Redskins dominate Cardinals with energy and efficiency, win 24-6

Slow starts have plagued the Redskins in recent seasons. That wasn’t the case today.

In recent years, the Washington Redskins have squandered opportunities in the first week of the season. They’ve turned the ball over. They’ve left points on the field, and they’ve been inconsistent. Jay Gruden, as a head coach, is 0-4 in season openers.

Or he was.

The oft-criticized leader of Washington football came into this Week 1 game with something to prove, as did his team. A vast majority of experts picked the Cardinals to get the win at home, brushing off the Redskins as an insignificant opponent. Insignificance, however, was what the Cardinals embodied for three and a half quarters, while the Redskins dominated their first game of the season.

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Under Alex Smith, who finished with 21 completions on 30 attempts, 255 yards and two touchdowns, the offense was efficient, chewing clock for most of the game. Adrian Peterson re-energized the team’s running game with _ yards and a touchdown on _ carries. Chris Thompson sustained his reputation as a versatile weapon, notching over 100 total yards and a touchdown. Jordan Reed also factored into the equation, and the offensive line, leading the way, was very solid.

On defense, the Redskins were just as consistent. The defensive line wasn’t as dominant as some would expect, but the linebackers flew around the field, and the defensive backs were incredibly disruptive. Ryan Anderson notched the first sack of his career, and Quinton Dunbar was the gold standard at cornerback, amassing two pass deflections, an interception, and countless reps of lockdown coverage.

The Cardinals got a glimpse of hope late with a long punt return, but just when flashbacks of blown leads started to make a resurgence, Washington’s defense made a fourth-down stop. Overall, it was a very complete game for Washington, and for the most part, players stayed healthy. Cam Sims and Trey Quinn both left the game with injuries, but other than those two, Washington was able to keep their team in tact. That, plus getting a win in the left-hand column, makes for a very good week.

Next. Redskins vs. Cardinals Game Thread. dark

Washington brought a different brand of football to the table today, and it ended up being successful; they won the game by a score of 24-6. For now, Washington is an undefeated 1-0. And if they keep playing like they did against Arizona, more wins could come soon.

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