Redskins Halftime Takeaways: Team has brilliant, complete first half
By Ian Cummings
The Redskins have long been criticized for their slow starts in years past. They came into this week with pressure on their shoulders to buck the trend.
It was believed, coming into the game, that the Washington Redskins would have a good opportunity to do so against the Cardinals. In actuality, no team is a sure victory in the NFL (except maybe the Buffalo Bills). But the Cardinals are a team the Redskins match up well with on paper, and today, they were given a chance to translate that to the field.
With the first half now in the books, we can say that the Redskins have had some success against the Cardinals. They lead the game by a score of 21-0.
Yes. 21. To zero.
In the first quarter, both the offense and defense were spectacular. The Redskins were electric running the football, rushing for 97 yards in the first two quarters. Adrian Peterson led the way with 53 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, but he and Chris Thompson combined for a deadly, versatile duo out of the backfield.
In addition to the running game, the passing game was also very efficient. Alex Smith didn’t take many risks, but he also didn’t mistakes, and he was very precise with his throws, allowing receivers to get yards after the catch. He ended the half with 17 completions on 20 attempts, 171 yards, and two touchdowns, one to Thompson and one to Jordan Reed. Washington’s offense was a well-oiled machine in the first half, bringing back a brand of hard-nosed football that’s exciting to watch.
The Redskins dominated the time of possession battle on offense, and on defense, they did a very good job limiting the Cardinals’ weapons as much as possible. The Cardinals were held to no points through much of the first half. Individual standouts included Josh Norman, Quintoin Dunbar, Zach Brown, and D.J. Swearinger. All of those players showcased flawless tackling, and Dunbar in particular played very fast, making a key deflection late in the half.
Next. Redskins vs. Cardinals Prediction Duel. dark
The success early clearly energized the team; the defense in particular had plenty of synergy, and if this continues in the second half, the Redskins should be able to get their first season-opening win under Jay Gruden. So far, they’ve shown utter dominance. Of course, playing four quarters is the biggest challenge. Washington has been up to the task so far. Now, we must wait to see if it continues.