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Redskins trade blows with 49ers, but let lead slip and fall to 3-8 with 17-13 road loss Redskins trade blows with 49ers, but let lead slip and fall to 3-8 with 17-13 road loss
(35 minutes later)
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Two years ago, a Robert Griffin III-Colin Kaepernick meeting represented a sure-fire ratings generator full of dazzling heroics from each dual-threat quarterback and their zone-read-heavy, play-action offenses.SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Two years ago, a Robert Griffin III-Colin Kaepernick meeting represented a sure-fire ratings generator full of dazzling heroics from each dual-threat quarterback and their zone-read-heavy, play-action offenses.
But with both Griffin and Kaepernick battling inconsistencies and the trials associated with the transition to life as pocket passers, Sunday’s meeting between the Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers instead turned into a defensive struggle.But with both Griffin and Kaepernick battling inconsistencies and the trials associated with the transition to life as pocket passers, Sunday’s meeting between the Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers instead turned into a defensive struggle.
Thanks to a sack-fumble by Justin Smith at the Washington 7-yard line with 59 seconds left, it was the 49ers who came out on top. The play snuffed out Washington’s hope for a last-minute, game-winning drive and sealed a 17-13 victory for San Francisco.Thanks to a sack-fumble by Justin Smith at the Washington 7-yard line with 59 seconds left, it was the 49ers who came out on top. The play snuffed out Washington’s hope for a last-minute, game-winning drive and sealed a 17-13 victory for San Francisco.
Washington fell to 3-8 on the year after ongoing struggles on offense overshadowed minimal positives on that side of the ball and impactful contributions from the defense. Washington fell to 3-8 after ongoing struggles on offense overshadowed their minimal positives and the impactful contributions from the defense.
The Redskins entered the game short-handed on offense because of the injuries to left tackle Trent Williams and tight end Jordan Reed, and on defense with nose tackle Chris Baker injured and cornerback David Amerson benched for missing a team meeting this week. The Redskins entered the game shorthanded because of injuries to left tackle Trent Williams, tight end Jordan Reed and nose tackle Chris Baker. Cornerback David Amerson was benched for missing a team meeting this week.
But the defense managed to overcome those absences, as well as the in-game losses of cornerbacks E.J. Biggers (concussion) and Tracy Porter (shoulder) and force three turnovers while limiting 49ers workhorse Frank Gore to 36 yards on 13 carries. But the defense managed to overcome those absences, as well as the in-game losses of cornerbacks E.J. Biggers (concussion) and Tracy Porter (shoulder) and force three turnovers while limiting 49ers workhorse Frank Gore to 36 yards on 13 carries. Kaepernick completed 20 of 29 passes for 256 yards, a touchdown and interception. But his offense went 5 for 13 on third downs.
The defensive play, plus a 125-yard rushing game from Alfred Morris — his first over 100 this season — briefly looked as if it would be enough to nudge Washington to victory. But another late-game collapse did the Redskins in. The defensive play, plus a 125-yard rushing game from Alfred Morris — his first with more than 100 this season — briefly looked as if it would be enough to nudge Washington to victory. But continual third down woes, plus the collapse on the final drive did the Redskins in yet again.
“We didn’t do very well,” Coach Jay Gruden said. “We ran the ball pretty well. We kept the game close, and what we really wanted to do was not turn the ball over. We got some turnovers defensively, we had a great opportunity to win the game, we just didn’t to a good enough job in the passing game with our protection when we had to. We just let them hang around there and they got a touchdown at the end.”
Under siege for much of the week as he came off of one of the ugliest performances of his career last Sunday against Tampa Bay, Griffin shook off a rough first quarter to play the role of game manager, completing 11 of 19 passes for 106 yards. Griffin handed the ball off 24 times.Under siege for much of the week as he came off of one of the ugliest performances of his career last Sunday against Tampa Bay, Griffin shook off a rough first quarter to play the role of game manager, completing 11 of 19 passes for 106 yards. Griffin handed the ball off 24 times.
But Griffin got sacked five times, with the fifth and final time sealing defeat. But Griffin completed only 1 of 6 third-down passes, and his team converted only 2 of 13 attempts for first downs. The Redskins managed only three points off of turnovers forced by their defense.
Griffin only ran the ball three times, but none proved bigger than his eight-yard scramble out of the shotgun with 8 minutes 32 seconds left. The play set up place kicker Kai Forbath for a 46-yard field goal that put Washington up 13-10 for its first lead of the game. Meanwhile, Griffin got sacked five times, with the final time sealing defeat.
“We’ve just got to find ways to make the plays down the field and I’ve got to find ways to make it happen,” said Griffin, who missed one deep pass attempt to DeSean Jackson and settled primarily for short-to-intermediate passes. “I’ve got to play better and find ways to make those big plays happen no matter what’s going on. That’s the way I’ll look at it. I need to go back and look at the tape.”
Griffin ran the ball three times, and his eight-yard scramble out of the shotgun with 8 minutes 32 seconds left set up place kicker Kai Forbath. The 46-yard field goal put Washington up 13-10 for its first lead.
But the advantage proved short lived.But the advantage proved short lived.
