

(By John McDonnell/The Washington Post)

Maybe it was the 1-5 start. Maybe it was the way the Cowboys and Eagles pushed four games ahead of the Redskins in the standings. Maybe it was Kirk Cousins, slinging balls toward every Cardinals defender he could find. Maybe it was Jay Gruden’s blank postgame stare. But something about Sunday’s loss had the Redskins media contingent sinking into the throes of existential despair.

“The big picture is so unbelievably miserable,” Trevor Matich said on Comcast SportsNet’s postgame show, and “unbelievably miserable” isn’t really something you’re supposed to associate with following a sports team.

“Obviously the guys are despondent, and rightfully so,” Chick Hernandez said the same program. “Now 1-5 on the season. Fellas, how long have we been together?” he asked, turning to Matich and Brian Mitchell. “How many years have we worked together? Eleven?

“We’ve been through this so many times. We talked about it in the pregame show, about the culture in that locker room. We had really one good season there a couple of years ago, a seven-game win streak and the playoffs. Such a tease. People always ask us, ‘Well, it must be difficult to do a show like that after a loss.’ We’re used to it. It’s the SAME DAMN THING every freaking year. And it’s a circus. And it’s ridiculous.”

.@chickatcsn is finally losing it. We all feel the same way. (cc @dcsportsbog) https://t.co/2P3NIR1gcy — Chris Mottram (@ChrisMottram) October 13, 2014

And it wasn’t just the television guys. People who cover this team on radio, in print and online were asking deeper, soul-rending questions, questions that reach a far rawer place than “who will start at cornerback next week.”

Honestly, not sure how fans keep hanging in there with this team. They're quite lucky ur loyal. And that others created a legacy — John Keim (@john_keim) October 13, 2014

My record calling redskins games in the @ESPNRadio980 booth will now drop to 4-18. So bad. Wow. Such a bummer. — Chris Cooley (@thecooleyzone) October 12, 2014

This #Redskins team is what it is.. A very bad team with little to no depth.. And, now, no confidence.. Embarrassing.. #RedskinsTalk — Rob Carlin (@RobCarlinNBCS) October 13, 2014

Five years of this people. Lots of sampling done in this lab. My lab jacket is dirty and I'm out of clean flasks. I've seen what I need to. — Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) October 12, 2014

I've seen this show so many times. With one exception, it ended horribly for the hometown lads. — Jason Reid (@JReidESPN) October 13, 2014

Biggest problem is that there are so many things to fix, by the time they fix 'em, assuming they can, other stuff is gonna break. Ugh. — Jason Reid (@JReidESPN) October 13, 2014

#Redskins have thought they were "close" to something for a long time. Won't turn it around till they realize they're close to nothing. — Burgundy Blog (@BurgundyBlog) October 13, 2014