Redskins Recap: Team sneaks by in stingy field goal face-off

The Redskins came into their first home game of 2018 looking to put together a compete game, and a win. They did both.

The Washington Redskins‘ matchup with the New York Jets in Week 2 of preseason was a low stakes matchup, but despite that, there was plenty to gain for a team looking to introduce new players and find clarity in the midst of hotly contested position battles.

Washington fought hard for much of the game, in what was primarily a defensive stalemate and a full-blown field goal face-off. At one point, Washington led by a score of 12-3, with Dustin Hopkins converting four red zone field goals. Six total field goals went through the uprights in today’s matchup.

The defense held off the Jets for a good portion of the game, and at one point, they were downright dominant. The Redskins starting front seven manhandled the Jets’ line, and Daron Payne notched his first sack with the Redskins. Even when the Redskins’ second-team defense came in, they still handled the Jets’ starters fairly well.

Only in the fourth quarter, when Kevin Hogan and the Redskins’ third string defense came in, did the Jets gain any kind of momentum. Teddy Bridgewater put the first touchdown on the board with a crisp strike to Clemson product Charone Peake. The two teams traded empty possessions for much of the second half, and in the end, the Redskins sneaked by on a game-winning field goal by Dustin Hopkins, winning 15-13.

Regardless of the result, it’s encouraging that Washington came out of this game with no major injuries to report. Samaje Perine left the game early with an ankle injury, but it’s not believed to be serious. No other starters suffered any scares, and when they played together, the Redskins’ starting units, on both offense and defense, were largely effective.

In the coming weeks, Washington needs to work on strengthening their depth. The team is noticeably better than it was last year, but once the second and third stringers come in, the team’s momentum undergoes a noticeable downward shift. The Redskins, under normal circumstances, won’t have to rely on those players in the regular season. But as we saw in 2017, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.