The offense isn’t good enough either, at least not while it ranks 31st in red zone scoring with touchdowns on just 43.8 percent of its trips.

he Redskins’ average of 25.2 points per game is formidable, but deficiencies on the injury-depleted offensive line, which Arizona exploited in its 31-23 victory Sunday, will embolden upcoming opponents. Washington’s offense can appear gaudy, but it’s not good enough to overcome the team’s defensive free fall.

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By giving up 31 points in back-to-back losses, the team has proven that opposing offenses have nothing to fear. The Cowboys and Cardinals showed once more that the Redskins can’t stop the run in crucial situations and are susceptible to explosive passing plays. Third-down defense is the real zinger. Washington allowed Arizona to convert 10 of 16 tries.

How fearless are opponents against the Redskins’ defensive line? The Cardinals ran on fourth-and-1 from their own 34 leading just 24-23. Nobody does that, because a stop would have given Washington prime field goal position with four minutes left. Naturally, Arizona ran 14 yards for a first down. Less than a minute later, the Cardinals scored on a 42-yard pass to seal the victory.

Coach Jay Gruden may have suffered a postgame locker room meltdown, yelling at the team so loudly that reporters could hear him through a wall, because he knows nothing will change in the final weeks.

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It’s not about effort. It’s about talented players and coaches. The Redskins don’t have enough of either on defense.

The team has too many defensive needs to fill in one offseason. Replacing two tackles, two safeties and an inside linebacker would be a start. That’s almost half the starting defense. Cornerback Josh Norman and linebacker Ryan Kerrigan are the only true keepers.

A serious discussion on whether to keep coordinator Joe Barry is needed. It’s fair to blame players for not executing, but too often they’re not in the right scheme, either.

The Redskins are playing a fool’s-gold game. They’re good enough to enter December as a playoff contender, but they’ll exit quickly if they make it in January.

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There’s only one thing the Redskins can do to give themselves a chance — release the fury. Gamble everything on blitzes and hope cornerbacks Bashaud Breeland and Norman can survive. Otherwise, the Redskins will likely fade from contention before they can even make the playoffs.

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