Effort leaves Redskins veterans vexed

The magnitude of the Washington Redskins’ one-sided home loss Monday night - a 45-12 debacle against the New York Giants - was more than a decade in the making.

The horrid performance - coming after five games in which the Redskins outscored likely wild-card teams Denver and Dallas, playoff qualifier Philadelphia, NFC South champion New Orleans and also-ran Oakland 121-97 - left even Washington’s veterans wondering whether the team is truly as bad as its 4-10 record.

Cornerback DeAngelo Hall said the players flunked their audition for Bruce Allen, who was named general manager just four days earlier.

“If he looks at what he saw today, he’ll scrap this whole thing,” Hall said.

In terms of margin of defeat, it was the worst home loss since a 45-10 stumble against San Francisco on Sept. 14, 1998. Phillip Daniels said Monday’s loss was worse than the 52-7 rout at eventual AFC champion New England in 2007.

“Patriots are not a division game, and we were at their house,” the defensive end said. “This is the worst.”

Adding to the embarrassment was that the loss came on “Monday Night Football” with players around the league watching. There’s something about the national microscope that makes the Redskins wilt.

Washington is 0-6 under second-year coach Jim Zorn in night games - losses to Dallas, the Giants, Pittsburgh and Baltimore last year and Philadelphia and the Giants this year, all by an average of 14.5 points. Washington plays at night again Sunday against the visiting Cowboys.

“The pressure that comes with playing on the big stage, maybe guys can’t handle that part of it,” linebacker London Fletcher said. “It’s just very embarrassing.”

Carter to play with injury

Zorn said defensive end Andre Carter (torn biceps) will play against Dallas. Carter, who was hurt against the Giants, will follow the example of Daniels, who has played the past nine games with a similar injury. Carter has not missed a game during his four seasons with Washington.

Carter, who had 10 sacks in the previous nine games, didn’t have even a hurry Monday. The Redskins sacked Eli Manning just twice.

“Nobody gets a hall pass as far as having a bad day,” Carter said.

Zorn said tackle Stephon Heyer, who reinjured his knee in the third quarter, is questionable for Dallas. Heyer was limited last Wednesday and didn’t practice Thursday or Friday. Will Robinson, who replaced Heyer on Monday, performed like the neophyte he is; he became the 11th offensive lineman to play for the Redskins this season.

Quarterback Jason Campbell (sprained left shoulder) and receiver Devin Thomas (sprained right ankle) should be ready for the Dallas game.

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