You couldn’t have had a worse weekend than the Washington Redskins. Try this on for size:

En route to their game in Minneapolis against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, their team buses collided. Running back Silas Redd suffered back spasms and missed the game and coach Jay Gruden suffered a strained neck.

The team was met by protesters, many of them Native Americans, who hate the team’s nickname and consider it offensive. Then reports surfaced that players were unhappy with quarterback Robert Griffin III. And then the Redskins lost 29-26 in RGIII’s return from a dislocated ankle, squandering three leads.

Elsewhere in the NFL: It’s Tom Brady 11, Peyton Manning 5 in head-to-head matchups through the years after the New England Patriots clobbered the Denver Broncos 43-21. … Ben Roethlisberger threw six touchdown passes for the second consecutive game as the Pittsburgh Steelers drilled the Baltimore Ravens 43-23. … The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Houston Texans 31-21 but lost quarterback Nick Foles (broken collarbone) for up to eight weeks. … The San Diego Chargers continued their slump, absorbing a 37-0 beating from the Miami Dolphins. Dolphins coach Joe Philbin missed two days of practice last week to be with his father, who died at 93. He was awarded the game ball. … The Arizona Cardinals improved to an NFL-best 7-1 with a 28-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

NASCAR

Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski got into a fistfight on pit road after the race at Texas Motor Speedway won by Jimmie Johnson. NASCAR promised to hand down punishment this week.

BASEBALL

The Minnesota Twins offered their manager’s job to Paul Molitor. He’s expected to accept. The Chicago Cubs on Monday will introduce Joe Maddon as their new manager.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

The Associated Press poll has been rendered useless in light of the College Football Playoff rankings that come out Tuesday night. Those rankings determine the four teams in line for the first-ever playoffs. Mississippi State will remain No. 1.

TODAY’S QUESTION

Did you have a better or worse weekend than the Redskins?

Answers in the comment box, please.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .