Norman: Skins DBs were ‘like trash’ in loss

LANDOVER, MD. » Josh Norman did not mince words when assessing how poorly he and other Washington Redskins defensive backs performed in a 38-30 loss to Case Keenum and the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

“We played like trash in the secondary,” Norman said. “We really did.”

Right from the start, too. On Minnesota’s third offensive play, wideout Stefon Diggs got Norman to bite on an out-and-up route and wound up grabbing a 51-yard pass from Keenum that set up a touchdown.

Then, in the third quarter, Norman was beaten by Adam Thielen on a 49-yarder, a play that led to another TD .

“Just didn’t have it today. We really didn’t. We wasn’t on,” Norman said. “And I don’t know what it was. Something was going around, I guess.”

Redskins coach Jay Gruden agreed with that view of things.

Gruden lamented big gains given up by Norman and the other starting cornerback, Bashaud Breeland.

He also was concerned about the lack of a pass rush: Keenum was not sacked once.

All in all, the sort of showing that allows a team that scored 30 points to figure out a way to lose and drop to 4-5 on the season.

“That was one of the worst defensive performances we’ve had since I’ve been here, in the first half . ... It was whatever they wanted, basically,” Gruden said. “They had big plays. They had running plays. They had play-action. They did whatever they wanted.”

The NFC North-leading Vikings (7-2) were 8 for 12 on third downs.

And they were 5 for 5 in the red zone.