Redskins come back to sink Buccaneers 31-30

Oct 25, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) celebrates after scoring a running touchdown during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said before his teams’ week 7 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that the game was a code red meaning it was a must win game. But initially the Redskins responded with a lackluster performance in the first half only to pull off the biggest comeback in franchise history in the second.

It was a nightmare scenario to start the game for the Redskins as the Buccaneers jumped out to a 24-0 lead in the first half. The Buccaneers struck first with a 40 yard TD pass from Jameis Winston to Mike Evans to put the Bucs up 7-0.

They went up 10-0 on a 22 yard Connor Barth field goal. With the Redskins offense inept the Buccaneers continued t pour it on as they mounted a 14 play, 72 yard drive that ended with another Winston TD pass, this time from 7 yards out to Donteea Dye.

Things went from bad to worse as in the second quarter Kirk Cousins fumbled on a sack by Jacquies Smith and the fumbled was recovered by Howard Jones and he returned it 43 yards for a touchdown to put the Buccaneers up 24-0.

However, Cousins was not rattled by the fumble and led the Redskins on a 7 play, 74 yard drive and he capped it off himself with an 8 yard TD run to the bring the score to 24-7 Buccaneers and that’s how the first half ended.

At this point the Buccaneers had control of the game and the Redskins lost their best defensive player Ryan Kerrigan to a broken hand in the second quarter. But instead of folding in the third quarter, the Redskins took back momentum of the game.

They brought the score to 24-14 with a 4 play, 60 yard drive that culminated with a 3 yard TD pass from Kirk Cousins to Ryan Grant. The scoring continued in the third quarter for the Redskins as they executed an onside kick and seven plays later Cousins found Jordan Reed on another three yard TD pass to bring the score 24-21 Buccaneers.

However, the Buccaneers battled back to start the fourth quarter as Winston led a 12 play, 53 yard drive that ended on Connor Barth 45 yard field goal to make it 27-21 Bucs. The Redskins answered with a field goal of their own as Dustin Hopkins hit a 35 yarder to make it 27-24.

Not to be outdone, Barth hit another field goal to the Bucs up 30-24, this time from 21 yards out after Winston drove the them 91 yards in 11 plays. But the Redskins defense stiffened and force the field with the Buccaneers threatening to put the game away.

This set the stage for Kirk Cousins best moment as a Redskins as he led the offense down the field on an 11 play, 80 yard drive and hit Reed again on a six yard TD pass to give the Redskins the win 31-30. Amazingly this completed the Redskins biggest comeback in team history.

Cousins finished 33 of 40 for 317 yards and 3 TD’s. Jay Gruden called this game a code red and at first it looked like a code black but the Redskins responded with their backs against the wall and got a win they had to have. The Redskins go into the bye week at 3-4 and now have a chance to get some people healthy for the second half of the season.

More from Riggo's Rag

Home/Commanders News