2 suspensions hobble 'Skins; Offense shaky to begin with.

• Position: SPORTS

Byline: Rich Garven

FOXBORO - Although they've shown some signs of life lately, the Redskins have generally been ailing this season when it comes to offense.

The NFC East cellar-dwellers have averaged a solid 22 points in their last three games, not that it helped their ledger as they lost twice to drop to 4-8. That boosted their season average to 16.8, which ranks a not-so-good 27th in the league.

Now the Redskins will be without two of their best offensive players when they face the Patriots, who have had little problem putting points on the board.

On Tuesday, the league suspended left tackle Trent Williams and tight end Fred Davis four games each for failing multiple drug tests, reportedly for marijuana.

"You're disappointed in that and they've got to pay the consequences," coach Mike Shanahan, in his second season in Washington, said yesterday. "Not only do they have to pay the consequences, but our team pays the consequences.

"You want your people to be accountable and they made a mistake and they addressed our football team and told them how disappointed they were. I told them how disappointed I was in them for making that decision, but that's basically over now and it was addressed."

Williams, the fourth overall pick in the 2010 draft, had been on a roll lately, which coincided with the Redskins' uptick in scoring. Davis, a fourth-year pro, leads the team in receptions (59) and receiving yards (796) and...