Head coach Jay Gruden. (Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, Md. - If winning cures all, then the Redskins (2-2) are a prime example of it. Coming into the game with a bevy of injuries, and taking some more personnel blows throughout, the 'Skins dug deep in the 4th quarter to pull out a 31-20 win over the Cleveland Browns (0-4).
The Redskins were already without Chesapeake native DeAngelo Hall, who tore his ACL, is out for the season. Center Kory Lichtensteiger injured his calf in the win, and is also done for the year. Bashaud Breeland and Shawn Lauvao injured ankles in the first half - neither played this game, but it wasn't enough to falter the 'Skins.
During the game, the Redskins lost Ryan Kerrigan to an elbow injury, and he did not return. In the middle of the 4th quarter the 'Skins then lost LB Will Compton to an injury (he later returned).
The offense had an outburst in the first half, getting two touchdown throws from Kirk Cousins to tight end Jordan Reed. Reed came into the day with 0 touchdowns. Cousins threw for 3 touchdowns on the day, with the other going to running back Chris Thompson in the fourth quarter.
Speaking of running backs, Matt Jones had his 2nd career 100-yard rushing game with 117 yards on 22 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown run to seal the game for the 'Skins.
On the defensive side of the ball, takeaways helped the 'Skins get out of a trap game. The 'Skins forced two fumbles and a clutch-time interception to thwart the Browns when they were driving. Josh Norman was on the receiving end of a Cody Kessler pass that gave him his first pick of the season.
The Browns are arguably the worst team in the NFL, but Redskins QB Kirk Cousins, the guy who replaced RG3, didn't want to hear anything about that.
"I just don’t see it as a trap game," Cousins insisted. "I don’t see any game in the NFL as a trap game, I mean we’re 1-2. What are we feeling comfortable about, I mean we have to win in the sense that we want to get to 2-2, and we got a lot to play for. We’re at home. So, I think those words just don’t even enter my, or our, vocabulary."
News 3 Sports Director Adam Winkler is on-hand at FedEx Field. He'll have comprehensive coverage of the Browns vs. Redskins game during the Checkered Flag Sports Report at 6:30 and 11 p.m. on News 3, and at 10 p.m. on WGNT.
