In the words of the great Bill Cowher, "so what if we won ugly?" That's exactly what the Redskins did yesterday in their 24-22 win over the Bucs...they won ugly.
It was tale of two halfs for both teams. The Redskins came out fast and hard in the first half and rang up 21 points on a Buccaneers defense that prides itself in run defense. Alfred Morris had already surpasses the most yards allowed on the ground by the Buccaneers before we even got to half time.
With about five minutes to go in the first half, Redskins rookie running back Alfred Morris had what is possibly his best run of the season. He took the hand-off to the left side and found the hole early and exploded through it. Once he got to the second level he made two more Buccaneers miss before dashing 39 yards to the endzone for a touchdown.
Morris finished with 29 carries for 113 and one touchdown. Morris gained nearly 90 yards in the first half.
Check that stat one more time: he gained nearly 90 of his 113 yards in the first half. So what happened in the second half?
The Redskins offense simply came apar t in the second half. Robert Griffin III had a sensational first half that even included a five yard touchdown run on a quarterback draw play. In the second half, however, the Redskins offense was hard pressed to get anything going.
What made things worse that the Buccaneers offense finally found their spark. Receivers Mike Williams and Vincent Jackson came to life and, with the help of quarterback Josh Freeman, led the way for the late third quarter/fourth quarter comeback.
It was all setup late in the third quarter when Freeman connected with Williams deep down the right side for a 65 yard pass play. Just a few plays later, Freeman then found Jackson for a seven yard touchdown pass and the rally was on.
Going back to a Connor Barth field goal just before the half, the Buccaneers scored 20 unanswered points against the Redskins. Two of the scores were touchdown passes. Following the 65 yard pitch and catch to Williams, Freeman started to find his groove.
With 1:42 left in the game, the Redskins found themselves down by one after Barth hit a field goal to put the Buccaneers in the lead. It was time for Robert Griffin III to have his first two minute drill comeback.
Griffin started it off with a 15 yard pass to Santana Moss. It was Moss' second catch of the day. He then follow that when he found Fred Davis for a team high fourth time on the day for 20 yards. Griffin then kicked off the hurry up and found Evan Royster for four yards and then Griffin himself scrambled for 15 yards all the way down the Tampa Bay 26 yard line.
Griffin the connected with Moss for a third time for a seven yard completion to the Buccaneers 24 yard line. In just over a minute and a half, Robert Griffin III had directed the offense down the field and had set-up Billy Cundiff for the game winning 41 yard field goal.
Now, that field goal was by no means automatic. Cundiff had already missed three kicks from 47, 57, and 31 yards away. This one from 41 yards had everyone on pins and needles.
Cundiff booted the ball and sailed from right to left across the upright and just barely squeaked inside the left upright and through. With three second left, the Redskins were winning 24-22.
Tampa Bay would try a little trickery on the kickoff return, but ended up fumbling the ball out of bounds. It was official. Robert Griffin III had successfully completed his first two minute drill comeback.
Robert Griffin III finish the game 26/35 with 323 yards passing. He also carried the ball seven times for 43 yards and a touchdown. Alfred Morris was the games leading rusher with 113 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown. His mom was in attendance at the game.
Fred Davis led the way for the receivers. The Pro Bowl tight end finished with four receptions for 70 yards. Josh Morgan also had four receptions for 62 yards. Leonard Hankerson had the most catches with seven to go along with 57 yards receiving. In his first game since week one, Pierre Garcon had one catch for 20 yards and he recovered a fumble in the endzone for the Redskins first touchdown.
Safety Madieu Williams led the defense in tackles with seven. Reed Doughty followed with six tackles. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall had the defenses only takeaway of the day when he intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter.
Next week, the Redskins take their 2-2 record and head home to take on the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons are 4-0 with wins against the Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, and Panthers. The secondary will once again be tested by the precision of Matt Ryan and his weapons of Julio Jones and Roddy White. Kickoff is at 1 PM EST.
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