National Football League

Washington Redskins Breakdown: Team Puts Forth Solid Effort In Tie

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:37 p.m. ET

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Oct 28, 2016; London United Kingdom; Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden at practice at the Twyford Avenue Sports Ground in preparation for game 17 of the NFL International Series against the Cincinnati Bengals. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Redskins and the Cincinnati Bengals tied on Sunday. Here is an in-depth look at what happened in the contest.

The Washington Redskins had numerous chances to win Sunday’s game against the Bengals. They had a chance for a game winning drive at the end of regulation and a potential game winning chip shot in overtime. However, they could not convert. As a result, the contest ended in a 27-27 tie, the second in as many weeks for the NFL.

Now, the Redskins put together a solid performance, so there is definitely some good stuff to build around. Many of their players put together strong performances, and collectively the team should be happy with their effort. They may not have won, but at least they did not lose.

With all of that in mind, here is a look at the most important parts of this week’s game. It is time for this week’s Redskins Breakdown.

Oct 30, 2016; London, United Kingdom; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) looks down field under pressure from Cincinnati Bengals safety Shawn Williams (36) during the second half at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports

Passing Game: Kirk Cousins Plays One Of Season’s Best Games

Part of the reason why the Redskins were able to stay in the game late was the play of Kirk Cousins. Cousins posted some huge numbers in this contest, going 38-for-56 for a whopping 458 yards. He also tossed two touchdowns, though he was guilty of an interception.

Still, despite the few mistakes, Cousins was phenomenal. He was able to constantly rip off chunks of yardage and find the open receiver. He was surgical in his destruction of the Bengals defense. Cousins rarely through to a well-covered man, and the stats are indicative of how he played. Walter Cherepinsky of WalterFootball.com offered this analysis of Cousins’ performance in his weekly game recaps.

Cousins had a mostly positive performance, but he was guilty of some mistakes. As mentioned, he threw short of the goal line on third down. He was also picked off on a deep shot to DeSean Jackson. However, he moved the chains well for most of the game, and he deserves credit for having his team in position to win with a short kick.

This was definitely a strong game for Cousins, and it came at a great time. The second year starter can go into the bye week with some confidence. Maybe he will even be able to improve his performance in the second half of the season.

Oct 30, 2016; London, United Kingdom; Washington Redskins wide receiver Jamison Crowder (80) is defended by Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (27) during game 17 of the NFL International Series at Wembley Stadium. The Redskins and Bengals tied 27-27. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Passing Game: Jamison Crowder, Jordan Reed Prove To Be Playmakers

If one thing has become clear over the first half of the season, it is that Cousins loves throwing over the middle of the field. Cousins seems to constantly target his tight ends and slot receivers, and he is lucky to have two of the best weapons at those positions.

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On Sunday, both Jamison Crowder and Jordan Reed were terrific. They each saw 13 targets and caught 9 passes to co-lead the team in catches. Crowder ended up totaling 107 yards and an impressive touchdown. He ran by a couple of Bengals players and pushed his way into the end zone. He has the ability to turn every one of his catches into a touchdown and he is a huge asset.

As for Reed, this game was a great return for him. He came up just a yard short of the 100 yard mark and also added a touchdown. He was able to create mismatches against the Bengals linebacker unit and he is going to have a huge second half. Reed and Vernon Davis are a strong duo at the tight end position.

The Redskins have to be happy with their passing offense once again. They are finally hitting their groove, and in the second half of the season they could be one of the best units in the entire league.

Oct 30, 2016; London, United Kingdom; Washington Redskins running back Robert Kelley (32) rushes during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports

Running Game: Rob Kelley Impresses Carrying Workload

The Redskins got some bad news early in the week when it was declared that Matt Jones would miss the London game. Jones was dealing with a knee injury and the team did not want to risk injuring him further. As a result, the keys were handed over to rookie Rob Kelley. In the lead back role, Kelley seriously flashed.

Kelley got a whopping 21 carries during the contest and he was able to turn them into 87 yards. He also recorded the first rushing touchdown of his young NFL career. Kelley was very strong between the tackles, and he was able to rip off a few nice runs. Overall, he showcased his strong, downhill running style. His physicality will make him a weapon and he probably has earned a bigger role in the rotation.

