PHILADELPHIA — In a must-win game, the Washington Redskins relied on big plays from their big playmakers Sunday, escaping from a rowdy Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia with a 27-22 win.
It was another down-to-the-wire effort, a familiar theme for the Redskins over the last few weeks.
“I would love to win 80 to nothing every game,” Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins said. “[But] that’s not how the NFL works. There’s parity.”
“We would like to blow a team out every now and then so it’s not so stressful for us,” Redskins defensive tackle Chris Baker said. “Our team has been in all types of games this year. We’ve been through every situation.”
The Redskins defense preserved the win with Ryan Kerrigan’s strip-sack of Eagles’ rookie Carson Wentz that was recovered by Trent Murphy in the final seconds. On the drive, the Eagles went 48 yards to the Redskins’ 14-yard line before Kerrigan’s season-saving sack.
The Redskins started slow again Sunday, falling behind when the Eagles took the lead 3-0 on the opening drive on a Caleb Sturgis field goal. Two Eagles drives later, Washington was in a 6-0 hole.
Cousins and the offense finally uncorked a 10-play, 69-yard drive in the second quarter with running back Robert Kelley leading the way. Kelley tied the game with a 22-yard run, and Dustin Hopkins, who had earlier clanged a 38-yard field goal attempt off the left goal post, gave the Redskins their first lead, 7-6, with the extra point.
But the Eagles responded immediately, retaking the lead 13-7 with a 12-play drive capped off by a four-yard Wentz toss to Darren Sproles just before the half.
After an initial three-and-out to start the third quarter, the Redskins began to take control.
Cousins found DeSean Jackson behind the Eagles defense on an 80-yard rainbow that the former Eagle and now Redskins wide receiver had to adjust to in midflight, twisting to catch the bomb over his outside shoulder and strolling into the end zone to set Washington up for another temporary lead.
“We actually talked about that (touchdown pass) in the locker room at halftime,” Jackson said. “We knew that we was going to get that coverage. That play was huge.”
The catch was the 22nd time Jackson has hauled in a touchdown pass of at least 60 yards, placing him one long score behind the NFL’s all-time leader, Jerry Rice.
A botched field goal attempt by the Eagles gave the Redskins good field position for their next offensive possession, and they made their NFC rivals pay for the mistake, as Cousins found wide receiver Pierre Garçon on a 15-yard corner fade for six more points. The corner fade has become a staple part of the Redskins’ red zone offense. More times than not, it hasn’t worked. This time it did.
“A fade, by golly,” coach Jay Gruden said with a smile. “How about that? You guys like the fade?”
The game seemed to belong to the Redskins until Cousins made a critical mistake deep in his own territory. From his own 20, Cousins threw an out to Jackson that was undercut by cornerback Leodis McKelvin, who took it back for six to get the Eagles and the Philly fans back in the game.
The two-point conversion attempt failed, but the Eagles were within two with 13 minutes left to play.
“Their corner did a good job all game on jumping routes,” Cousins said. “In hindsight, I needed to throw the ball further to the sideline.”
When the Redskins were forced to punt on the next drive, a scuffle broke out after Deshazor Everett hit Sproles before the ball got to him. Players spilled onto the field and flags were thrown, and the fired-up Eagles responded with a drive that ended with another Sturgis kick, this one from 41 yards, to take a 22-21 lead.
With five minutes left, Cousins took the Redskins down the field for the go-ahead score, converting a clutch fourth-and-one with a short comeback to Pierre Garcon.
Running back Chris Thompson put the Redskins up for good, 27-22 with his scoring run at the two-minute mark.
With 1:53 remaining, the Eagles gave themselves an opportunity to retake the lead — but Kerrigan’s strip-sack sealed the Redskins’ win.
“He does a great job of forcing the quarterback up,” Gruden said. “He’s a major impact. Anytime you can make 11 sacks in the National Football League in 13 games, it’s pretty impressive.”
Cousins finished with 234 yards, putting him over the 4,000-yard mark this season. His most popular target was Garcon, who finished with 59 yards and a touchdown. Jackson led all receivers with 102 yards.
Kelley added another 63 yards rushing and another touchdown to his resume. Sunday’s score gives him five total rushing touchdowns in his rookie season.
Linebacker Mason Foster led the Redskins with 12 tackles. His fellow linebackers in Su’a Cravens (bicep) and Will Compton (knee) were forced out of the game with injury.
The win improves the Redskins to 7-5-1, maintaining third place in the NFC East. Washington hosts the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 19.
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