EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — (WMAL) With six starters and one key substitute out due to injury, the Redskins needed to take advantage of their opponents’ mistakes and play a flawless game in order to stand a chance against the New York Jets at the Meadowlands on Sunday.
They managed to do that for exactly one half, thanks to the aggressive play of cornerback Bashaud Breeland, who recovered one fumble, ripped another from a Jets receiver’s hands, and then snared an interception, all before halftime.
The Redskins converted all three of the takeaways into points to take a 13-10 lead into the locker room, but as has frequently been the case this season, they were unable to carry any positive momentum into the second half.
Opening the third quarter with a 7 play, 47-yard drive that resulted in a field goal, the Jets scored again less than a minute later after Kirk Cousins paid a deadly visit to Revis Island. The Redskins’ quarterback threw an interception to Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, setting up an 18-yard scramble by Ryan Fitzpatrick one play later to give the Jets a 20 – 13 lead.
Things only got worse for the Redskins. After giving up a second touchdown in the half and trailing 27 – 13, Cousins began to press, tossing an ill-advised bomb into double coverage, which was picked off by Jets cornerback Marcus Gilchrist. Soon after, the Jets scored their third touchdown in three possessions.
“We had an opportunity to win this game,” coach Jay Gruden said. “And, in the second half, we just laid an egg.”
The Redskins have led at the half in five of their six games this season.
With two offensive line starters – left tackle Trent Williams and center Kory Lichtensteiger – out due to injury, the Redskins were unable to generate an effective running game. Alfred Morris was held to 21 yards rusning on the day on 11 carries, and that rendered the Redskins’ offensive game plan predictable and ineffective. Cousins, (25 of 43 for 196 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT) who has now thrown two interceptions in each of the Redskins’ four losses, says he has to keep putting these losses behind himself.
“If I start to doubt, I’m not going to ever get to the level I want to go,” Cousins said. “I’ve got to keep going, learn from mistakes.”
For his part, Gruden is willing to let Cousins do just that.
“You hate to pin this game on Kirk,” Gruden said. “I know he could have played better. We had no running game whatsoever. Kirk is not in a stage in his career right now, nor is anybody on our roster, to carry our team throwing the ball as much as we would have had to today.”
In what will soon be forgotten as a “garbage time” moment, the Redskins’ special teams delivered the team’s only second half highlight with four minutes left in the game, when Jeron Johnson blocked a punt in the end zone. Rashad Ross fell on the ball for a touchdown to move the score to 34 – 20. It was the Redskins’ first blocked punt since 2006.
The Redskins (2 – 4) will host Tampa Bay at Fed Ex Field Sunday before taking their bye week.
Copyright 2015 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (PHOTO: Washington Redskins)