That said, moving forward the Redskins backfield could be a true committee situation. Kelley and Jones could end up splitting carries with Chris Thompson being mixed in as a third down/change of pace back. This rotation would likely be good news for the Redskins, as it will keep all of their players fresh. Thanks to the emergence of Kelley in this game, the Washington offense should be in better shape moving forward.

Oct 30, 2016; London, United Kingdom; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) is defended by Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman (24) in the second quarter during game 17 of the NFL International Series at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Defense: Josh Norman Struggles With Penalties

I did not expect Josh Norman to win the battle against A.J. Green this week. Norman had been limited in practice due to a concussion, so I expected that he may have more trouble than usual against Green. After all, Green is one of the best receivers in the league, so there would be no shame in allowing some yardage to him.

In the contest, Norman did have some troubles with Green. Green caught nine passes for 121 yards, but Norman did a good job of limiting Green late in the contest. However, he did struggle with penalties. He was called for a whopping five on the day, but he was not happy about it.

Norman was particularly angry with field judge Brad Freeman. Norman called out the third year official after the game, and said the following according to ESPN’s John Keim:

Who’s No. 88? He sucked. I’ll be honest with you, he was terrible. I feel some of the plays going on out there, I mean it was terrible. It’s just how I’m feeling and how the team feels right now. It needs to be watched and reprimanded. They reprimand us, so what’s the reprimand for them?

Norman will likely face a fine for these comments. That said, his criticism was warranted. It seemed like he was being targeted by the referees and while some of his calls were worthy of the flag, others were skeptical at best. I will be interested to see what the league has to say about the officiating in the next couple of days.

Defense: Su’a Cravens Comes Up Clutch

One of the brightest spots on the Redskins defense this season has been the performance of rookie linebacker Su’a Cravens. The second round pick out of USC is becoming one of the best coverage linebackers in the league, and he could be one of the best overall in the near future. In Sunday’s game, he was all over the field and had a huge day.

In my immediate postgame reaction, I noted that Cravens looked strong in the fourth quarter and overtime.

The rookie linebacker was absolutely clutch late in the game. In the fourth quarter and overtime, Cravens wreaked havoc in the backfield and picked up a sack. He also deflected a pass at the line of scrimmage to help derail a Bengals drive.

These plays were huge in limiting the Bengals offense and it really helped to throw Andy Dalton late. I would not be surprised to see Cravens earn a starting job by the end of the season. He definitely has the potential to be a key piece of the Redskins defense in the coming years.

Oct 30, 2016; London, United Kingdom; Washington Redskins placekicker Dustin Hopkins (3) reacts after missing a 34-yard field goal in overtime against the Cincinnati Bengals during game 17 of the NFL International Series at Wembley Stadium. The Redskins and Bengals tied 27-27. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Final Notes: Dustin Hopkins Is Regressing; Ties Are Annoying

After a terrific start to the 2016 season, it appears as though the Washington Redskins may not be as set at the kicker position as we initially though. Dustin Hopkins simply has not played well over the last few weeks. He has struggled from long range, but it now appears that his confidence is dwindling. The kick he missed in overtime versus the Bengals was atrocious. He seriously cost the team a win, and he needs to get back on track. Otherwise, the Skins may have to look for a new kicker this offseason. That said, Hopkins still has talent. He just needs to regain his confidence to improve his play.

Perhaps the anger I am directing at Hopkins should also be directed at the NFL. I really dislike ties. It is just such an anticlimactic way for a game to end. Granted, it makes the last five minutes of overtime that much more exciting, but when it ends in a draw, it is disappointing for everyone. Both teams, the fans, and the league. Everyone is left to wonder what could have happened.

Just compare the end of the Redskins-Bengals game to that of the Raiders-Bucs game. The Raiders score a touchdown with less than two minutes left in overtime. It came on a big play, and the announcers were roaring at the result of the game. Then, you get the Redskins game, where Hopkins misses a field goal and that essentially ends it. There is no big finish. The NFL has to consider changing the overtime rules, just because ties are some anticlimactic.

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