John Matthews
WMAL.com
FOXBOROUGH, MASS — (WMAL) The box score says Kirk Cousins had a mediocre day Sunday against New England – completing just 22 of 40 passes for 217 yards with an interception and a garbage-time touchdown in the Redskins 27 – 10 loss to the Patriots Sunday.
The reality is that Cousins was perhaps the Redskins’ best player Sunday, but his fine efforts were squandered by teammates who steadfastly refused to handle his passes. Seven passes were dropped – the most by a Redskins team in eight years – and Cousins’ interception came on his first pass of the day – a beauty that landed in Pierre Garcon’s hands, only to be batted in the air and nabbed by New England cornerback Logan Ryan.
By the time the Patriots allowed the Redskins to handle the ball again, New England had taken a 14-0 lead – virtually insurmountable in a game against a Bill Belichick-coached team.
After taking an early 7-0 lead on a 13-play, 84-yard drive to open the game, Patriots coach Bill Belichick ordered up a surprise onside kick right into the arms of Redskins’ receiver Ryan Grant – who promptly fumbled it away to New England.
“I just felt like we never had the ball in the first quarter,” Washington coach Jay Gruden said. “I just never felt like we got in a rhythm.”
After taking the early lead, the Patriots were not quite themselves, either. The Pats lost a fumble and Tom Brady threw his second interception of the season, while the Redskins defense kept New England to its lowest point-total of the season in what was by far the Pats’ sloppiest game of the year. .
Still, the outcome of the game was never in doubt. The Patriots running attack shredded the Redskins, with Legarrete Blount rushing 29 times for 129 yards to control the clock.
The Redskins were held out of the end zone until Cousins hit Jordan Reed with a 3-yard touchdown pass with 25 seconds left in the game.
“Our guys are better than that,” said Cousins, who fell to 5-12 as the starting quarterback. “It’s encouraging to know that today was more of a fluke than a norm.”
The Redskins, at 3 – 5, now trail both the Giants and Eagles in the NFC East, and are a game ahead of the flailing Cowboys, who have lost six straight games. They must now prepare for Sunday’s home game against New Orleans.
Copyright 2015 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (PHOTO: Washington Redskins)
