It takes no great insight or genius on sports to realize what happened to the Browns in Washington: They forgot what it takes to win. It's not like they had that down this season anyway. I mean, a letdown of a season is in full bloom, after six games. So let's rephrase this way: The Browns forgot what they did against New York to win.

Everyone has to be precise, give their all, pay attention to detail and do their job. There were many culprits against Washington, but this one goes to the offense. And on the offensive side, Braylon Edwards was brutal, Derek Anderson every bit as brutal. This loss, when Anderson threw for 40 yards the first three quarters and was 3-for-14 the first half, leads to the metaphysical question: What will it take for Brady Quinn to get into the game?

Before we get to the offense, let's be blunt about something else: The run defense remains abysmal. Say what you will about Washington scoring just 14 points and Eric Wright forcing that late fumble, when a team allows a back to run for 175 yards its chances of winning are slim. That the Browns had a chance was amazing. Through six games, that promised improvement in the run defense is as big a mirage as the prime-time hopes the NFL gave the Browns this season.

As for Edwards, once again he was a bumbling mistake waiting to happen. He made some catches late, but by the time he did that he had already dropped four passes. He started the game with a league-high seven. He now has 11. If Edwards wants the desired stardom he craves, he needs to play like a star. His drops killed the Browns in the first half. He was outfought for the ball, and he dropped others. Then, in the final drive he missed a blitz and was not looking at a second-down pass Anderson threw his way. On third down, it looked like Anderson thought he was going to keep going on a turn-in, and he stopped. Bottom line: A Pro Bowler makes those big plays. A Pro Bowler does not drop four passes in a single game. Edwards let the team down.

Edwards actually said that the Browns "might have underestimated the Redskins." Give him credit for standing up and addressing the media after a tough loss and accepting his responsibility, but the question must be asked: What have the Browns done to earn the right to "underestimate" anyone?

As for Anderson, he might have been more responsible for the loss than Edwards. Yes, dropped passes hurt, but Anderson often was wild high and long and all over the place. He looked like a guy pressing, not a guy who had found his confidence. It may be time for Quinn. In fact, with the season at stake, it may have been time for Quinn in the third quarter in Washington.

And now, Kellen Winslow has gone public (to the Plain Dealer) with the fact that it was a staph infection that kept him in the hospital and out of the Giants game, and he put the finger of anger on the team, saying the team said publicly he (Winslow) wanted it private and it was the team that wanted things secret. This might lead to what is called a "credibility problem." Winslow was angry, about the infection, about the way it was stated publicly and about the fact he had played through pain and problems most would never have accepted amd he got yet another staph infection and GM Phil Savage (Winslow said) did not call him in the hospital.

Quite simply, this seems like a team in some serious, serious trouble. And all this six days after we all thought the ship had been righted.

Is it realistic for the Browns to make something of this season? You have to say that anything can happen, and a win in Jackonville changes the outlook. But with the Browns three games back of Pittsburgh and 10 to go, this one appears close to being lost. After six games. The Browns absolutely had to follow the Giants win with another win, and they played terribly, like they were still half-asleep. As one ex-player said after the Giants win: "If they have heart, they'll follow with a win."