
After Washington cut it to 7-3, Washington had the Lions facing a third-and-10 from just outside the red zone.
Jack Del Rio's defense showed blitz and Stafford adjusted his protection. The blitz was a bluff, but the secondary didn't get the coverage right again and it was an easy score for the Lions.
And once again it was a miscommunication in the Washington secondary and a wide-open Marvin Jones Jr.
Washington entered the half down 17-3 and in need of answers on both sides of the ball. And not to be outdone, Dustin Hopkins (who missed practice time this week with a right groin injury) missed on a 43-yard field goal attempt.
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