By Mark Bacon
What was expected to be a promising year for the Washington Redskins has been anything but in their first two games. They lost to the Cowboys, 27-23, in their first division game of the season.
This afternoon's loss has Washington sinking to 0-2 for the first time in Jay Gruden’s tenure as the team’s coach. Winless teams after Week 2 have historically struggled to make the playoffs, an expectation that the Redskins had following an NFC East title last year. (Since 2006, just nine of the 86 teams to start 0-2 have made the playoffs; that's 10.5 percent).
There have been issues on both sides of the ball, led by Kirk Cousins. He hasn’t looked like the quarterback who led Washington to clinch the division and a winning record in 2015. Instead, he looks like a quarterback who is uncertain in the pocket. And unable to successfully complete a pass in clutch situations.
The Redskins started consecutive possessions in Cowboys territory, but settled for field goals both times, first to tie, then take a 23-20 lead with four seconds left in the third quarter.
With an opportunity to take a commanding 10-point lead with almost 10 minutes left in the game, Cousins was picked off by safety Barry Church in the end zone on a third and goal situation at the 6 to stall a 73-yard drive. Cousins finished the day 28 of 46 for 364 yards with a touchdown and an interception, but threw the ball with four defenders surrounding wide receiver Pierre Garçon, who demonstratively expressed his frustration to Cousins after the play.
The concerns continued on defense, where the Redskins couldn’t get off the field on third downs. The Cowboys retaliated following the interception with an 11-play, 80-yard drive to take the lead. Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott connected with wide receiver Cole Beasley for 12 yards on a crucial third and 11 at the Redskins’ 24 to move the sticks. Dallas was 6 of 12 on third downs, marking the second straight game the Redskins have allowed opponents to convert half of their third downs.
Two plays later, former Redskins running back Alfred Morris powered his way into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown run. Morris had five carries for seven yards, none more important than that four-yard run with 4 minutes 49 seconds left against the team he spent his first four seasons with. In his second career start, Prescott outplayed Cousins, completing 22 of his 30 passes for 292 yards. He also scored on a six-yard run in the third quarter.
The cherry on top? Both defeats occurred at home to match Washington’s loss total at FedEx Field from last season. Washington can only hope to match its 6-2 record from 2015, despite home games against three NFC teams that also made the playoffs – the Minnesota Vikings, the Green Bay Packers and the Carolina Panthers.
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