THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, December 19, 1994 TAG: 9412190166
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines
Even by the dismal, infamous standards they've set this season, the Washington Redskins' 17-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday was not just another defeat.
It was the first time in franchise history the Redskins went an entire season without winning a home game. It's also just the sixth time in NFL history that a team has gone 0-8 at home.
Their seventh straight loss - and second to the Buccaneers (6-9) in three weeks - was Washington's 13th this season. That's the team's most ever.
``I don't think anyone in their right mind would have imagined (not winning a home game),'' first-year coach Norv Turner said. ``That's a big deal right now. In two years, it's not going to be an issue.
``Make it an issue now. I don't really care. I mean I do care, but in two years, I'm not going to remember this year.''
He can only hope his players suffer from the same amnesia.
``It is tough when you've been to Super Bowls to come down to this,'' guard Mark Schlereth said.
``I'm numb,'' cornerback Darrell Green said. ``This is very disappointing. Week in and week out we have chances to win football games and we just don't get it done.''
``I could never have imagined us going 2-13,'' guard Ray Brown added. ``I always thought we'd be good at home because of the tremendous advantage we get from our fans.''
Only 47,315 of them showed up at RFK Stadium on Sunday - that's about 6,000 no-shows - to watch the home team uncover a new way of eluding victory.
Two weeks ago in Tampa, Bucs rookie Errict Rhett rushed for 192 yards, while the Washington rushers had just 10.
The Bucs has possession of the ball for more than 44 minutes.
Redskins quarterback Heath Shuler hit two big bombs, but little else in a performance Bucs safety later described as ``lucky.''
Sunday, the Redskins's defense pulled its linebackers close to the line of scrimmage, keyed on Rhett, and held him to 64 yards and a 2.8-yards-per-carry average. Washington, meanwhile, ground out 73 rushing yards; not great, but a definite improvement.
Washington's offense had the ball 10 minutes more Sunday than two weeks ago.
And Shuler played a far more consistent game Sunday than in his initial outing against the Bucs. He hit 17 of 35 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns.
``It's like night and day since he played in Tampa,'' opposing quarterback Craig Erickson said. ``He's come a long way.''
Yet not far enough to guide his team to a win.
``I put the blame for this one in my hands,'' Shuler said.
Actually, other hands deserve the blame far more than Shuler's.
Take wide receiver Henry Ellard. After having played to near-Pro Bowl standards all season, Ellard forfeited the chance for his second touchdown of the game when he dropped Shuler's perfectly thrown bomb at the Tampa Bay 4 on Washington's opening series of the second half.
That would gave given Washington a 21-10 lead. Instead, three plays later, the Redskins punted.
``Just a case of being wide open, but relaxing on the ball,'' Ellard explained. ``There's nothing more to it than that.''
And tight end Ethan Horton continued what for him has been a subpar season by dropping two passes and falling down while backpedaling for a third on first-and-10 from the Tampa 49 on the final drive of the game.
Three plays later, Desmond Howard dropped the ball on what would have been a difficult diving catch, and the Bucs ran out the clock.
``There were several series in the second half that took the game out of our hands,'' Shuler said.
Shuler hit running back Ricky Ervins for a 15-yard touchdown pass and 7-0 lead in the first quarter. After Tampa Bay took a 10-7 lead on Michael Husted's 42-yard field goal and Rhett's 1-yard touchdown run, Shuler capped a drive by rolling right and hitting Ellard on an 8-yard pass for a 14-10 edge.
Ellard's drop and Chip Lohmiler's missed 46-yard field goal cost Washington much-needed points on two of its first three second-half drives.
But Shuler took the blame for aborted Redskins drives in the fourth quarter. He overthrew a wide-open Brian Mitchell on a third-and-four from the Washington 21.
``I think that was the turning point of the game,'' Shuler said.
Vernon Turner returned Reggie Roby's ensuing punt 37 yards to set up Rhett's second touchdown of the game, a 3-yarder with 7:02 remaining to play that provided the winning points.
Shuler was confused by the Bucs' defense on the next series and threw long at the same moment Howard broke off his pattern short.
``I wanted to avoid a sack,'' Shuler said. ``I misread the play.
``You never expect to lose this many games in a season. Obviously, we have lost our share for the next 10 or 15 years.'' ILLUSTRATION: Associated Press color photo
Redskins kicker Chip Lohmiller, top, grabs the face mask of kick
returner Vernon Turner.
ASSOCIATED PRESS photo
Errict Rhett got 119 fewer yards than on Dec. 2, but he scored
twice, this 3-yarder the game-winner.
by CNB