ASHBURN, Va. — For the Washington Redskins, Sunday’s loss at Indianapolis was just the backdrop for coach Jay Gruden to test his controversial decision to start former third-string quarterback Colt McCoy and bench 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year/face of the franchise Robert Griffin III.

“I was impressed with his performance on the whole,” Gruden said after McCoy sparkled in the second half of the 49-27 defeat that ensured the Redskins’ ninth losing season during Dan Snyder’s 16 years of ownership. “He came back and gave us a chance.”

Gruden was referring to a 92-yard drive after the team was, in his words, “sleep walking.”

Like Griffin during the previous three games, McCoy didn’t get much protection and was sacked six times. One came when Gruden went for it on fourth-and-inches at his own 41-yard line midway through the third quarter. Tight end Logan Paulsen, allegedly a blocking specialist, allowed linebacker Erik Walden a clean shot at McCoy, whose fumble was returned by linebacker D’Qwell Jackson for a touchdown that made it 35-17.

Unlike Griffin, McCoy threw for 392 yards, three touchdowns and had a 113.1 passer rating.

Gruden made it clear he didn’t blame McCoy for the sacks, or even the strip sack/touchdown.

“I thought we had to go for it there,” explained Gruden, who blamed four of the six sacks on the tight ends and the backs rather than the offensive line. “Originally I had a nice inside power play called and then when they took the timeout, I saw they had a guy playing bump and run on (deep threat) DeSean (Jackson) … so I decided on a play-action pass and launch it to DeSean and try to get it. I got a little greedy … and we blew the protection.”

Looking at the chronology of the season, after McCoy-directed victories over Tennessee and Dallas, the Redskins blew their playoff chances with four straight defeats and are now 3-9 with little to play for in December except to test personnel. Including, or especially, at quarterback.

Other than replacing guards Chris Chester and Shawn Lauvao with untested rookie Spencer Long and the inexperienced Josh LeRibeus or putting shaky rookie Morgan Moses back in Williams’ place again after a disastrous outing in Week 12 at San Francisco, Gruden can’t really experiment with youth for the final four games because the kids are already playing.

Rookie Trent Murphy and Bashaud Breeland are starting at outside linebacker and cornerback, respectively. Second-year man David Amerson and inside linebacker Keenan Robinson are both full-time regulars for the first time. The Redskins don’t have a defensive lineman under 26 to try. What’s more, safety Ryan Clark (35), defensive end Jason Hatcher (32), Chester (31), safety Brandon Meriweather (30) and center Lichtensteiger (29) are Washington’s only starters over 28.

Next up for Washington is a home game with St. Louis (5-7), which crushed Oakland 52-0 on Sunday. Then comes the showdown for the division cellar at the New York Giants (3-9) and visits from Philadelphia (9-3) and Dallas (8-4), which are battling for the NFC East title.

So a second straight 3-13 record is quite possible, which would give the Redskins their worst consecutive seasons since John F. Kennedy was a rookie President. At this point, a 5-11 finish, which Steve Spurrier famously described as “not too good” before becoming the fourth of Snyder’s seven ex-coaches, would exceed expectations.

However, assuming that Gruden, who has a five-year contract, isn’t going anywhere, this month will be about these questions:

–Who deserves to be invited to suit up next summer in Richmond, given that McCoy, Clark, Meriweather and disappointing defensive end Jarvis Jenkins are the only current starters who are unsigned for 2015?

–Can McCoy — who starts again against the Rams — play well enough to justify the Redskins not taking a quarterback with their first first-round draft? This would allow them to fill much needed help on the offensive line, defensive line or at safety instead.

–Will coordinator Jim Haslett’s defense stabilized enough during the final four games to justify his return for a sixth season.

Notes: Defensive end Kedric Golston sprained his back in warmup before the Colts’ game, has plantar fasciiitis and likely won’t face the Rams. … Safety S Brandon Meriweather (toe) is questionable for St. Louis. … Cornerback Chase Minnifield (concussion) is in the NFL’s protocol program.

REPORT CARD VS. COLTS

–PASSING OFFENSE: B plus — Quarterback Colt McCoy’s first half was lousy. His second half was super. McCoy posted a 113.1 passer rating with 392 yards and three touchdowns but was sacked six times. One of those sacks caused a fumble that was returned for a Colts touchdown. Former No. 1 receiver Santana Moss had his first three catches of the year while third receiver Andre Roberts had a 24-yard grab. Third-down back Roy Helu and blocking tight end Logan Paulsen (who was guilty of a missed block on the sack/strip touchdown for the Colts) joined Jackson in recording touchdown receptions. Coach Jay Gruden blamed the backs and tight ends for four of the six sacks. Tackles Trent Williams and Tom Compton each surrendered one.

–RUSHING OFFENSE: C — It can’t be a coincidence that Alfred Morris’ production sank with the change in quarterbacks. The 2013 Pro Bowl running back has always been more effective when the threat of Griffin’s running ability is in the lineup. A week after averaging 6.0 yards per carry while racking up a season-high 125 yards, Morris gained just 67 yards on 16 carries, a 33 percent drop in yards per carry. Morris did have a 21-yard touchdown called back just before Helu’s touchdown because of a holding penalty on Jackson. That the Redskins managed just three points from turnovers that gave them the ball at the Indianapolis 15, 41 and 45 was shameful.

–PASS DEFENSE: F — The Colts didn’t have their usual tight end or left guard, but after the Redskins forced turnovers on the first two series, they were dissected every which by Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck, who needed just 19 completions and 27 attempts to throw for 370 yards and five touchdowns. He would’ve had six scores and 422 yards if yet another wide-open target hadn’t dropped a sure touchdown. Redskins defensive backs often lost track of Colts tight end Coby Fleener and receiver Donte Moncrief, who each scored twice while combining for a ridiculous 261 yards on just seven catches. Holding starting receivers T.Y. Hilton and Reggie Wayne to nine catches, 93 yards and a touchdown looks a triumph by comparison. Outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan had a sack and strip on Luck with defensive end Jason Hatcher recovering the fumble, but those takeaways were no match for the shambles in the secondary.

–RUSH DEFENSE: D — The Redskins held Colts starting running back Trent Richardson to just 12 yards on eight carries. However, they couldn’t stop backup Daniel Herron, who ran eight times for 88 yards including a 49-yard touchdown on which Brown and Clark missed tackles and then no one could catch the back. Luck ran four times for 20 yards and Moncrief gained six on an end-around. That inside linebackers Riley and Keenan Robinson combined for just four tackles tells the tale of a rare rough day for Washington in this aspect.

–SPECIAL TEAMS: B minus — Punter Tress Way continued to make his case for the Pro Bowl, averaging 46.5 yards gross and 41.0 net on six punts, three of which he placed inside the Indianapolis 10. Kicker Kai Forbath hit his two short field goal attempts. Andre Roberts was fine returning punts, not good returning kickoffs. The coverage units were excellent covering punts but allowed Joe Cribbs to average 31.2 yards on five kickoff returns.

–COACHING: D — The Redskins probably weren’t going to beat the Colts no matter what, but they should have been able to take better advantage of three takeaways in Indianapolis territory. McCoy and the offense should have played better in the first half and shouldn’t have surrendered six sacks. The defense couldn’t cover anyone and that’s not because of injuries. While the players have to shoulder much of the blame, Gruden and defensive coordinator Jim Haslett also have to take a large measure of responsibility.