Redskins Halftime Takeaways: Team rallies late to stay in the game

The first half is over, and the Redskins are surprisingly still in the hunt for the win. They haven’t been terrible, but at the start, it certainly looked as if a blowout was on the way. Here are our first half takeaways.

The Good:

If fans were uncertain why Ryan Grant remained on the roster after last season, he proved why in the first half. Grant had a long 34-yard gain early on, showcasing his speed as he worked his way down the field. Grant is a very reliable target, and he only continues to improve.

Young players are providing energy to this team, if nothing else. Kendall Fuller showed his resolve on a botched lateral by hitting the player and knocking the ball loose. Preston Smith had a sack early on. These are the kinds of flash plays needed to ignite the team on both sides of the ball.

Zach Brown is one free agent acquisition the Redskins can feel good about. On an Eagles 3rd and 1, he stuffed Legarette Blount for a loss of two. The stop was soon negated by a muffed punt, but nevertheless, Brown was certainly a worthwhile signing.

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While Kirk Cousins wasn’t entirely promising throwing the football (that’s an understatement), his decision making was something to smile about. The quarterback showed a willingness to tuck it and run when out of options in the first half, and one scramble resulted in a first down and some respect from fans, as he took a big hit from Malcolm Jenkins after crossing the line. He may need some time to get his rhythm. But he’ll always be a leader.

When you don’t have anything to feel good about on offense or defense, where do you go? That’s right! Special teams! Tress Way had a nice punt in the second quarter, pinning the Eagles back at their own five yard line. The nice punt set up a short pick-six by Ryan Kerrigan. Speaking of which…

Ryan Kerrigan. We don’t often talk about him, because he’s been so good for so long, there really isn’t anything to talk about. Nothing’s changed. Kerrigan always provides this team with a stable, playmaking presence on the edge. He had half a sack and a pick six in just the first half. It remains to be seen whether the Redskins have built enough around him, but Kerrigan should keep playing like this for at least a few more years.

Chris Thompson is another bright spot. He’s an absolute weapon, and he showed why he earned his contract extension on an impressive score on a short pass from Cousins. Thompson really adds another dimension to this offense, and his role simply keeps increasing. And with good reason.