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Redskins Live Game Blog: NFL Week 3 vs. Oakland Raiders

By Jacob Camenker

LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 18: A Washington Redskins helmet sits on the grass during a preseason football game between the Redskins and Cleveland Browns at FedExField on August 18, 2014 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by TJ Root/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 18: A Washington Redskins helmet sits on the grass during a preseason football game between the Redskins and Cleveland Browns at FedExField on August 18, 2014 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by TJ Root/Getty Images) /
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The Washington Redskins are preparing for a key primetime matchup with the Oakland Raiders. A win would be a huge statement for the team.

Right now, the Redskins are in a strange place. They find themselves with a .500 record despite the fact that they have not looked great in either contest. Their offense is still clearly a work in progress, and the absence of Sean McVay has been a problem for them.

Against the Raiders, the Redskins are going to get a tough test. Derek Carr and the Oakland offense are one of the top units in the league, and the team needs to figure out a way to slow them down. This will be a huge moment for new defensive coordinator Greg Manusky, and he has to have a solid game plan prepared for Sunday night.

The Redskins have had their share of issue in primetime games, and also in critical moments under Jay Gruden’s watch. Too often, the team has lacked energy in these contests and the veteran head coach needs to make sure that his team is ready to go tonight. Energy truly is crucial, especially in a night game against a west coast squad.

The Redskins will almost certainly have a chance to win this game. Provided that they focus on getting their own offense going early, they will be able to go toe to toe with the Raiders as they try to figure out a way to slow down Carr and company. It is doable, but it will take everything that the team has in order to accomplish that.

All of the action from the game will be discussed in our live game blog here. So as the contest rolls along, make sure to follow along with all the action here and feel free to comment on everything you see!

7:45: The Redskins inactives were posted at 7:00, and there are a few starters on the list. Rob Kelley and Jordan Reed were expected to miss the game, but there was some hope that Mason Foster would suit up. Foster is inactive, meaning that Josh Harvey-Clemons will be active for the first time in his NFL career. Additionally, Mack Brown and Fabian Moreau are active for the first time in 2017.

7:52: Be sure to check out all our pregame content in our game preview! Also, we have our keys to the game. These are the three areas that the Redskins have to succeed in if they want to emerge victorious against the Raiders.

8:02: If the Redskins win tonight, they will stay tied atop the NFC East with the Philadelphia Eagles, who improved to 2-1 with a win over the New York Giants today. The Dallas Cowboys don’t play until Monday night this week.

8:10: The Raiders come to Washington with a 2-0 record. Their division is a tough one, and the Chiefs improved to 3-0 earlier in the day. The Broncos dropped to 2-1. The Raiders are going to be looking to keep pace with the Chiefs as they try to win the division.

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8:27: The Redskins are going to start on defense after the Raiders won the toss and elected to receive. They have to slow down the Raiders if they want to succeed early on.

8:30: The Redskins all locked arms during the National Anthem, and a handful of the players were kneeling. Jamison Crowder, Niles Paul, and Josh Doctson were among those kneeling. Dan Snyder and Bruce Allen were also on the field with their players. The Raiders saw their whole offensive line sitting on the bench and many others protesting.

8:33: INTERCEPTION! On the first pass of the game from Derek Carr, Montae Nicholson was able to cut off the pass intended for Amari Cooper downfield. Cooper had a step on his man, but Nicholson did well to break on the ball. The Redskins get the ball early with a chance to take a lead!

8:38: Vernon Davis gets the first, first down of the game for the Redskins! He catches a 26-yard pass and the Redskins are on the edge of field goal range.

8:45: That touchdown pass was the 75th of Cousins’ career. Per the team’s official Twitter, Cousins is just the sixth quarterback in franchise history to reach that mark.

8:47: The Redskins notch two sacks on Derek Carr in the team’s second defensive possession. Preston Smith was involved on both, combining with Jonathan Allen on the first one and getting the second solo. Smith is using his athleticism to beat Donald Penn, which was one of the keys to the game for the team. Redskins get the ball back.

8:51: Samaje Perine has carried the ball six times in the early going for the Redskins. It looks like he is going to be the workhorse for the team with Kelley out.

8:53: The Redskins couldn’t do anything on offense this time around. They punt back to the Raiders. Of note on the drive: Morgan Moses committed a false start. Moses has had a tough start to the 2017 season, so this is not a good sign. Of course, he is squaring off with Khalil Mack, so offering him a little slack is sensible.

