Another exercise in futility for hapless Denver
Defense lets up after promising start, while Osweiler’s offense nearly goes without a touchdown
Md. — As his mind wandered to whether it was his final home game as the Washington’s starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins had a bigger concern early against the Denver Broncos and their top-ranked defense.
“After the first couple of possessions, I didn’t know if we were going to get 100 yards on them,” Cousins said.
Cousins and the Redskins rebounded from losing 2 yards on their first two drives to put up 386 yards and three touchdowns against the Broncos in a 27-11 rout Sunday. Cousins was 19 of 37 with TD passes to Jamison Crowder, Josh Doctson and Vernon Davis and an interception, and managed the game well.
“It just came down to protecting, making the throws, making the catches and converting,” said Cousins, the first quarterback in Washington history with three seasons of 25 or more TD passes and needs 65 yards for his third in a row with 4,000-plus yards. “It was an imperfect game, certainly, but when you have a defense playing at such a high level, it kept us in the game and kept giving us a chance, and then we finally got rolling and made enough plays to pull away.”
Washington’s 386 offensive yards are third most by a Denver opponent this season, behind only Philadelphia and New England. The Broncos came in giving up an average of 276.8 yards a game.
The Redskins (7-8) came 78 seconds from not allowing a touchdown for a second consecutive game for the first time since the 1970 AFL-
NFL merger. Washington, which allowed a combined 68 points in its previous two games, forced three turnovers.
“That’s the name of the game,” said linebacker Zach Vigil, who recovered a fumble. “The more turnovers a defense can get and get the ball back to the offense, just gives you a great opportunity to win the game.”
After a week of uncertainty, Brock Osweiler started at QB over Paxton Lynch for the Broncos (5-10) and was 22 of 38 for 193 yards with a fumble and an interception.
“I’ve been a backup in this league, I’ve been a starter in this league,” Osweiler said. “I know how to prepare with no reps and I know how to prepare with all the reps. So was it ideal? No. But is it an excuse? Absolutely not.”
C.J. Anderson scored a late touchdown and was the leading rusher with 88 yards on 16 carries.
KERRIGAN’S MILESTONE
Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan sacked Osweiler twice and has 11 this season, becoming the first Redskins player with 10 or more in consecutive seasons since Dexter Manley and Charles Mann in 1985 and 1986. His 69½ sacks are tied for fourth since entering the NFL in 2011, behind only Von Miller, J.J. Watt and Cameron Wake.
UP NEXT
Broncos: Host Kansas City next Sunday.
Redskins: Finish at the New York Giants next Sunday.