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Redskins’ self-inflicted wounds in a 17-6 loss in Houston ruin Jay Gruden’s debut Redskins’ self-inflicted damage in 17-6 loss to Houston ruins Jay Gruden’s debut
(about 2 hours later)
HOUSTON — Jay Gruden knew that his team — particularly his young quarterback and the offense — might have some struggles out of the gates as they took on a Houston Texans team led by a fierce defensive front and Pro Bowl pass rusher J.J. Watt. HOUSTON — Jay Gruden knew that his team — particularly his young quarterback and the offense — might struggle out of the gates as it took on a Houston Texans team led by a fierce defensive front and Pro Bowl pass rusher J.J. Watt.
The first-year coach this week said it’d be on him to make the right calls to help Robert Griffin III settle find comfort in the offense, while also trying to find ways to keep Watt & Co. off balance. The first-year coach this week said it’d be on him to make the right calls to help Robert Griffin III find comfort in the offense, while also trying to find ways to keep Watt & Co. off balance.
Gruden did display a tailor-made game plan that gave his offense a chance to win the game. He also received a strong backing from an improved defense. Gruden displayed a tailor-made game plan that gave his offense a chance to win the game. He also received a strong backing from an improved defense.
But the coach couldn’t have accounted for the self-inflicted wounds that his players were guilty of both on offense and special teams, and Washington fell, 17-6, to kick off the Guden era. Meanwhile, the Texans snapped a 14-game losing streak and earned their own first-year head coach, Bill O’Brien, a victory in his debut. But the coach couldn’t have accounted for the self-inflicted wounds that his players were guilty of on offense and special teams, and Washington fell, 17-6, to leave the coach feeling nauseous coming away from his debut. Meanwhile, the Texans snapped a 14-game losing streak and earned their own first-year head coach, Bill O’Brien a victory.
“Sick. Sick, sick,” Gruden said, summing up his feelings. “You only get one chance at your first time and I failed to get it done. We failed as a staff, we failed as a team to get it done.”
Two fumbles inside the Texans’ 10-yard line, a blocked extra-point attempt and a blocked punt returned for a touchdown proved Washington’s undoing. Meanwhile, Watt proved himself worth every penny of the new $100 million contract his team just awarded him, as he racked up two sacks, the blocked point-after and a fumble recovery.Two fumbles inside the Texans’ 10-yard line, a blocked extra-point attempt and a blocked punt returned for a touchdown proved Washington’s undoing. Meanwhile, Watt proved himself worth every penny of the new $100 million contract his team just awarded him, as he racked up two sacks, the blocked point-after and a fumble recovery.
For much of the game, Houston’s offense did just enough to hold Washington at bay. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 14 of 22 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown, and Arian Foster rushed for 103 yards on 27 carries. Wide receiver Andre Johnson had six catches for 93 yards, but no touchdowns.For much of the game, Houston’s offense did just enough to hold Washington at bay. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 14 of 22 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown, and Arian Foster rushed for 103 yards on 27 carries. Wide receiver Andre Johnson had six catches for 93 yards, but no touchdowns.
But Houston really had the Redskins and their gaffes on offense and special teams to thank for the victory. Most importantly, the Texans milked 6 minutes and 32 seconds off of the fourth-quarter clock before adding a field goal and leaving Washington with just 1:55 to work with.
The theme of the game centered on Washington’s tendencies to hold themselves in check with one blunder after another. But Houston really had the Redskins and their gaffes to thank for the victory.
Griffin put up solid numbers and for the most part executed the game plan. He completed 29 of 37 passes for 267 yards, but no touchdowns. He only had two runs for two yards. The theme of the game centered on Washington’s tendency to hold themselves in check with one blunder after another.
The quarterback did miss a chance for a wide-open touchdown when he held onto the ball half a beat too long as he scrambled to avoid Watt and then chucked the ball downfield to Andre Roberts. But the wide receiver, who initially was in perfect position, had drifted toward the sideline and made the uncontested catch out of bounds with nothing but real estate in front of him. Griffin put up solid numbers and for the most part executed the game plan. He completed 29 of 37 passes for 267 yards. He only had two runs for two yards.
Alfred Morris paced the offense with 91 yards on 14 carries, and Roy Helu Jr. added 46 yards on four carries. Wide receiver Pierre Garcon had 10 catches for 77 yards, and DeSean Jackson seven for 49. But none of that was good enough when it counted. Alfred Morris paced the offense with 91 yards on 14 carries, and Roy Helu Jr. added 46 yards on four carries. Wide receiver Pierre Garcon had 10 catches for 77 yards, and DeSean Jackson seven for 49. But none of that overcame the turnovers.
For two brief moments in the first half, it appeared that Washington’s offense finally had found its rhythm. But in each case, the feelings of optimism were short-lived. “We left the defense out to dry,” said left tackle Trent Williams, whose team has now lost nine games in a row dating from last season. “They had a lot of three-and-outs. They were getting off the field, but we didn’t hold up our end of the bargain.”
