The Washington Redskins ended the season with a 19-10 loss to the New York Giants, squandering a chance to reach the postseason in the final week of the season. Here is a look at the season and what’s next:

Grade: C+

Season summary: The Redskins blew a chance to make the postseason for a second consecutive season but instead will reflect on a handful of games, including the finale, that will haunt them all offseason. They’re good enough to hang with the big boys, but a lot of work remains in order to beat them consistently. The positive to the season is that Washington finished with a winning record (8-7-1) for a second consecutive year since 1996-97. For a franchise that finished last eight times between 2004 and 2014, that’s progress. But they also wasted an excellent offense, thanks to a defense that was either not talented, not coached well enough or both. To take that next step, Washington must invest more, and wiser, defensively. The Redskins’ passing attack flourished, especially when the team remained committed to the run and kept defenses off-balance. The offense excelled (aside from the red zone, that is) partly because of the talent and partly because of quarterback Kirk Cousins' growth. He missed some throws in key spots, but he also kept the offense out of negative situations with his decision-making and his deep knowledge of the protection. The Redskins’ rookie class didn’t contribute nearly enough, though the team did find a sturdy back in undrafted free agent Rob Kelley. The Redskins can look back at a handful of games that they could have easily won with another completion or one more defensive stop (or a made field goal). But their record reflected the sort of team they are.

Biggest draft need: Defensive line. Actually, you can probably pick a handful of spots, but it makes sense to start up front, because that’s where it always begins. The Redskins have needed to address this area for a few years but haven’t done so adequately enough. General manager Scot McCloughan is a major proponent of taking the best player available, but with so many defensive needs -- inside linebacker and safety also will be on their list -- they should have options.

Key offseason questions

Will they keep Kirk Cousins? Cousins played under the franchise tag this season so the Redskins have another decision to make this offseason: sign him to a long-term deal or place him on the tag once more at a cost of $24 million. The Redskins will have approximately $70 million in cap space. The hard part has been assessing how much he is worth. Cousins improved in many aspects this season and has thrown for a club-record yardage total each of his first two years as the full-time starter. But the Redskins' desire has been about wanting to keep him but also not sacrificing their ability to build a strong 53-man roster. Part of Cousins’ success stems from having excellent talent around him, from a line that protects well to receivers who make plays. But the other aspect of this: If not Cousins, then who? They have Colt McCoy, who knows this offense well and feels he has improved -- but will durability be a factor? Rookie Nate Sudfeld did not play this summer like a guy ready for a bigger role in his second year. Will there be any free-agent options or anyone in the draft who can still help Washington remain a dangerous offense? That’s the gamble.

Is Joe Barry’s job safe? The Redskins’ defensive coordinator has been lauded for his energy and upbeat nature, by coach Jay Gruden and by players (privately as well). Yes, that does matter. However, it’s his signature on the defense, and in two years his unit has struggled overall. There have been some good games, usually ones in which they caused turnovers. But overall they haven’t stopped the run, and they give up too many easy completions in crucial situations. Is that on him or the talent? You can’t always just blame one side or the other, but it’s often the coach who loses out in that scenario. But the Redskins also haven’t invested well in defense, and he has been forced to use patchwork solutions at too many areas. Consider this: A defense that was bad last season added no full-time starters through the draft. The organization needs to do a better job providing help, and it will be their primary focus this offseason, though not the only one. In the past two years combined, the Redskins rank among the worst six teams in yards per play, yards per game and third-down conversions and are at the bottom in yards per carry allowed.

Will they keep either Pierre Garcon or DeSean Jackson? Both receivers are free agents, and both will command a good chunk of change because they have remained productive. While both remain critical to what the Redskins do, the team has privately said they’re not keeping both. Not after investing a first-round pick in Josh Doctson last spring. If he’s healthy, he’ll play. The early word is that Jackson will be looking for a few million more than Garcon, who probably will seek a deal around $9 million per year. Jackson still is one of the most dangerous downfield weapons in the game. But at 30 and weighing just 175 pounds, will he remain durable? Does he have a stronger desire to return to his native California or return to the Eagles? Garcon is not as flashy as Jackson, nor does he create space for others the way Jackson does. But he’s an excellent route-runner who makes tough catches and fits the culture they want. Garcon excels in a lot of subtle plays that matter quite a bit, from blocking to pivotal third-down grabs or catches in traffic.