Winless Washington a mess with coach, QB questions

Washington fans finally got their wish and saw firstround draft pick Dwayne Haskins Jr. take over as quarterback. Like Washington’s’ season, the result was disappointing.

Washington is 0-4 after losing to the New York Giants 24-3. Coach Jay Gruden’s job is in jeopardy and Haskins failed to provide a spark, finishing 9 of 17 for 107 yards and three interceptions, including one Jabrill Peppers returned 32 yards for a touchdown.

“I didn’t execute the way I wanted to, but the good thing about it is that it hurts, and there (are) going to be brighter days tomorrow,” said Haskins, the Ohio State product who was the No. 15 overall pick in the draft.

Washington needs that. This is its worst since going 0-5 in 2001.

Searching for a spark with Washington trailing 14-0 midway through the second quarter, Gruden benched Case Keenum and brought on Haskins to run the show after Quinton Dunbar’s second interception of the quarter gave Washington the ball at the New York 37.

For a couple of minutes, the decision looked great. Washington got a quick first down, Haskins completed a 6-yard pass to Trey Quinn for another first down, and he later scrambled 14 yards for a first-and-goal at the 1.

That’s was it. A firstdown incomplete pass, a loss of 2 yards on a run and a third-down incomplete pass forced Washington to settle for a 21-yard field goal by Dustin Hopkins.

Haskins and Washington didn’t score again, with three drives ending in interceptions, the last two by Janoris Jenkins.

Haskins does not know who will start next week. It is uncertain whether Gruden will be the coach when Washington plays host to Super Bowl champion New England.

“If I feel like he gives us the best chance to win against New England, I’ll put him in,” Gruden said of Haskins. BENCHMARKS >> Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald passed Tony Gonzalez for second on the NFL’s all-time receptions list. Fitzgerald entered the game against Seattle needing four catches to tie Gonzalez at 1,325. He tied Gonzalez with an 11-yard catch in the fourth quarter and passed him with a 13-yard catch on the next play . ... Buffalo’s Frank Gore became the fourth player to reach 15,000 yards rushing. He did it with a 41-yard run in the first half of Buffalo’s home loss to New England.