For two brief moments in the first half, it appeared that Washington’s offense had found its rhythm. But in each case, the feelings of optimism were short-lived.
After opening the game with three consecutive three-and-outs, the unit finally started clicking. Gruden used stretch zone run plays and misdirection in the backfield on pass plays to keep the Texans defenders from teeing off on his quarterback, and Washington moved the ball.After opening the game with three consecutive three-and-outs, the unit finally started clicking. Gruden used stretch zone run plays and misdirection in the backfield on pass plays to keep the Texans defenders from teeing off on his quarterback, and Washington moved the ball.
Griffin & Co. strung together an eight-play, 55-yard drive, reaching the Houston 35-yard line before a false start penalty on right guard Chris Chester. Two plays later, Griffin got sacked as three defenders came in — nearly untouched — backing the ball up to the Houston 46, and out of field-goal range.Griffin & Co. strung together an eight-play, 55-yard drive, reaching the Houston 35-yard line before a false start penalty on right guard Chris Chester. Two plays later, Griffin got sacked as three defenders came in — nearly untouched — backing the ball up to the Houston 46, and out of field-goal range.
Another strong defensive stand and a 25-yard punt return by Roberts gave Washington the ball at the 46 again. Gruden called four straight run plays – a 16-yard gain by Morris, eight-yard scamper by Helu, 21-yard rumble by Morris and a one-yard dive into the end zone by fullback Darrel Young — to put his team on the board. Another strong defensive stand and a 25-yard punt return by Roberts gave Washington the ball at the 46 again. Gruden called four straight run plays — a 16-yard gain by Morris, eight-yard scamper by Helu, 21-yard rumble by Morris and a one-yard dive into the end zone by fullback Darrel Young — to put his team on the board.
But no sooner had Washington scored did a sour feeling replace the jubilation. Watt got good penetration past long snapper Nick Sundberg and batted down Kai Forbath’s point-after attempt, giving the Redskins and their fans feelings of deja vu from last season’s special-teams struggles.But no sooner had Washington scored did a sour feeling replace the jubilation. Watt got good penetration past long snapper Nick Sundberg and batted down Kai Forbath’s point-after attempt, giving the Redskins and their fans feelings of deja vu from last season’s special-teams struggles.
That feeling didn’t dissipate, though. Houston answered quickly with 76-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins, and the Texans made their point-after attempt. Washington got the ball at its 21, but a reverse gone bad backed them up to the 12 as Texans rookie sniffed out the ball and tackled DeSean Jackson deep into the backfield. Two plays later while on punt coverage, Helu whiffed on Texans’ Alfred Blue, who blocked Tress Way’s punt, recovered the ball at the 5 and trotted into the end zone.That feeling didn’t dissipate, though. Houston answered quickly with 76-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins, and the Texans made their point-after attempt. Washington got the ball at its 21, but a reverse gone bad backed them up to the 12 as Texans rookie sniffed out the ball and tackled DeSean Jackson deep into the backfield. Two plays later while on punt coverage, Helu whiffed on Texans’ Alfred Blue, who blocked Tress Way’s punt, recovered the ball at the 5 and trotted into the end zone.
Washington couldn’t rekindle the offensive effectiveness and went in at halftime down 14-6. The case of the can’t-get-rights followed the Redskins into the second half.
The case of the cant-get-rights followed the Redskins into the second half, however. They moved the ball to the Houston 7 to open the third quarter. But on first-and-goal, Griffin tripped over the foot of center Kory Lichtensteiger and lunged toward Morris, trying to get the handoff to him. But the ball bounced off Morris’s arm and Watt recovered it, giving his team the ball at the 10.
They moved the ball to the Houston 7 to open the third quarter. But on first-and-goal, Griffin tripped over the foot of center Kory Lichtensteiger and lunged toward Morris, trying to get the handoff to him. But the ball bounced off Morris’s arm and Watt recovered it, giving his team at the 10. On the next Washington possession, Griffin completed a touch pass to tight end Niles Paul up the seam, and Paul turned it into a 48-yard gain — before safety D.J. Swearinger stripped him of the ball at the 7, and defensive back Kendrick Lewis recovered at the 9.
On the next Washington possession, Griffin completed a beautiful touch pass to tight end Niles Paul up the seam, and Paul turned it into a 48-yard gain — before safety D.J. Swearinger stripped him of the ball at the 7, and defensive back Kendrick Lewis recovered at the 9. “It’s inexcusable to have turnovers in the red zone,” Gruden said. “It really is. Anywhere, for that matter. But especially ones like that. You’ve got a guy running free and gets stripped from behind and then an unnecessary handoff that you work on every day in practice. But you’ve just got to move on.”
Washington’s offense never threatened again, and the 29th coach in franchise history became the 19th to lose his first game at the helm.Washington’s offense never threatened again, and the 29th coach in franchise history became the 19th to lose his first game at the helm.