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Redskins Live Game Blog: NFL Week 2 vs. Los Angeles Rams

By Ian Cummings

LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 10: Quarterback Kirk Cousins
LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 10: Quarterback Kirk Cousins /
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In only an hour, the Redskins face off against the Rams. Some say this game is a must win. Some say there’s nothing to worry about.

No one can deny the fact that the NFL season is short. With only sixteen games on the schedule, it’s safe to treat every game as a must-win. But for the Redskins, in Week 2, that designation carries more weight. The team played poorly at home against a divisional foe in Week 1. They’re losing faith in their fan base. And if they continue to show little improvement, they may lose faith in themselves.

Whereas last year, it was the defense that held the team back, the offense was its anchor in Week 1. This weak, among other things, the offense, and the offensive line in particular, has to step up. Without a strong performance in the trenches, Kirk Cousins can’t find time to throw. And Robert Kelley can’t find room to run. It’s a savory recipe for disaster that Wade Phillips has been concocting all week. Pressure the line, and the time is yours.

The Redskins won’t make it that easy. At least, one would hope. The team is motivated to turn the tides after an embarrassing defeat last week. The Rams are a much-improved squad, but they aren’t invincible. Sean McVay did well in his debut. But the Redskins know how to beat him. They’ve seen it happen on their own sideline.

All of the buildup has led up to this point. Who comes out on top? The mentor, Jay Gruden? Or the young prodigy, Sean McVay? You can find out by following along here, where we’ll give you frequent updates on the state of the game. Make sure to keep the refresh button handy, and enjoy the game. We’ll do our best to do the same!

3:30: If you need to know how to watch the game, or you want to read up a bit more on our pre-game coverage, everything you need is right here!

3:37: Josh Doctson has been warming up ahead of the game. Kirk Cousins also had a chance to catch up with Sean McVay. The two have a documented friendship. Cousins once gifted McVay with a signed jersey, along with a note saying “I owe you my career”.

3:47: The Redskins list of inactives goes as follows:

  • RB Mack Brown
  • CB Joshua Holsey
  • G Tyler Catalina
  • T T.J. Clemmings
  • LB Josh Harvey-Clemons
  • Anthony Lanier
  • Jeremy Sprinkle

4:04: A quick note while we’re waiting… I benched Kirk Cousins this week in Fantasy Football, so he will most likely go for 596 yards and 7 touchdowns. Let’s play ball. Twenty minutes and counting.

4:11: Elsewhere around the NFC East, the Eagles went toe-to-toe with the Chiefs, losing a close one, 27-20. They’re now 1-1. The hope is that the Redskins have the same record after today.

4:20: It’s an away game, but the Redskins will wear burgundy jerseys and gold pants once again. The Rams are decked out in white. Maybe it means an early surrender is in store?

Must Read: 3 keys to victory for Redskins vs. Rams

4:24: The Redskins won the toss and deferred. The Rams will start with the football. Time to see just how much Sean McVay has learned. Them Brenneman and Chris Spielman are reporting the game.

4:27: The kick is through the back of the end zone. Jared Goff is coming onto the field. The Rams will start at their own 25 yard line.

4:28: Already on the first play, we see two missed tackles. Tavon Austin made it five yards before Matt Ioannidis took him down. Todd Gurley went for two on the next play. Third and short.

4:31: Montae Nicholson got the start at strong safety. So far, he’s playing well. He nearly sacked Goff on an incomplete pass.

4:32: Goff overthrew Kupp on 3rd and 8, and the Rams will punt. A nice job stopping the drive early. Redskins will start with the ball at their own 22 yard line.

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4:35: Robert Kelley missed a lane on that short run. His vision needs to get better if he wants to become the bell cow back for the Redskins.

4:36: First down, Redskins! Jordan Reed makes the catch for a short gain. Good enough to move the chains.

4:39: Kirk Cousins has started the game with three straight first down completions. He’s in a rhythm.

4:41: 3rd and 17 and Jamison Crowder goes for 19 on the screen! He ran with pace and followed his blocks. Beautiful play.

4:43: On 3rd and 8, Terrelle Pryor dropped a pass that likely wouldn’t have gone for a first down. Dustin Hopkins nailed the mid-range field goal, and the Redskins have the lead, 3-0.

4:50: After some penalty confusion, the Rams will start with the ball on their own 18 yard line. Let’s see if the Redskins’ defense can continue to play with energy and attitude.

4:51: Maybe not… Stay tuned, folks. Refs are in midseason form.

