It may have been optimistic to consider the Washington Redskins as favorites to repeat as NFC East champions, considering that they had a suspect defense and star quarterback Robert Griffin III was recovering from a torn ACL. But did anyone think that it could get this bad?
Already 3-9 on the season and losers of four straight games, the Redskins trail the Kansas City Chiefs, 38-10, at halftime in Washington. Down 31-0 at one point, Griffin led his team on a touchdown drive ending in an impressive catch by tight end Logan Paulsen, but Quintin Demps of the Chiefs returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown.
It was the second special teams touchdown of the half by Kansas City, with Dexter McCluster returning a punt 74 yards in the second quarter to go up 31 points. McCluster has 158 punt return yards, while Demps has 123 yards on two kickoff returns.
Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith is 10-of-13 for 108 yards and two touchdowns as Kansas City seems like a virtual lock to end its three-game losing streak. The Chiefs started 9-0 on the year but questions about the "legitimacy" of their record arose after three losses in a row. They have answered some of those questions with a dominating half, but many will still say that the Redskins are one of the worst teams in the NFL.
Griffin has struggled mightily this year, especially compared to how impressive he looked during his rookie season. Griffin is 11-of-18 for 137 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He had five interceptions and 12 fumbles as a rookie, but already has 12 interceptions and 11 fumbles in 2013.
That's only part of a problem in Washington, where the defense has allowed at least 24 points in nine straight games, the longest such streak in the NFL. And we still have one more half left to go.
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