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| Mike Evans and the Buccaneers capitalize on Redskins’ mistakes in 27-7 victory | Mike Evans and the Buccaneers capitalize on Redskins’ mistakes in 27-7 victory |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| With a full week to rest and two weeks to reflect on the numerous opportunities they’ve let slip away this season, Washington couldn’t have looked more ill-prepared in its first game back after its bye. | With a full week to rest and two weeks to reflect on the numerous opportunities they’ve let slip away this season, Washington couldn’t have looked more ill-prepared in its first game back after its bye. |
| In what should have been a feel-good FedEx Field homecoming against an opponent that had won only one game all season, the Redskins fell behind early in a turnover-prone, penalty-strewn first half in which they lost Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams. | In what should have been a feel-good FedEx Field homecoming against an opponent that had won only one game all season, the Redskins fell behind early in a turnover-prone, penalty-strewn first half in which they lost Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams. |
| The result was a 27-7 defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that highlighted the grim reality that Washington, under first-year Coach Jay Gruden, has failed to fix the familiar problems that have bedeviled the squad all season — turnovers, penalties, red-zone impotence and late-game defensive collapses. | The result was a 27-7 defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that highlighted the grim reality that Washington, under first-year Coach Jay Gruden, has failed to fix the familiar problems that have bedeviled the squad all season — turnovers, penalties, red-zone impotence and late-game defensive collapses. |
| Set against a soundtrack of lusty boos from the first quarter through the fourth, the loss also underscored the inability of quarterback Robert Griffin III to get rid of the football in a timely manner. The franchise quarterback’s hesitation, as he repeatedly scanned the field for open targets, became even more perilous after Williams went down with a knee and ankle injury on the Redskins’ second series. | Set against a soundtrack of lusty boos from the first quarter through the fourth, the loss also underscored the inability of quarterback Robert Griffin III to get rid of the football in a timely manner. The franchise quarterback’s hesitation, as he repeatedly scanned the field for open targets, became even more perilous after Williams went down with a knee and ankle injury on the Redskins’ second series. |
| More than 10 minutes remaining in the game when Griffin was sacked a sixth time, and isolated chants of “We want Colt! We want Colt!” broke out. Backup Colt McCoy led Washington to back-to-back victories against Tennessee and Dallas in October, as Griffin put the finishing touches on his recovery from the dislocated ankle that sidelined him for six full games. | More than 10 minutes remaining in the game when Griffin was sacked a sixth time, and isolated chants of “We want Colt! We want Colt!” broke out. Backup Colt McCoy led Washington to back-to-back victories against Tennessee and Dallas in October, as Griffin put the finishing touches on his recovery from the dislocated ankle that sidelined him for six full games. |
| Griffin, making his fourth start this season, played to the conclusion Sunday, finishing 23 of 32 for 207 yards, with two interceptions. He rushed six times for 41 yards, but was sacked six times — some, the result of his own indecision; others, due to poor protection by an offensive line that lost two starters. Left guard Shaun Lauvao suffered a concussion in the second half. | Griffin, making his fourth start this season, played to the conclusion Sunday, finishing 23 of 32 for 207 yards, with two interceptions. He rushed six times for 41 yards, but was sacked six times — some, the result of his own indecision; others, due to poor protection by an offensive line that lost two starters. Left guard Shaun Lauvao suffered a concussion in the second half. |
| Griffin, 24, has now gone more than a year without leading the Redskins to victory. His last triumph came Nov. 13, 2013, against San Diego. | Griffin, 24, has now gone more than a year without leading the Redskins to victory. His last triumph came Nov. 13, 2013, against San Diego. |
| Sunday’s loss wasn’t the most lopsided of Gruden’s tenure, but it was the most inexcusable. Tampa Bay (2-8) represented a very low bar, with an offense and defense that each ranked 29th in the league. | Sunday’s loss wasn’t the most lopsided of Gruden’s tenure, but it was the most inexcusable. Tampa Bay (2-8) represented a very low bar, with an offense and defense that each ranked 29th in the league. |
| For all the derision Griffin and the offense took by the early-exiting crowd of 77,442, Washington’s defense bore a significant share of culpability, allowing a team that hadn’t scored 20 points since Oct. 5 to nearly equal that mark in the first half. | For all the derision Griffin and the offense took by the early-exiting crowd of 77,442, Washington’s defense bore a significant share of culpability, allowing a team that hadn’t scored 20 points since Oct. 5 to nearly equal that mark in the first half. |
| When the Redskins regrouped from their bye this week, Gruden had made a priority of narrowing Washington’s turnover differential — among the league’s worst, at minus-nine. | When the Redskins regrouped from their bye this week, Gruden had made a priority of narrowing Washington’s turnover differential — among the league’s worst, at minus-nine. |
| The deficit only got worse against Tampa Bay, with Griffin intercepted twice, Roy Helu Jr. fumbling once and the defensive not registering a single takeaway against the turnover-prone McCown. | The deficit only got worse against Tampa Bay, with Griffin intercepted twice, Roy Helu Jr. fumbling once and the defensive not registering a single takeaway against the turnover-prone McCown. |