4:52: The Rams started with the ball on their own 2 yard line (I have no idea why). They start with a short run, then an incompletion. Third and 4.

4:54: Bashaud Breeland made a very impressive tackle short of the line, and the Rams will punt. Three and out. The Redskins start with good field position.

4:57: Robert Kelley starts out the drive with an impressive run, getting the first down and more. The Redskins are driving early, now close to midfield. Kelley followed up that run with a nearly identical second first down!

5:00: The Redskins are displaying a zealous commitment to the run on this drive. And for now, it’s working.

5:01: The Redskins are inside the Rams’ ten yard line as the first quarter comes to a close. The burgundy and gold lead 3-0 over the Rams!

5:04: Touchdown! Chris Thompson takes it to the outside for an eight-yard score, courtesy of a nice block from Trent Williams. After a short review, the extra point is good and the Redskins take a 10-0 lead to start the second quarter.

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5:09: The Rams get the ball out to the 27-yard line and they’ll start their next drive from that spot.

5:11: The Redskins force a fumble and have the ball on the Rams’ 30. Terrell McClain was the one who came up with the ball. They start out running once again. Kirk Cousins is having it easy today.

5:12: On third down, Kirk Cousins throws it short to Chris Thompson for a big first down. It’s now first and goal.

5:14: After a questionable play call, it’s fourth down, and the Redskins will kick a field goal. One has to wonder why Jay Gruden likes the fade so much. It never works.

5:15: Dustin Hopkins’ 22-yard field goal is good, and the Redskins go up 13-0.

5:18: The Redskins’ rush failed to get to Goff despite having lots of time to do so, and Goff finds a wide open man down field. The Rams have the ball on the goal line, and suddenly, this game isn’t so lopsided. Sean McVay uses another time out.

5:22: The Redskins have fended off the Rams for two downs. It’s third and goal from the one.

5:24: And on third and goal, Todd Gurley finally gets in for a score. The Redskins performed admirably with their backs against the wall. Former Redskins tight end Derek Carrier set up the play with a nice block. After the PAT, the Redskins still lead 13-7.

5:29: It’s as if the Redskins are hesitant to throw with Kirk Cousins. They can’t go on forever avoiding him. But for now, they’ll stick with the run. Robert Kelley gets a nine-yard gain on first down.

5:30: Kelley quickly got a first down after that gain, but that last hit appears to have gotten him injured. Stay tuned for updates.

5:33: There is a noticeable difference between Kelley and Samaje Perine. Kelley has the confidence and speed that Perine lacks. Kelley is going to the locker room.

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5:34: On the Redskins’ first passing play since the dreaded fade route, Cousins is sacked after a botched rush recognition. And on third down, Cousins throws it away. Fourth and 20.

5:37: Nice pressure by the Redskins on first down, and the pass is thrown away. Second and ten. A turnover would shift the momentum nicely.

5:38: Josh Norman is called for holding and the Rams get an automatic first down. Norman led the league in penalties last year.

5:40: Josh Norman is injured after attempting to pick off an errant pass. His arm appears to be the problem. The trainers are looking at him now. Third down and 4.

5:42: The Rams are driving. Robert Kelley is questionable to return, while Norman is back. Zach Brown is on the sidelines, shaken up on the last play.

5:44: Jared Goff has the ball inside the red zone. The Redskins’ lead is in danger.

5:45: On third down, the screen is snuffed out for a loss by Kendall Fuller, who had his eyes on the play the whole time. Mason Foster is now injured, holding his right shoulder. Three Redskins got injured on this drive.

5:46: After making it to the goal line, the Rams are forced to settle for a field goal. The Redskins keep their lead, but it’s a little smaller. 13-10 with three minutes to go in the half.

5:48: A score is needed on this drive for the Redskins. The Rams are catching up, and if they can get points here, and at the start of the second half, they can retake control of the game. We’ve hit the two minute warning.

5:54: Shawn Lauvao had a great block on that play, but Kirk Cousins set it up by holding the ball just long enough to draw the defensive linemen. It was a perfect play call, a rarity for Jay Gruden.

5:57: After a monster sack by Preston Smith, the Rams gained a few yards on a run. It’ll be third and long. The Redskins are looking to get the ball back.

5:59: And on third and long, Ryan Kerrigan gets the strip sack! The Rams recover, and they’ll be forced to punt. The Redskins will have another chance to score, with a timeout and 1:14 remaining. They’ll start near midfield.

6:02: The Rams take a knee after getting the ball back, and the Redskins will get the ball first in the third quarter. The score is in their favor, 20-10.

