Game Recap: Redskins Fall to Browns
August 9, 2019
by Steve Thomas
The Washington Redskins mostly laid an egg Thursday night against the up and coming Cleveland Browns, going down in defeat by a score of 30 – 10. The Redskins did not look sharp in any phase of the game and left with more questions than answers on a night that likely brought disappointment as a result of yet another poorly played preseason game.
The game started off in an inauspicious manner, with Baker Mayfield and the Browns starters, minus star receivers Jarvis Landry and long-time Redskins nemesis Odell Beckham, Jr., easily carving up the Redskins defense for a 7 play, 89 yard touchdown drive that took only a little over 2 minutes of game time. Washington featured a few defensive starters in this first series, but sat most of its big names. Regardless, Mayfield and company began the game in the two minute drill, finding little resistance in completing passes of 11, 14, 12, 14, and 24 yards enroute to a touchdown.
The Redskins sat most of their starters on offense as well, with #1 quarterback Colt McCoy, running backs Adrian Peterson and Derrius Guice, receivers Paul Richardson Jr., Terry McLaurin, and Josh Doctson, and others all on the bench. Backup quarterback Case Keenum started the game but did not look sharp. He was unable to get the offense into gear in the team’s first offensive series, thanks in part to a barrage of penalties, including four holding calls in just 3 plays.
After a Browns 3 and out, the Redskins were able to get on the board with a 46 yard touchdown pass from Keenum to 2017 rookie receiver Robert Davis, who was wide open thanks to an obvious blown coverage in the Cleveland secondary. Unfortunately, this play proved to be the highlight of the game for Washington.
The referees appeared to give the Redskins a gift later in the quarter when the officials refused to overturn a questionable incompletion call in the end zone on a Drew Stanton – Antonio Callaway pass attempt defended by rookie corner Jimmy Moreland. Callaway appeared to have control of the ball with both knees down in bounds, but the referees on the field called the pass incomplete and the call stood after a lengthy review. Cleveland proceeded to fumble near the goal line two plays later, ending the scoring threat, but the Redskins were unable to take advantage of the turnover. The first quarter ended with a score of 7 – 7. Keenum left the game with 4 completions in 9 attempts for 60 yards and 1 touchdown.
Prized rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins entered the game in the second quarter and showed both the highs and lows of his game at this point in his career, demonstrating that his status on the third string at this point is well deserved. Over the course of two quarters of play, Haskins showed both elite arm talent, the likes of which the Redskins haven’t seen in quite a while, and poor, slow decision-making and bad reads that led to two interceptions, both in the second quarter. His first interception was run back for a touchdown. The Browns tacked on a field goal and the half ended with the Redskins down 7 – 17.
Haskins played the third quarter and was able to lead the team to a field goal on a 14 play, 63 yard drive to narrow the score to 10 – 17. With all of their starters long out of the game, the Browns committed a turnover on a fumble by receiver Ishmael Hyman, but the Redskins were again unable to capitalize and went 3 and out on their possession. The quarter ended with the score remaining 10 – 17. Haskins finished his day with 8 completions in 14 attempts for 117 yards, 2 interceptions, and a 44.9 quarterback rating.
Things went from bad to worse in the fourth quarter, with the Redskins offense, now led by fourth stringer Josh Woodrum, unable to accomplish anything of note. The Redskins surrendered another touchdown to the Browns on a 11 play, 80 yard drive to make the score 10 – 24. Special teams later allowed the Browns to score again on a 65 yard punt return for a touchdown to make the score 10 – 30. For his part, Woodrum went 6 for 11 for 44 yards, 1 interception, and a 26.3 quarterback rating.
The Redskins running game was totally ineffective all night. Running back Craig Reynolds led the way with just 21 yards on 9 carries for an average of 2.3 yards per carry. Haskins demonstrated his ability to scramble, with two carries for 17 yards. Second year player Darvin Kidsy was the team’s leading receiver with 3 receptions for 86 yards.
Defensively, several players dropped potential interceptions, which had a dramatic affect on the game, although with the offense essentially ineffective, the team being able to capitalize on those missed turnovers seems unlikely.
The only bright spot for the Redskins was that the team stayed mostly injury free, with only linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton having to leave the game due a chest injury. The game was yet another in a long line of preseason stinkers for a team that can’t seem to get out of its own way in the early going each year.
The Redskins face the Cincinnati Bengals next Thursday night in the team’s 2019 debut game at Fed Ex Field.