San Francisco faced fourth and one from their own 34, and Frank Gore picked up the first down with a three-yard run up the middle. Kaepernick then completed a 29-yard pass to wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who ran through a hit to the head from safety Ryan Clark, tacking 15 yards onto the play. Three plays later, backup running back Carlos Hyde broke Clark’s tackle attempt and scored a touchdown from four yards out. Following the point-after attempt, the home team led, 17-13, with 2:59 left. San Francisco faced fourth and one from its 34, and Gore picked up the first down with a three-yard run up the middle. Kaepernick then completed a 29-yard pass to wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who ran through a hit to the head from safety Ryan Clark. Clark was penalized, tacking on 15 yards. Three plays later, backup running back Carlos Hyde broke Clark’s tackle attempt and scored a touchdown from four yards out. Following the point after, the home team led, 17-13, with 2:59 left.
Washington had a chance for the game-winning drive. But a penalty, incomplete pass, Griffin scramble and then the sack-fumble when Smith beat Williams’s replacement, Morgan Moses, crippled the Redskins. Washington had a chance for the game-winning drive. But a false start on Morgan Moses, starting in place of Williams at left tackle, an incomplete pass, a Griffin scramble and then the sack-fumble when Smith beat Moses, crippled the Redskins.
The game opened up in typical Redskins fashion with the offense unable to produce any cohesion and the defense providing next to no resistance. “Give credit to them,” Jackson said. “They’re a good team. We felt we were in this game and we could’ve won. We weren’t able to capitalize on certain situations. . . . It kind of slipped.”
The Redskins received the opening kick but lost two yards in three plays and punted. The defense, meanwhile, came out and offered little resistance as the 49ers marched 59 yards in five plays, finding the end zone on a 30-yard pass from Colin Kaepernick to Anquan Boldin, who was trailed by safety Brandon Meriweather. The game opened up in typical Redskins fashion.
Griffin’s struggles continued on the next two possessions, as he threw two more incompletions on his only other pass attempts of the quarter, and the Redskins punted twice more. San Francisco led, 7-0, at the end of the first quarter, having outgained Washington, 111-28. Washington received the opening kick but lost two yards in three plays and punted. The defense, meanwhile, came out and offered little resistance as the 49ers marched 59 yards in five plays, finding the end zone on a 30-yard pass from Kaepernick to Boldin, who was trailed by safety Brandon Meriweather.
After the dreary opening, things began to trend positive for Washington. In the second quarter, the defense came up with a rare takeaway (only the 10th of the season) when Meriweather knocked the ball from Gore’s grasp. Clark recovered at the Washington 40-yard line, though it didn’t lead to any points.
The defense came up with a rare takeaway (only the 10th of the season) when Meriweather knocked the ball free from Gore’s grasp, and Clark recovered it at the Washington 40-yard line. Griffin got his second completion of the day — a five-yard check-down to Morris — and proceeded to find a long-missing rhythm. The quarterback completed three more passes — a seven-yarder to Andre Roberts, a 24-yarder to Pierre Garcon and an 11-yarder to tight end Niles Paul — to move his team into scoring position.
Another three-and-out followed for the Redskins. But the defense denied San Francisco on third and one, forcing a punt to the Washington 39. On third and goal from a yard out, Morris squirted through the line and put his team on the board with his seventh touchdown run of the season.
Griffin got his second completion of the day — a 5-yard check-down to Morris – and proceeded to find a long-missing rhythm. The quarterback completed three more passes – a 7-yarder to Andre Roberts, a 24-yarder to Pierre Garcon and an 11-yarder to tight end Niles Paul – to move his team into scoring position. That tied the game at 7 with 5:33 left in the first half. But the 49ers moved downfield — picking up a crucial 25-yard pass completion on fourth and two from the Washington 48 – and converted a 41-yard field goal to take a 10-7 lead into the locker rooms.
On third-and-goal from a yard out, Morris squirted through the line and put his team on the board with his seventh touchdown run of the season. In the third quarter, Washington got help from an unlikely contributor. Cornerback Greg Ducre — who replaced an injured Porter, who started in place of Amerson — intercepted a Kaepernick pass at the Washington 26.
That tied the game at 7 with 5:33 left in the first half. But the 49ers moved downfield — picking up a crucial 25-yard pass completion on fourth and two from the Washington 48 – and converted a 41-yard field goal with time running out to take a 10-7 lead into the locker rooms. Following Tress Way’s second punt, Washington strung together a seven-play, 69-yard drive capped with a 27-yard Forbath field goal to tie the game at 10 with 4:18 left in the third.
Strong-legged punter Tress Way served as Washington’s most valuable weapon in the second half. With the offense going three-and-out twice to start the third quarter, the punter boomed the ball, and his coverage unit pinned the 49ers inside the 10 twice. Unable to overcome the unfavorable field position, San Francisco had put punt each time. The Redskins had the ball twice in the final three minutes of the game and couldn’t produce even a first down.
Washington got help from another unlikely contributor. Cornerback Greg Ducre — who replaced an injured Tracy Porter, who started in place of starter David Amerson, who was benched for missing a team meeting this week — intercepted a Kaepernick pass at the Washington 26, helping keep the 49ers in check. “We’re in a slump. We’re all in it together,” Jackson said. “There’s no one man or one person. So, however we figure it out to get out of the slump together, we need to figure out how to win.”
Following Way’s second punt, Washington strung together a seven-play, 69-yard drive capped with a 27-yard Forbath field goal to tie the game at 10 with 4:18 left in the third.