Lorenzo Reyes

USA TODAY

After the Washington Redskins fell flat in a 31-23 loss Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, head coach Jay Gruden ripped his team and said the group “underachieved.”

According to reporters on the scene in Glendale, Ariz., Gruden lashed out at players in the locker room, where shouting could be heard behind closed doors shortly after Washington’s defeat. The loss dropped the team to 6-5-1 and out of the current playoff picture.

“I don’t like the way we came out,” Gruden said. “I don’t like the way they had a 16-play drive down our throat to start the game. I don’t like the way our offense answered with two penalties on the first drive and having to punt. That’s not the way we want to come out for a football game, getting ready against a good team on the road. I don’t like the fact that we had two turnovers and didn’t cause any. I don’t like the fact that we lost the game.

"That’s a good football team. Hats off to Coach (Bruce) Arians and the Arizona Cardinals, but I feel like we underachieved today, and that’s very frustrating.”

With playoff implications in the balance, Washington let the Cardinals convert 10 of 16 third-down attempts and allowed Arizona to reclaim a lead three separate times in the second half. did not force a turnover, and lost the time of possession battle.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins and the offense battled and kept the team in the game, but Washington’s defense gave up far too many big plays – none more significant than receiver J.J. Nelson’s 42-yard touchdown score with 4:05 left in the game that put Arizona ahead for good.

Elsewhere, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the San Diego Chargers 28-21 and climbed into the NFC’s sixth and final playoff spot once held by Washington.

“There’s no talk about playoffs over here. We’re trying to win the next game," Gruden said. "We’re not even close to thinking about the playoffs right now. A lot is going to happen in these last four games. If we get an opportunity to play in them, great. If not, we’re going to do the best we can against Philadelphia. That’s all I know.”

Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes.

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