41.   Norv Turner will have no excuses this time if his Washington Redskins team, the favorite in the suddenly diluted NFC East, fails to advance to postseason.

42.   On four previous occasions the team failed to qualify for the playoffs in consecutive seasons.

43.   On the previous three occasions the U.S. team failed to win in non-boycotted Games, it was because the baton was dropped and the team was disqualified.

44.   Nowhere, however, has the team failed worse than in the draft.

45.   Opinions on why the team fails to draw fans to the ballpark are varied.

46.   Over the winter and through the spring, we Braves-watchers sat around and wondered how this team could fail to finish first.

47.   Other teams have also failed to expend the necessary effort, notably the Bulls in the opening game.

48.   Pete Carroll of the New England Patriots and Ray Rhodes of the Green Bay Packers were dismissed after their teams failed to reach the playoffs.

49.   Schottenheimer said for probably the eighth time this season that his team failed to make big plays when they were needed.