Thursday was a Thanksgiving to forget for the Washington secondary.
"Frustrating as hell, man. We lost two games in a row because of the defense," safety D.J. Swearinger said after the game. "Ain't no damn offense, man. Defense! We lost the game. We lost the game two weeks in a row on defense."
"When you got teams that can play with you? You gotta prepare. You gotta tackle. You gotta do the simple things right. If you don't do the simple things right, you gonna get embarrassed on national TV," Swearinger said.
The Redskins defense allowed Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott to throw for 289 yards on 31 attempts and two touchdowns, with 180 yards coming from Amari Cooper.
The #Redskins' secondary has failed them in this second half. Amari Cooper just scored a 90-yard TD. Awful missed tackle by Fabian Moreau and HaHa Clinton Dix took a bad angle again.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) November 22, 2018On Friday, safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix tweeted his disappointment in his performance.
Watched the film 10x from last night. No excuses for my play. I know who I am and what I capable of.
— Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (@haha_cd6) November 23, 2018Just look deep in the mirror and check ya self.
— Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (@haha_cd6) November 23, 2018Out here embarrassing my ppl on national tv. Dey gone sell me out soon as I walk in da house. -- #thankful #Doe
— Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (@haha_cd6) November 23, 2018Redskins corner Quinton Dunbar, who has been dealing with a leg/nerve injury for several weeks, returned to the field after missing two weeks and struggled to stay with the Dallas receivers.
Quinton Dunbar fell down while being beaten inside by Aamari Cooper for the first down. Also notable from that 40-yard TD? Dunbar is not close to healthy. Very obvious watching him try to run after Cooper. #Redskins
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) November 22, 2018Head coach Jay Gruden said Dunbar got worse as the game went and the Redskins "don't really to know what to do with that injury because he felt fine and then obviously wasn't," per 106.7 The Fan Redskins reporter Craig Hoffman.
"This is a unique deal when you are talking about the nerves," Gruden said.
The 31 points Dallas scored marked just third time the Redskins defense has allowed more than 24 points in a game, but marked their third loss in four weeks.
"We don't get no damn respect," Swearinger said. "I see why we get disrespected, ya know? Cause we don't win the big games. We gotta win the big games."
After a two-game skid erased their lead in the division, Washington has five games remaining – including three divisional games. So it is only "big games" from here on for the Redskins.
"The only way you win the big game is you prepare for the big game and that's every day," Swearinger said. "And that's gotta be in your heart."
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