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| Robert Griffin III plays three quarters, but Redskins let lead slip, lose to Giants 24-13 | Robert Griffin III plays three quarters, but Redskins let lead slip, lose to Giants 24-13 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — For a few glorious seconds, at least, Robert Griffin III conjured heroics of his rookie season. With eight seconds on the clock and a chance to extend Washington’s lead before the first half expired, Griffin took off running for the end zone and launched himself, ball cradled in his hands, arms outstretched, for the score. | EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — For a few glorious seconds, at least, Robert Griffin III conjured heroics of his rookie season. With eight seconds on the clock and a chance to extend Washington’s lead before the first half expired, Griffin took off running for the end zone and launched himself, ball cradled in his hands, arms outstretched, for the score. |
| But on a hostile field, against their oldest foe, the Washington Redskins were jolted back to reality in the most unexpected way. Upon review, what would have been Griffin’s first rushing touchdown since 2012 was negated, ruled a touchback instead because he temporarily lost possession of the ball as he sailed into the corner of the end zone. | But on a hostile field, against their oldest foe, the Washington Redskins were jolted back to reality in the most unexpected way. Upon review, what would have been Griffin’s first rushing touchdown since 2012 was negated, ruled a touchback instead because he temporarily lost possession of the ball as he sailed into the corner of the end zone. |
| That disappointment would lead to more. Jay Gruden’s Redskins found a new way to surrender points en route to a familiar outcome: another double-digit defeat. | That disappointment would lead to more. Jay Gruden’s Redskins found a new way to surrender points en route to a familiar outcome: another double-digit defeat. |
| With Giants rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. catching all three of Eli Manning’s touchdown throws, Washington (3-11) lost its sixth consecutive game, 24-13, to clinch a rock-bottom finish in the NFC East. | With Giants rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. catching all three of Eli Manning’s touchdown throws, Washington (3-11) lost its sixth consecutive game, 24-13, to clinch a rock-bottom finish in the NFC East. |
| Griffin, just 24, has already had a career’s worth of NFL comebacks. Sunday brought another opportunity to re-stake a claim as Washington’s quarterback of the future after Colt McCoy, who supplanted him as the starter last month, aggravated a neck injury in his opening series. | Griffin, just 24, has already had a career’s worth of NFL comebacks. Sunday brought another opportunity to re-stake a claim as Washington’s quarterback of the future after Colt McCoy, who supplanted him as the starter last month, aggravated a neck injury in his opening series. |
| In no way did Griffin reclaim the promise of his NFL offensive rookie-of-the-year season Sunday at MetLife Stadium. But he showed glimpses of the improvisational skills that once made NFL defenses quake. He also showed costly bouts of indecision in the pocket, which played a role in the seven sacks he endured. | In no way did Griffin reclaim the promise of his NFL offensive rookie-of-the-year season Sunday at MetLife Stadium. But he showed glimpses of the improvisational skills that once made NFL defenses quake. He also showed costly bouts of indecision in the pocket, which played a role in the seven sacks he endured. |
| Griffin finished 18 for 27 for 236 yards and one touchdown. | Griffin finished 18 for 27 for 236 yards and one touchdown. |
| Manning fared better: 23 for 34 for 250 yards and three touchdowns. | Manning fared better: 23 for 34 for 250 yards and three touchdowns. |
| Following last week’s shutout at the hands of the St. Louis Rams, Griffin showed nonetheless that he could move the ball and score in Gruden’s offense. | Following last week’s shutout at the hands of the St. Louis Rams, Griffin showed nonetheless that he could move the ball and score in Gruden’s offense. |
| Where that leaves Washington at its most important position is unclear with two games remaining in an unredeemable season. | Where that leaves Washington at its most important position is unclear with two games remaining in an unredeemable season. |
| From the perspective of owner Daniel Snyder, who gave up a clutch of high draft picks to acquire the Baylor star in the 2012 NFL draft, Griffin’s performance may justify doubling-down on his investment. | From the perspective of owner Daniel Snyder, who gave up a clutch of high draft picks to acquire the Baylor star in the 2012 NFL draft, Griffin’s performance may justify doubling-down on his investment. |
| It appeared to leave Gruden less convinced. | It appeared to leave Gruden less convinced. |
| “He played okay based on what I saw on the field,” Gruden said of Griffin. While Gruden said he liked Griffin’s competitive fire, he was disappointed by the sacks and three-point second half. | “He played okay based on what I saw on the field,” Gruden said of Griffin. While Gruden said he liked Griffin’s competitive fire, he was disappointed by the sacks and three-point second half. |
| “Obviously he’s in the mix. He’s on the roster,” Gruden said when asked whether Griffin had done enough to reclaim his starting job. The bigger priority, the coach added, was determining whether McCoy’s neck injury would allow him to return this season. | “Obviously he’s in the mix. He’s on the roster,” Gruden said when asked whether Griffin had done enough to reclaim his starting job. The bigger priority, the coach added, was determining whether McCoy’s neck injury would allow him to return this season. |
