Commander Country

Redskins Offense Fails to Score TD Again, Fall 19-9 To Vikings

The Redskins took on former quarterback Kirk Cousins and his Minnesota Vikings on Thursday Night Football.

Tony Thompson

Redskins Offense Fails to Score TD Again, Fall 19-9 To Vikings
Redskins Offense Fails to Score TD Again, Fall 19-9 To Vikings /

The Washington Redskins traveled to Minnesota to take on the VIkings in Week 8. After two strong defensive performances, they had hopes the could finally get enough offense to match the effort. Well, the defense tried their best, limiting Minnesota to just one touchdown despite a lot of yardage, but once again the offense wasn't a willing participant.

After Case Keenum was knocked out of the game at halftime, Dwayne Haskins replaced him and got only a few opportunities to throw the ball. The offense, which moved things in the first half grinded to a halt, scoring just one field goal in the second half of a 19-9 loss.

Haskins went 3-for-5 for just 33 yards and threw his fourth interception of the year in just two halves of relief effort. Adrian Peterson returned to Minnesota and ran the ball 14 times for 76 yards, but was completely out-shined by the new Vikings stud RB Dalvin Cook. After an injury-riddled start to his career, Cook is flying. He scored his ninth rushing touchdown of the season on 23 carries and 98 yards. Backup running back Alexander Mattison had his way, too, with 61 yards in support of QB Kirk Cousins, who passed for 285 yards.

Cousins, the former Washington signal caller, exacted his revenge on a franchise that didn't believe in committing to him long term. Relentlessly finding University Maryland product Stefon Diggs for seven receptions and 143 yards, Cousin completed all but three of his 28 throws for a 112.3 passer rating.

Washington falls to 1-7, Minnesota improves to 6-2. Here's how it all went down.

First Quarter

The Redskins win the toss and elect to defer which brings Kirk Cousins on the field to attempt to make his former team something they weren't willing to do long term with him, pay.

After an inauspicious start including a scramble for a first down from Cousins, the Vikings and Stefon Diggs looked to make a play early as he got wide open and made his way down field for what would have been a 32 yard play, if not for the hustle of and linebacker Cole Holcomb, who forced a fumble. Washington gets an early turnover and their first possession of their game at their own 25.

------

Minnesota may not have been ready for the first play from Bill Callahan and the Redskins, who decided to throw immediately after starting last week's game with ten consecutive runs.

A 3rd and 1 conversion by Adrian Peterson as Washington crossed midfield was nullified by a holding penalty, putting the team in a 3rd and 11 they converted on a pass to Wendell Smallwood as Case Keenum wormed his way out of trouble. Smallwood looked to be shaken up on the play, but there is no word on his status at this time.

No matter, Keenum is strip sacked by Danielle Hunter on the following play as he tried to step up in the pocket to avoid pressure. Two drives so. Two turnovers. Vikings take over at the Washington 46.

------

The Vikings go for it on fourth down, ultimately a successful run by Dalvin Cook to move the chains and keep the drive alive, however the Redskins defense stifles Minnesota, forcing them into a 50 yard field goal, which kicker Dan Bailey puts right through the uprights.

Minnesota 3, Washington 0

------

The Redskins need to figure out ways to get the ball to Terry McLaurin. He is absolutely the most dynamic player the team has offensively. He catches a pass and takes it up field for 17 yards getting the team near midfield.

After a pass brought up a 3rd and short, Washington finds McLaurin again on a curl route, easily converting. 

Last week Callahan's game plan fell flat, refusing to try to pass the ball. Whether that was due to rain or philosophy doesn't matter. Their best plays last week came in the passing game, and so far, despite his fumble, Keenum is playing awfully well. 

The Redskins will face a 3rd and 4 to start the second quarter after a run towards the far sideline lost a yard.

Second Quarter

Terry McLaurin draws a pass interference which gives the ball to the Redskins at the two yard-line. A heavy dose of McLaurin is just what the doctor ordered. On the very next play, Keenum is nearly picked after throwing the ball a full yard behind McLaurin. After getting away with that, a handoff to Adrian Peterson loses ground setting up another third down, which comes up short. A 21 yard field goal ties the game at three.

Washington 3, Minnesota 3

------

After a holding penalty, the Vikings hit a screen pass for 18 yards to Dalvin Cook and then a wide open Diggs for another 34 yards. On first and goal from the 10 Cousins ate the ball and took a sack by Matt Ionnadis. One play later he takes another, this by defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, forcing a field goal by Dan Bailey, which was successful.

