After an up and down season, Washington visited San Francisco for a season finale matching a team on the rise with a team in the decline. With a 27-24 loss to the 49ers, the Redskins left little doubt which team was which.

The Redskins went down early, allowing University of Maryland alum Shaun Hill and the 49ers offense to march down the field for an easy first score. After the defense tightened for the remainder of the first half, the offense capitalized on some solid Clinton Portis and Jason Campbell runs, posting an unheard of 17 points in the second quarter. That was the last thing Redskins fans had to cheer about in 2008.

The defense again loosened, allowing 20 points from the 49ers in the second half. True to form, the Redskins gave their fans a false sense of hope for old time’s sake, tying the game at 24 with just over a minute remaining. But if you know this Redskins team, you know that one minute is far too long for an opponent against the Redskins bend and break “prevent” defense. As expected, Shaun Hill moved the team down the field with the calm of poise of a number 16 wearing the Niners jersey. And when the Joe Nedney field goal sailed through the uprights ending the game, it was as if the the last bit of the band-aid had been torn off — mercifully putting an end to a painful season.

After a surprising 6-2 start, the Redskins finished 2008 losing 6 of their last 8 games ending up in the basement of the NFC East. Rookie coach Jim Zorn could have been the first Washington first-year coach since George Allen to finish with a winning record, but 8-8 will have to suffice While executive Vinny Cerrato promised that Zorn would keep his job, he indicated that other changes might be on their way. Could that include the firing of himself? One can only dream.

As Jason Campbell put it after the game, ”We had an opportunity to try to win the division, and an opportunity to get a home game for the playoffs. We let it all slip away, and it’s tough, it’s tough.”

Yes it is, Jason. Yes it is.