Is this a trend?

[sportscurmudgeon]

There is an old adage that when something happens once, it is an occurrence. When the same thing happens twice, it is a coincidence. When it happens three, times, you have a trend.

I don't believe the simplicity of that adage, but if it is true, we have a trend here and it is not a good one.

For the past couple of years, the Redskins' defense has had an annoying habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory with late-game inability to protect leads. Now consider the season to date:

Game 1: (The occurrence) Leading Dallas by 6, the defense walks onto the field with 1:51 seconds to play with Dallas at their own 19 yardline. Eleven plays later, Roy Williams was standing in the end zone with the ball in his hands and 8 seconds showing on the clock. Fortunately, the flag came out for holding - - blatantly obvious call - - on the final play or the Skins lose unless the Cowboys miss a PAT. Nonetheless, the defense allowed the opposition to march down the field - - without benefit of timeouts - - at the end of the game to put itself within 15 yards of the Skins' end zone. Unsettling...


Game 2: (The coincidence) Leading Houston by 17 points with 16 minutes left to play, the defense let the game go to OT. Even worse, leading by a touchdown with 3:16 to play in the game and again with the ball 81 yards from the Skins end zone, the team gave up the game-tying TD in an 8-play drive. Seen that before...


Game 3: (The trend?) Trailing 21-16 (still a one-score game) with 1:55 to play in the thrid quarter, the Skins' defense let the Rams hold the ball for 11 plays and over 5 minutes and kick a field goal to make the margin 8 points. OK that is still a one-score game if you also convert a 2-point try. Then, the Rams got the ball back with 8:53 to play in the game. The defense needed a turnover or a three-and-out here. Not happening... The Rams ran off 9 plays and 4:30 off the clock kicking a field goal to make it a two score game. Then the Rams got the ball back again with 3:39 to play. The only hope is to get the ball back quickly - - but the Rams held it for 1:55 (more than half the time left in the game) and gave up a final meaningless field goal. The final three drives by the Rams in the 4th quarter when the Skins needed the ball back consumed 27 plays and 11:46 on the clock. Trend... ???