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Redskins come through in the clutch, beat Eagles 27-24 for fourth win of rough season Redskins come through in the clutch, beat Eagles 27-24 for fourth win of rough season
(about 1 hour later)
For weeks, the Washington Redskins have found themselves the victims of misfortunes — some of their own doing, some the result of bad luck, and some because of big plays by their opponents.For weeks, the Washington Redskins have found themselves the victims of misfortunes — some of their own doing, some the result of bad luck, and some because of big plays by their opponents.
Saturday night at FedEx Field, the Redskins finally had the ball bounce their way, multiple times, and they also mustered the gumption to fight their way through late-game calamities and defeat the visiting Philadelphia Eagles, 27-24. Saturday night, the Redskins finally had the ball bounce their way, multiple times, and they also mustered the gumption to fight through late-game calamities and defeat the visiting Philadelphia Eagles, 27-24.
With the win, which played out in front of a FedEx Field crowd that featured a significant number of Eagles fans, Washington snapped a six-game losing streak and improved to 4-11 on the season. The win, before a FedEx Field crowd that featured a significant number of Eagles fans, snapped a six-game losing streak and improved Washington to 4-11.
A blown pass-coverage assignment by E.J. Biggers and Phillip Thomas, and a fourth-quarter interception by Robert Griffin III, led to 10 unanswered points by the Eagles, who tied the game at 24 with 6 minutes 17 seconds left.A blown pass-coverage assignment by E.J. Biggers and Phillip Thomas, and a fourth-quarter interception by Robert Griffin III, led to 10 unanswered points by the Eagles, who tied the game at 24 with 6 minutes 17 seconds left.
But an interception by rookie cornerback Bashaud Breeland with 1:36 left gave Washington the ball at the 48-yard line. The Redskins moved into field-goal range, milked the clock and Kai Forbath kicked the 26-yard, winning field goal with five seconds left. But an interception by rookie cornerback Bashaud Breeland with 1:31 left gave Washington the ball at its 42-yard line. The Redskins moved into field goal range and milked the clock, and Kai Forbath kicked the winning 26-yard field goal with five seconds left.
A David Amerson pass breakup in the end zone with no time left sealed the victory, and Washington’s players trotted to the locker room with joy, having surpassed last season’s win total. David Amerson broke up a pass in the end zone with no time left to seal the victory, and Washington’s players trotted to the locker room with joy, having surpassed last season’s win total.
“We were playing for our home crowd, playing for our pride, playing for our jobs, playing for our future,” said wide receiver Pierre Garcon, who had a 23-yard reception on the game-winning drive that moved his team into field goal range. “Feels good.”
The Redskins had to survive a fair amount of drama to earn the victory.The Redskins had to survive a fair amount of drama to earn the victory.
They had had a scare to start the second half when, with his team trailing 14-10, Andre Roberts fumbled the opening kick at the 16 when Malcolm Jenkins poked the ball from his grasp. But the Eagles went three-and-out, and missed a 34-yard field goal wide right. They had a scare to start the second half when, with his team trailing 14-10, Andre Roberts fumbled the opening kick at the 16 when Malcolm Jenkins poked the ball from his grasp. But the Eagles (9-6) went three and out and missed a 34-yard field goal wide right.
After dodging that half-opening bullet, the Redskins marched 76 yards in 12 plays – seven of them runs – and scored on a one-yard touchdown run by fullback Darrel Young. After dodging that bullet, the Redskins marched 76 yards in 12 plays — seven of them runs — and received the aid of a roughing the passer call that put the ball on the one-yard line. Fullback Darrel Young scored on the next play and gave his team a 17-14 lead.
And then, the good fortunes continued. The good fortunes continued when Eagles place kicker Cody Parkey missed another field goal — this time from 46 yards out — and Washington again capitalized.
Eagles place kicker Cody Parkey missed another field goal – this time from 46 yards out – and Washington again capitalized. A bobbled snap (which Griffin promptly fell on) opened the possession, and then the quarterback had trouble hearing the call into the radio in his helmet and hurried to the line after making the call. Griffin gunned a play-action pass 55 yards to DeSean Jackson, who made the catch and then drifted out of bounds at the 13.
A bobbled snap (which Griffin promptly fell on) opened the possession, and then the quarterback had trouble hearing the call into the radio in his helmet and hurried to the line having made his own call. Griffin gunned a play-action pass 55 yards to DeSean Jackson, who made the catch and trotted out of bounds at the 13. “He’s just faster than everybody on the field,” Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins said of Jackson. “RGIII did a good job of just throwing it up and giving him a shot when it was one-on-one coverage. He did a good job tracking the ball. He’s obviously one of the most explosive guys in the league. He had a good day.”
