Redskins Halftime Takeaways: Too many mistakes on both sides of the ball

Things didn’t start well for the Redskins in the first half. They got off on the wrong foot, and the defense is falling apart.

The Redskins scored a touchdown to cut the score to 13-6 in the second quarter. At the time, it looked like they were getting ready to stage a comeback. However, a 75-yard touchdown toss from Philip Rivers to Tyrell Williams dashed those hopes. Because of this, the Redskins are trailing 23-6 at the half and they have little hope to make a comeback.

The Redskins offense couldn’t get going early on. The unit performed very poorly and all aspects were to blame. But as the half went along, Kirk Cousins stepped up and helped carry the team.

Cousins started the game accurately, and save for one mistake we will delve into later, he threw the ball nearly perfectly. On a key fourth and two, Cousins was able to move outside the pocket to find Niles Paul and he threw a bullet at a height that only Paul could get for a big gain. Later on the drive, Cousins had a third and 11 and he stepped up in the pocket away from pressure, and he lofted a perfect pass to Vernon Davis on the right side of the end zone. These plays helped keep the Redskins in the game.

More from Riggo's Rag

However, Cousins did have one very bad play. Immediately after the Chargers scored, Cousins took the ball at the 25-yard line and lofted a pass into double coverage. The corner, Trevor Williams came over and knocked the ball into the hands of linebacker Kyle Emmanuel for an easy pick. This was completely preventable, and the throw was a mistake that a quality starter shouldn’t have made.

On defense, things didn’t go as smoothly for the Redskins. The team can’t cover anyone. When Josh Norman let Williams get by him for the long score, it was clear that the Chargers weren’t realistically going to get stopped at any time in the game. Washington allowed 354 yards and numerous chunk plays. The Chargers clearly need the win more than the Redskins, and that is showing.

Washington really shot themselves in the foot early in the contest. On the Chargers first touchdown drive, the team had two major penalties called on them, including a completely unnecessary unsportsmanlike conduct on rookie Ryan Anderson. This allowed the Chargers to rip off chunks of yardage without even snapping the ball, and then Hunter Henry did the rest.

Speaking of Henry, the Redskins have to figure out a way to slow him down. The team has struggled to contain tight ends all year, so Henry always would have figured to give them trouble. Still, on the Chargers scoring drive, he caught three passes for 42 yards and the score. They have to figure out more ways to double cover him while not allowing Keenan Allen too many opportunities. That’s easier said than done, and the team is definitely missing the injured Montae Nicholson right now.

Next: Redskins game thread for Week 14 vs. Los Angeles Chargers

As a final note, the Redskins injuries are continuing to pile up. Backup running back Byron Marshall went down with a hamstring injury on a kickoff where he just pulled up lame. Losing him will push LeShun Daniels into the backup running back role, but it’s doubtful that the Redskins will use him unless there’s an emergency.

Home/Commanders News