Content is unavailable

In injury news, Quinton Dunbar is questionable to return with a hamstring injury while Josh Norman returned to the field as it seems a healthy Fabian Moreau has been pulled due to leaving Stefon Diggs unattended. Here is his most recent effort.

Minnesota 6, Washington 3

------

Stop reading if this has been said before, an unsuccessful first down run doesn't matter to Terry McLaurin who converts a second and 10 with ease. The Redskins are threatening their second trip to the red zone after a big play to Trey Quinn and an impressive run by Adrian Peterson that picked up 14 yards.

Keenum is sacked by Linval Joseph and fumbles again, this time the Redskins recover, setting up a 3rd and goal from the 12 yard-line. A screen pass fooled no one. Just after the two minute warning Dustin Hopkins makes his second field goal of the game, knotting the score at six.

A defensive stop would go a long way as Washington will start the second half with the ball.

Washington 6, Minnesota 6

------ 

The Redskins seem incapable of containing Cook especially on screen passes as two of them in four plays cover 46 yards, setting the Vikings up inside the 10 with under a minute to play and their full arsenal of timeouts. 

Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer lets the clock run down perhaps a bit more than would be advised and after a run play to Alexander Mattison uses his first time out with only 11 seconds to play in the half. Ultimately it didn't matter at Cook continues his destruction on the drive, hitting pay dirt to give the Vikings the lead.

Washington had a lot to feel good about before that last drive, and at the least the score is close, but coming up with only two field goals on drives that got into the 10 yard-line is a tough look.

Minnesota 13, Washington 6

Third Quarter

Case Keenum is being evaluated for a concussion which brings in rookie Dwayne Haskins for the second time this year. His first performance left a lot to be desired and has his work cut out down by a touchdown in a hostile environment.

The Redskins go three and out to start the half. 

------

The booming 64 yard punt by Tress Way put Minnesota in a bad spot on their first drive of the half. Stefon Diggs however, doesn't feel like being covered tonight, picking 40 yards through the air and an additional 15 for a helmet to helmet hit on the play by defensive back Jeremy Reaves who looks worse for wear. The Vikings are now in Redskins territory.

On an offensive note, Case Keenum has been ruled out with a concussion. The ball will be in the hands of Haskins for the rest of the night.

The Washington still has no answer for Diggs who has racked up 131 yards on just five catches, but a holding penalty put the Vikings in too big a whole to get out of. They settle for a field goal, putting the Redskins down 10 points with just over 8 and a half minutes to play in the third quarter.

Minnesota 16, Washington 6

The first play of the drive was a nearly intercepted, but instead ended up in the hands of Adrian Peterson who picked up 21 yards. The very next play, the ball was again in the hands of the future Hall of Famer who broke off a 29 yard run, passing LaDainianTomlinson and Jerome Bettis to become the sixth leading rusher in NFL history. 

Content is unavailable

On a second and 6 Haskins gets buried for a 10 yard sack, leading to the team burining their first time out, and a simple screen pass. The bright side is Dustin Hopkins who makes his third kick of the night, cutting the score to a touchdown lead.

Minnesota 16, Washington 9

------

The Vikings call a quarterback sneak to attempt to convert a 4th and less than a yard, but the Washington defense holds strong, stuffing Cousins and thwarting the drive. Haskins and company take over in Minnesota territory.

------

Injury update on Jeremy Reaves, he has been ruled out of the rest of tonight's game with a concussion.

Haskins squanders a scoring opportunity, sailing a pass over the head of a wide open Terry McLaurin into the hands of Anthony Harris. The ThVikings take over inside their own 20 yard line.

Fourth Quarter

The Vikings respond with a 12 play 59 yard drive that results stalls out for another field goal, but that may be just enough to push this game out of reach for Washington who hasn't been able to sustain any real offense without Keenum.

------

The Redskins go 3 and out as Haskins is sacked for the second time in the half. 

------

With the clock as the true enemy, the Vikings rip a page out of the Washington playbook and run for 15 straight plays to ice the game, even converting a 3rd and 19 into a first down without putting the ball in the air. 

 It's the two minute warning and Washington is out of timeouts. A moment of nostalgia for Adrian Peterson getting a bit of applause from the Vikings faithful he played in front of for so long after the stadium announced his leapfrogging to No. 6 on the all-time rushing list.

------

The Redskins lose again, dropping to 1-7 on the season and with real questions all over the organization. First up will be what to do at the quarterback position. Bill Callahan and company will have 10 days to figure out who will get the nod if Keenum or Colt McCoy are at full health. It may be time to make the switch to Haskins to get him the reps during the week that he sorely needs.

Final Score: Minnesota 19, Washington 9

Published
Tony Thompson
TONY THOMPSON

Home/News