Redskins can’t finish off Eagles

PHILADELPHIA | For one stretch of the Washington Redskins’ miserable season, they suffered from an inability to do anything in the first half. During another losing streak, the culprit was allowing big plays. And early in the year, the Redskins were allergic to the end zone.

Another characteristic can be added to this season’s obituary: The Redskins can’t hold a fourth-quarter lead.

Up eight points with just under 12 minutes remaining Sunday and in position to win at Lincoln Financial Field for the third consecutive time, the Redskins allowed the Philadelphia Eagles to dominate down the stretch. Philadelphia locked up a 27-24 victory on David Akers’ 32-yard field goal with 1:48 remaining.

The Redskins (3-8), meanwhile, lost a franchise record-tying ninth straight road game.

“They’re hard [losses] because I think we prepare well and our players are doing what we ask them to do, and to come out on the short end of it, it’s a very difficult emotion to have to come speak and make sense of it,” coach Jim Zorn said. “It’s hard to have any words, really.”

After squandering a fourth-quarter lead for the second week in a row, the players were similarly perplexed.

“We’ve played 90 percent of these games [well], but it’s the remaining 10 percent that we’re failing ourselves,” linebacker Brian Orakpo said.

Added running back Rock Cartwright: “Anytime you lose it’s the same feeling, especially when you go out and play hard like we did and play decent football like we did.”

The decent things included the longest receptions of their careers by Devin Thomas (35 yards) and Fred Davis (29 yards), Justin Tryon’s first career interception, 12 tackles by London Fletcher and several solid throws by Jason Campbell (22-for-37 for 231 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions).

But those not-so-decent things again cost the Redskins. They committed seven penalties, Campbell’s two interceptions turned into two Philadelphia field goals, LaRon Landry missed a tackle on Jason Avant’s 46-yard catch and the defense - forced to play without defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth for the second consecutive week - allowed 123 rushing yards.

The Redskins reached 20 points and scored three offensive touchdowns for only the second time this season, and they led 24-16 with 11:42 remaining after Tryon’s interception set up a short Shaun Suisham field goal.

Then Philadelphia went to work.

The Eagles drove 90 yards on 10 plays to tie the score with 7:24 remaining on Eldra Buckley’s 1-yard touchdown and LeSean McCoy’s two-point conversion.

The Redskins ran four plays and punted, setting up the Eagles’ winning drive.

Philadelphia drove 66 yards on nine plays before Akers kicked his fourth field goal of the day. The Eagles used six runs and three passes to move downfield while also burning the clock. And rookie Jeremy Maclin made the big play, a 35-yard reception against Carlos Rogers.

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