| McCoy’s fourth start for Washington lasted just a few minutes. He was pummeled on a four-yard scramble on the opening series and short-armed his subsequent throw—presumably after re-injuring his sprained neck. Kai Forbath hit a 35-yard field goal to give Washington an early lead. | McCoy’s fourth start for Washington lasted just a few minutes. He was pummeled on a four-yard scramble on the opening series and short-armed his subsequent throw—presumably after re-injuring his sprained neck. Kai Forbath hit a 35-yard field goal to give Washington an early lead. |
| The Giants (5-9) answered with a 12-play touchdown drive, capped by a 10-yard strike to Beckham. | The Giants (5-9) answered with a 12-play touchdown drive, capped by a 10-yard strike to Beckham. |
| With McCoy heading to the locker room, Griffin took over. Gruden asked little of him at the outset — a handoff to Alfred Morris, a pitch to DeSean Jackson. On Griffin’s first throw of consequence, defenders converged quickly and sacked him for an eight-yard loss. | With McCoy heading to the locker room, Griffin took over. Gruden asked little of him at the outset — a handoff to Alfred Morris, a pitch to DeSean Jackson. On Griffin’s first throw of consequence, defenders converged quickly and sacked him for an eight-yard loss. |
| With the defense holding, Griffin moved the ball crisply on a series of rollouts, connecting on throws of 22, 17 and 18 yards. He found a wide-open Chris Thompson, who streaked nine yards for the score. It was just Griffin’s third touchdown throw of the season, and it put the Redskins back on top 10-7. | With the defense holding, Griffin moved the ball crisply on a series of rollouts, connecting on throws of 22, 17 and 18 yards. He found a wide-open Chris Thompson, who streaked nine yards for the score. It was just Griffin’s third touchdown throw of the season, and it put the Redskins back on top 10-7. |
| Two fruitless Giants possessions brought out boos from the home crowd. | Two fruitless Giants possessions brought out boos from the home crowd. |
| With a chance to extend Washington’s lead heading into the break, Griffin drove Washington to the 4. Unable to find an open receiver, Griffin appeared to panic and ran into the gut of a 320-pound defensive tackle. A throw to tight end Jordan Reed was nearly intercepted, bringing up third and goal from the 8. That’s when Griffin took off running, then went airborne for the score that was negated. | With a chance to extend Washington’s lead heading into the break, Griffin drove Washington to the 4. Unable to find an open receiver, Griffin appeared to panic and ran into the gut of a 320-pound defensive tackle. A throw to tight end Jordan Reed was nearly intercepted, bringing up third and goal from the 8. That’s when Griffin took off running, then went airborne for the score that was negated. |
| In the furious haze of confusion that followed as time expired, wide receiver Santana Moss was ejected for a profane tirade at the official. | In the furious haze of confusion that followed as time expired, wide receiver Santana Moss was ejected for a profane tirade at the official. |
| To that point, Griffin had outperformed Manning. | To that point, Griffin had outperformed Manning. |
| But the touchdown-stripping call turned the momentum. | But the touchdown-stripping call turned the momentum. |
| The Giants came out for the second half with new life — as well as a 30-yard gift from two penalties on Moss — and immediately recovered an onside kick, then knotted the score with a 32-yard field goal. | The Giants came out for the second half with new life — as well as a 30-yard gift from two penalties on Moss — and immediately recovered an onside kick, then knotted the score with a 32-yard field goal. |
| Griffin stiff-armed a defender to run for 23 yards on the next drive. Gruden went for it on fourth and two, calling a timeout just as the play was getting under way. The redo failed miserably. Gripped by indecision in the pocket, Griffin was sacked again. | Griffin stiff-armed a defender to run for 23 yards on the next drive. Gruden went for it on fourth and two, calling a timeout just as the play was getting under way. The redo failed miserably. Gripped by indecision in the pocket, Griffin was sacked again. |
| Washington’s defense held. | Washington’s defense held. |
| With pressure coming, Griffin hit Andre Roberts for a 61-yard gain. He scrambled on the next play and took a cheap hit out of bounds. Injured during the series, left tackle Trent Williams couldn’t fend off Jason Pierre-Paul, who flew in for another drive-killing sack. Forbath’s 38-yarder was true, and Washington moved ahead 13-10. | With pressure coming, Griffin hit Andre Roberts for a 61-yard gain. He scrambled on the next play and took a cheap hit out of bounds. Injured during the series, left tackle Trent Williams couldn’t fend off Jason Pierre-Paul, who flew in for another drive-killing sack. Forbath’s 38-yarder was true, and Washington moved ahead 13-10. |
| It took Manning 2 minutes 5 seconds to reply, helped by a 23-yard penalty on rookie cornerback Bashaud Breeland. Manning exploited a gap in coverage to find Beckham wide open in the middle of the field for a 35-yard strike that put the Giants ahead 17-13. | It took Manning 2 minutes 5 seconds to reply, helped by a 23-yard penalty on rookie cornerback Bashaud Breeland. Manning exploited a gap in coverage to find Beckham wide open in the middle of the field for a 35-yard strike that put the Giants ahead 17-13. |
| Behind a patchwork offensive line, Washington’s offense fell silent. All that remained were sacks, penalties and one last touchdown catch by Beckham. | Behind a patchwork offensive line, Washington’s offense fell silent. All that remained were sacks, penalties and one last touchdown catch by Beckham. |
| More Redskins and NFL coverage: | |
| Summary: Giants 21, Redskins 13 | |
| Boswell: Disconnect, dysfunction make it hard to watch | |
| Reid: Bruce Allen can’t be tasked with the rebuild | |
| Griffin finds some magic, but not so much approval | |
| Touchdown reversal, Moss’s ejection turn the tide | |
| Gallery: Images from MetLife Stadium | |
| Video: The Wrap on the sixth straight loss | |
| Bog: Best and worst from Redskins-Giants | |
| The Insider: Latest Redskins news | |
| Couch Slouch: The NFL needs some rules changes | |
| Bengals taunt Browns’ Manziel in loss | |
| Patriots’ fan wins a cool $1 million |