8:58: Preston Smith as been absolutely incredible so far. He just had another key play, bringing down Marshawn Lynch for a loss on a third and 2. This forced the Raiders to punt. If Smith keeps this up, he could have a massive game.

9:03: The Redskins pick up another first down after a completion to Ryan Grant. Cousins has looked great to start this contest, and the Redskins have to be encouraged by what they have seen from him.

9:05: Kirk Cousins threw his first incompletion of the game to force a Redskins punt. Cousins has been great to start the contest and he is really helping the offense to move the ball.

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9:09: After the first quarter, the Redskins are leading 7-0. They will have a chance to stop the Raiders on a critical third down at the beginning of the second quarter.

9:13: Vernon Davis has looked good so far filling in for the injured Jordan Reed. He grabbed another catch, but a holding call on Terrelle Pryor cost the team on first down.

9:17: Khalil Mack picks up a sack after he beat Morgan Moses around the edge. Mack just made a nice play, and Moses held up long enough. The defense was just solid for the Raiders. On the ensuing punt, Fabian Moreau made his first career tackle as a Redskin by making a nice play as a gunner. He has a lot of potential to impact the special teams unit.

9:21: The Raiders picked up their first, first down of the contest with about 11:30 left in the second quarter. The Redskins defense has done well to limit them thus far, but they need to make sure they keep their effort up.

9:24: The Redskins pick up back to back first downs on a Samaje Perine run and a Ryan Grant catch. They’re over midfield and will have a chance to get into field goal range soon.

9:28: The Redskins have been methodical on this drive, working Perine in and spreading the ball around the field. Jamison Crowder and Terrelle Pryor have been involved and this looks like the type of offense that the team should be running.

9:30: The Redskins offense has been very good thus far. Kirk Cousins is in rhythm with his receivers while Samaje Perine is handling the lead back role well. If this methodical, run first offense continues to work, the Redskins will be in good shape moving forward.

9:35: Ryan Kerrigan just made a massive tackle for loss to force a third and long. This got the team to the two minute warning. The Redskins are still leading 14-0.

9:39: Zach Brown makes a terrific tackle to stop the Raiders. The Redskins will get the ball back. If they keep tackling like they have been, they will be in excellent shape moving forward.

9:46: The officials are reviewing the spot of a Vernon Davis first down catch. It will likely be overturned and the Redskins will face a fourth down.

9:50: At the half, the Redskins lead 14-0. If they continue to play lockdown defense, they will have a chance to win this game and improve to 2-1.

9:53: Be sure to vote in our halftime poll about the Redskins game!

10:07: The second half is underway. The Redskins are on offense and they are continuing to look good, as Chris Thompson picked up yet another first down. Josh Doctson did have a drop though and he still doesn’t have a catch during the 2017 season.

10:09: Thompson run was called back by about 7 yards due to a challenge by the Raiders. He was obviously down. Still, the Redskins have a first down!

10:17: The player that Josh Doctson beat on his touchdown pass was former Redskin David Amerson. The team knows how to beat him, and it showed at that point.

10:21: The Redskins just had the best defensive series of the game. They got excellent pressure on Carr, sacking him twice and D.J. Swearinger put an absolute shot on Marshawn Lynch. On the punt return, the Redskins were able to get the ball to the Oakland 40 thanks to some nifty moves by Jamison Crowder. They are looking to build on their 21-0 lead.

10:31: Jamison Crowder just muffed a punt with the Redskins set to get the ball back. It was the first mistake of the night for the Redskins, and now the Raiders are threatening to score.

10:42: Chris Thompson just had a 74 yard gain on a screen pass on third and 19. He is an ABSOLUTE beast. The Redskins had to settle for a field goal, but they now lead the Raiders 24-7!

10:53: The Redskins have the ball and a 17 point lead. They should look to run some clock as they try to secure their second victory.

10:55: The Redskins lose the ball on the first carry. Samaje Perine coughs it up. Jay Gruden will not be happy about that, as he hates fumbles more than anything else. The Raiders have the ball and are threatening to score.

11:00: Nice work by the Redskins defense. They hold the Raiders to a field goal after the fumble and they are still leading by two touchdowns. Samaje Perine is questionable to return with a hand injury. It’s 24-10.

11:05: The Redskins are driving again. They appear to be in good shape as they keep the chains moving.

11:16: The Raiders just have not looked right tonight at all. They almost went three and out, but went for it on fourth down. Carr scrambled for the first down, but time is running out for the Raiders.

11:22: The Raiders turn it over on fourth and 23. This one is virtually over!

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