Redskins Recap: Team handles unpredictability well in close win

The Redskins edged out the stingy San Francisco 49ers 26-24 at home on Sunday. It was a little too close for comfort, but a win is a win.

The Redskins have some excuses for this close win. Some would say they needed to win by more, and some would call it a down game. While I won’t disagree with those statements, they can’t be judged the same as previous opponents to San Francisco.

The Redskins came into the game with a bevy of injuries, and they left with even more. They also bore witness to a monumental offensive change for the 49ers. Game planning for Brian Hoyer the whole week, the injury-ridden Redskins defense was suddenly tasked with defending a quarterback they barely knew about, Iowa rookie C.J. Beathard.

All things considered, any win is a good win for the Redskins, and now they can start focusing on next week’s game at Philadelphia. But we’re not quite done thinking about this game. Let’s recap real quick and go over what happened.

To start, it was a pretty inconsistent outing for the Redskins, but that’s understandable for the defense. For the offense, it was more of a concern, but the unit came through when they needed to, especially in the second half. Kirk Cousins can be credited with giving the offense life. Although he didn’t find much success going deep (rather, he found one ugly interception), he was efficient moving the football, and he showed more of that same intelligence and focus he showed against the Chiefs on Monday Night.

In the end, Cousins finished with well over 300 yards and 3 total touchdowns, 2 passing and 1 rushing. He did what he needed to do to keep the Redskins in front, and going forward, we should see more and more from him as he continues to find his rhythm. Hopefully, the running game also improves, as it was underwhelming against the 49ers. The offensive line struggled blocking for ball carriers, and in the weeks approaching, they’ll face tougher matchups. Until they get consistent in that area, it will be a concern, as it threatens the versatility of the offense.

On defense, the team generated quite a bit of pressure, but it didn’t amount into enough sacks and incompletions. C.J. Beathard did a nice job of getting the ball out quick and crisp throughout the game, but on the final drive, when he was pressured with taking the lead, he threw a pass too quick, and it was picked off by Kendall Fuller to ice the game. The 49ers offense moved the ball at will throughout the second half, but in the end, the defense came through.

That was a theme today. The Redskins weren’t flashy. And yes, they could even be considered sloppy. But they did what they needed to do. They finished, and they got the win. They’re now 3-2, and they’ve solidified their place in the NFC East, sitting one and a half games behind the Philadelphia Eagles. And with a win next week, they can take another gigantic leap.

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The biggest takeaway from the game is this. Through opponent substitutions and hampering injuries, the Redskins handled unpredictability well. And in the coming weeks, they’ll look to do the same.