A pass interference call in the end zone put the ball at the 1-yard line, and Jay Gruden again called Young’s number. The fullback scored again, and Washington extended its lead to 24-14 with 1:56 left in the third quarter. A pass interference call in the end zone put the ball at the 1-yard line, and Coach Jay Gruden again called Young’s number. The fullback scored again, and Washington extended its lead to 24-14 with 1:56 left in the third quarter.
That represented Washington’s first double-digit lead since Week 2 against Jacksonville. But of course it wasn’t safe. That represented Washington’s first double-digit lead in a second half since Week 2 against Jacksonville. But of course, it wasn’t safe.
Philadelphia’s Mark Sanchez connected with wide receiver Riley Cooper on a 16-yard touchdown pass that came as a result of poor coverage by Biggers, a cornerback, and Thomas, a safety.Philadelphia’s Mark Sanchez connected with wide receiver Riley Cooper on a 16-yard touchdown pass that came as a result of poor coverage by Biggers, a cornerback, and Thomas, a safety.
And on the next Redskins possession, Griffin threw an interception to Nate Allen while attempting another bomb to Jackson in double coverage. The Eagles cashed that in for a field goal, and after Washington had to punt with 2:36 left, Philadelphia seemed poised to orchestrate a game-winning drive. And on the next Redskins possession, Griffin threw an interception to Nate Allen while attempting another bomb to Jackson in double coverage. The Eagles cashed that in for a field goal, and after Washington had to punt, Philadelphia seemed poised to orchestrate a game-winning drive with 2:36 left.
But cornerback Bashaud Breeland made a diving catch to pick off Sanchez, who has now thrown 10 interceptions since taking over as starter in Week 9, and Forbath went on to lift his team to victory. But defensive coordinator Jim Haslett called an all-out blitz that left his cornerbacks matched up in one-on-one coverage, and Breeland made a diving catch to pick off the Sanchez pass intended for Jeremy Maclin.
The Redskins got on the board first after linebacker Ryan Kerrigan ended the Eagles’ first possession with a sack-fumble, and the offense cashed it in for a 25-yard field goal 12 plays and 40 yards later. “What can you say? That dude has ice-cold veins, man,” defensive end Stephen Bowen said of Breeland. “Play of the year.”
The defense continued its pressure on Sanchez and forced him into an incompletion on third and four from his own 27. But an illegal-hands-to-the-face penalty on Breeland gave Philadelphia a first down. After a two-yard run by LeSean McCoy, the Eagles picked up the pace, going no-huddle on seven straight plays. The Redskins’ defense couldn’t match the pace, and on that seventh play, McCoy ripped off an 11-yard touchdown run, darting past safety Ryan Clark and defensive lineman Chris Baker at the edge and running to pay dirt. Griffin’s pass to Garcon was the biggest offensive play of that game-clinching possession, but the Eagles did their part to help as well. Defensive end Vinny Curry was called for roughing the passer on the same play, moving the ball up another 15 yards, and linebacker Connor Barwin jumped offsides on the next play.
But Washington’s offense also came to life. Washington used four runs by Alfred Morris (21 carries, 83 yards and a touchdown on the day) to milk the clock, and then Forbath lined up for what wound up being his third game-winning field goal of the season, and the fourth of his career.
On second and seven, Griffin connected with DeSean Jackson on a 51-yard pass up the right sideline. On the very next play, Alfred Morris rumbled 28 yards for a touchdown — his eighth and longest of the year. The play put Washington up, 10-7, with 29 seconds left in the first quarter. “I love the way our team battled and competed,” Gruden said. “There’s been a lot of talk about people quitting, and you can see right there what type of guys we have. . . . I’m very, very happy with the way everybody played and very proud of the way they competed.”
The second quarter was all about the Eagles’ resiliency and Washington’s ineptitude, however. For Griffin, the game represented a step toward redemption. He earned his first victory since Nov. 3, 2013, and in the process played with more confidence and decisiveness than he had shown in some time.
The Redskins had Philadelphia on third and long twice on the same drive and both times gave up first downs. Sanchez completed a 26-yard pass to Jordan Matthews on third and 25, and then Darren Sproles took a screen pass 18 yards on third and 16. But Griffin, who made his first start since getting benched four weeks ago and completed 16 of 23 passes for 220 yards while getting sacked a season-low two times, did his best to deflect the focus off himself.
Those plays fueled the Eagles on a 15-play, 93-yard scoring drive that was capped by a three-yard touchdown pass to Cooper that gave the visitors a 14-10 lead. The Eagles outgained Washington 153-18 in the second quarter. “It really isn’t about me. This win’s about this team,” he said. “We’ve been through the ringer a little bit this year. We’ve been through a lot of adversity in this, and guys responded. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I wouldn’t want to play with any other players. These guys mean a lot to me. I could feel it in the locker room at the end of the game.”