The Redskins responded well to their loss against the Falcons, ending their NFC South series with a win against the Buccaneers.
Many of the issues that had plagued the Washington Redskins in earlier games continued to rear their ugly heads today, but the team still found a way to compete on the Gulf Coast, besting the Buccaneers by a score of 16 to 3.
The Redskins have made it apparent this season that closing out wins is more important than cleaning up wins. This team plays unpolished football, but they find unconventional ways to win, and at the end of the day, winning is the only thing that matters.
The Redskins notched their sixth win of the season today against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, besting Dirk Koetter’s crew by a score of . The offense didn’t have a particularly successful day, missing several key opportunities, but the defense made a difference, forcing four turnovers (two forced fumbles and two interceptions). Greg Stroman got his first career interception, while Josh Norman logged his second of the season. Preston Smith and Ryan Anderson also got in on the turnover action, making key plays in the second half.
It’s worth noting that, if the Redskins played ugly football, the Buccaneers’ football performance on Sunday cracked mirrors. The now 3-6 Buccaneers couldn’t stop beating themselves at home. Chandler Catanzaro missed several crucial field goals, and Ryan Fitzpatrick was far more “tragic” than “magic” against Washington’s defense. The Buccaneers’ own miscues were paramount in ensuring the Redskins’ victory, and better teams won’t concede to Washington’s ugly style so easily.
That said, a win is a win, and the Redskins got another one today. Jay Gruden made the right plays when it counted, and although the defense gave up 480 yards, they never broke, and they grabbed the momentum back when it seemed like the Buccaneers might be making progress. This was a morale-building win for Gruden’s squad. Now at 6-3, they need to stay humble heading into next week. Their quest to the playoffs is far from over.