| Darrel Young did his part, however, recovering a muffed punt. | Darrel Young did his part, however, recovering a muffed punt. |
| But even that special-teams highlight was undercut by the performance of normally steady place kicker Kai Forbath, who missed both missed of his field goal attempts, from 47 and 50 yards. | But even that special-teams highlight was undercut by the performance of normally steady place kicker Kai Forbath, who missed both missed of his field goal attempts, from 47 and 50 yards. |
| As the clock ticked down, Washington was so dispirited that it didn’t even mount an attempt to score, conceding with roughly 30 seconds to play. What few thousand fans remained booed. | As the clock ticked down, Washington was so dispirited that it didn’t even mount an attempt to score, conceding with roughly 30 seconds to play. What few thousand fans remained booed. |
| The losing tone was set from the start. | The losing tone was set from the start. |
| Griffin’s first pass, which he flicked to Niles Paul under pressure, was bobbled by the tight end and picked off by Tampa Bay’s Bobby Lansanah. Taking over at Washington’s 29, the Buccaneers managed a field goal. | Griffin’s first pass, which he flicked to Niles Paul under pressure, was bobbled by the tight end and picked off by Tampa Bay’s Bobby Lansanah. Taking over at Washington’s 29, the Buccaneers managed a field goal. |
| Washington’s next drive opened with false-start penalty on Pierre Garcon. Griffin had a chance to score but overthrew DeSean Jackson in the end zone, when Garcon was open in the flat. | Washington’s next drive opened with false-start penalty on Pierre Garcon. Griffin had a chance to score but overthrew DeSean Jackson in the end zone, when Garcon was open in the flat. |
| Taking the field for the third series, Griffin threw a pass that was tipped and picked off by Jonathan Banks, who returned it 19 yards for a touchdown, putting Washington in arrears, 10-0. | Taking the field for the third series, Griffin threw a pass that was tipped and picked off by Jonathan Banks, who returned it 19 yards for a touchdown, putting Washington in arrears, 10-0. |
| Young’s recovery of the muffed punt set up what looked like a sure-fire score. But the drive, which at one point reached first and goal on Tampa Bay 6-yard line, marched backward with breathtaking efficiency. | Young’s recovery of the muffed punt set up what looked like a sure-fire score. But the drive, which at one point reached first and goal on Tampa Bay 6-yard line, marched backward with breathtaking efficiency. |
| Washington committed two penalties, Griffin took sacks for losses of 10 and nine yards, respectively, bringing up Forbath for the 47-yard attempt. It sailed wide left. | Washington committed two penalties, Griffin took sacks for losses of 10 and nine yards, respectively, bringing up Forbath for the 47-yard attempt. It sailed wide left. |
| Griffin quickened his decision-making on the next series, pitching to Alfred Morris (20 carries, 96 yards) for a 5-yard gain and taking off running for a first down. But the promise of a sustained drive was short-lived. A completion to Roy Helu Jr. ended in Washington’s third turnover, with defensive end Jacquies Smith punching the ball out and linemate Akeem Spence recovering. | Griffin quickened his decision-making on the next series, pitching to Alfred Morris (20 carries, 96 yards) for a 5-yard gain and taking off running for a first down. But the promise of a sustained drive was short-lived. A completion to Roy Helu Jr. ended in Washington’s third turnover, with defensive end Jacquies Smith punching the ball out and linemate Akeem Spence recovering. |
| This time, Tampa Bay came away with nothing, with cornerback Tracy Porter breaking up a must-have third-down throw. | This time, Tampa Bay came away with nothing, with cornerback Tracy Porter breaking up a must-have third-down throw. |
| Washington had time for one final drive in the quarter. And Griffin kept his faith in Morris and Helu, connecting with Morris for a 24-yard completion and finding Helu on a screen pass for a 30-yard touchdown with 11 seconds to spare. | Washington had time for one final drive in the quarter. And Griffin kept his faith in Morris and Helu, connecting with Morris for a 24-yard completion and finding Helu on a screen pass for a 30-yard touchdown with 11 seconds to spare. |
| After Washington’s defense forced Tampa Bay to punt to start the second half, the offense showed the makings of a promising drive. But Griffin was sacked a fourth time, dropped for a six-yard loss. With a chance to salvage the effort and pull within three points, Forbath missed again. | After Washington’s defense forced Tampa Bay to punt to start the second half, the offense showed the makings of a promising drive. But Griffin was sacked a fourth time, dropped for a six-yard loss. With a chance to salvage the effort and pull within three points, Forbath missed again. |
| Tampa Bay proceeded to march 60 yards for a touchdown that made it a two-score game once again. Quarterback Josh McCown hit rookie wide receiver Mike Evans for the completion, and safety Ryan Clark, who was supposed to backup cornerback Bashaud Breeland, arrived for coverage just as the 6-foot-5 Evans streaked in for the score that made it 20-7. | Tampa Bay proceeded to march 60 yards for a touchdown that made it a two-score game once again. Quarterback Josh McCown hit rookie wide receiver Mike Evans for the completion, and safety Ryan Clark, who was supposed to backup cornerback Bashaud Breeland, arrived for coverage just as the 6-foot-5 Evans streaked in for the score that made it 20-7. |
| McCown finished 15 of 23 for 288 yards and two touchdowns, both to Evans, who had 209 receiving yards. |