6:04: Check out our halftime takeaways right here! There’s a lot to like from the Redskins’ performance thus far, but still a few causes for concern.

6:15: So far, my decision to bench Kirk Cousins is looking pretty smart. He does not trust his offensive line or his receivers. Trust is key to a good offense. We’ll see if that changes in the second half. The Redskins will start at their own 25.

6:17: First down, Redskins! Kirk Cousins hits Jordan Reed for a medium gain. A fumble nearly cost them the ball on the next play.

6:19: Third and 12 and Cousins, again, throws it short. Cousins looks downright replaceable.

6:23: Robert Kelley is officially out. He will not return. The Rams are on second down at their own 10 yard line.

6:25: The Rams tried to go to the outside with Tavon Austin, but Preston Smith made a beautiful stop. Third and five.

6:26: The Rams convert on third down again, making the entire secondary look silly in the process. They follow up that play with another big gain, and now the Rams are driving, still down by 10.

6:27: Just like that, the Rams are in the red zone. Missed tackles are hurting the Redskins. This offense has momentum.

6:28: Touchdown, Rams. Jared Goff goes to Todd Gurley, who hurdled Breeland and lunged for a score. Derek Carrier had another impressive block. He continues to quietly hurt his former team. The PAT is good. The score is 20-17, Redskins.

6:34: Kirk Cousins finally threw it deep, and in the process, his incomplete pass drew a pass interference penalty for the Redskins. 25 yards are gained, but a chunk is lost on the next play, courtesy of a bobbled toss. Second and long.

6:35: Cousins hits Jamison Crowder for a 17 yard gain, resulting in a first down. Cousins had some heat on that pass.

6:36: Jordan Reed is off to the locker room, but the run offense isn’t suffering. Samaje Perine just broke off a nice ten yard run. The Redskins are moving nicely, now in Rams’ territory.

6:39: The Redskins’ steady drive is negated by a missed 51-yard field goal. Kirk Cousins still doesn’t look effective. The pass blocking is awful. The Rams will take over with decent field position.

6:46: On third down, Kendall Fuller made another nice play, stopping Robert Woods short of the line. The Rams will be forced to punt, and now we get to watch the Redskins go three and out again.

6:50: I stand corrected. The Redskins are driving slowly. Morgan Moses is down on the field, garnering the attention of the trainers.

6:52: The Redskins still have a 20-17 lead at the end of the third quarter, but the Rams are hot on their heels, and injuries are mounting. Reed has his pads off, and Moses is out for now. The fourth quarter will be a telling one. Can Cousins make his team mates better when he needs to?

6:55: On third and four, the Redskins can’t convert, and the Rams will have another chance to take the lead. Plenty of time left in the game.

6:58: With the Eagles losing earlier today and the Cowboys well on their way to a loss, a win is even more important for the Redskins. With a win, they can be tied for the lead in the division. With a loss, they’re the ones left behind.

7:02: The Rams have crossed the fifty, and the defense looks worn. The Redskins offense will have this game on their shoulders soon enough.

7:05: On fourth dow, Johnny Hekker showed off his arm and faked out the defense with a pass to Josh Reynolds. The Rams have the ball in the red zone.

7:11: After a back-and-forth offensive sequence, the Rams score a field goal, tying up the game at 20 a piece. It’s time for Kirk Cousins to earn his paycheck.

7:16: On second and 18, the Redskins get a nice run from Perine. It’s third and six. Cousins has to throw beyond the line.

7:17: The first down is attained by Jamison Crowder. The Redskins now have a chance to start running the clock. 5 and a half minutes to go.

7:21: Samaje Perine is starting to find his rhythm. He’s running nicely, draining the clock and moving the ball down the field.

7:23: With two minutes to go, the Redskins are nearing scoring territory. If the offense scores early, then they’ll give the Rams plenty of time to answer.

7:31: The Rams have a minute and 50 seconds to tie up the game. The defense failed in a similar situation against Matthew Stafford last year. Let’s see if they’ve improved in this regard.

7:33: On the first play of the Rams’ drive, Mason Foster picks off Goff’s pass and runs it to around the 20! The Redskins appear to have this win well in hand.

Next: Redskins Recap: A win is a win, but we still need more

7:36: The final whistle sounds, and the Redskins come out on top, 27-20! It helps them out a lot, but there were plenty of times where they could’ve gotten even more. That’s it for the live blog. Be sure to check out our Redskins Recap by clicking the link above!

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