Instant Analysis of Redskins 31-17 win over the Packers

The Washington Redskins went into their Week 3 game against the Green Bay Packers a little angry and not a little determined and it paid off. An “instant” analysis is genuinely straightforward: the same team that beat the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 showed up at FedEx Field against Green Bay. And that means the offense moved the ball and the defense got off the field when it had to.

Much of the story of the victory lies in perhaps just a couple of the Redskins final stats: the yards rushing was 166 to Green Bay’s 100 and the total rushing plays were 35 to the Packers’ 17. The simple fact is that when Washington can move the ball on the ground — and they do it often throughout the game — the team is probably going to win.

But the defense was also a critical component in the win, stopping one of the most productive and prolific quarterbacks in the league. And, while Packers QB Aaron Rodgers wasn’t 100 percent healthy, he’s still Aaron Rodgers and is one signal-caller that no one in their right mind would think isn’t always dangerous, no matter his health.

The Redskins took the lead early and kept it with the offense a thing of beauty in the first half of the game. By halftime, they were leading Green Bay in first downs rushing with 17, net yards rushing with 109 and net yards passing with 214. They had only punted the ball once when the halftime whistle blew. The Packers had punted three times.

Also, QB Alex Smith took those down-the-field shots that were missing in Washington’s loss last week and his receivers caught them.

Tight ends Vernon Davis and Jordan Reed each had a 50- and a 34-yard reception, respectively. WR Paul Richardson, Jr. had a 46-yard catch with its accompanying touchdown. Jamison Crowder didn’t have a pass quite as long but did catch one for 18 yards.

RB Adrian Peterson was back to his future Hall-of-Famer form, running the ball 19 times for 120 yards and a mind-numbing 6.3 yards-per-carry average.

Washington’s offense racked up 28 points in the first half and the defense held the Packers to just 10. It was that and the stellar play of that defense that won the game for the Burgundy and gold.

The Redskins defensive line took advantage of an obviously ailing Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and put good pressure on him, sacking him four times and harassing him throughout the game. Because the defensive line was so effective, the guys like CB Josh Norman were able to just key in on both Rodgers and the receivers and that made a difference.

In the second half, things were a bit more precarious. The Packers came out of the locker room having made some obvious adjustments and drove right down the field. While the Redskins had stopped Green Bay’s run game in the first half, with a guy like Rodgers, it doesn’t matter. Even making him one-dimensional didn’t stop him and he led his squad down the field through the air. On the opening drive in the second half, the Packers had the ball for seven minutes and scored a touchdown.

The previously prolific Washington offense wasn’t once the second-half whistle blew. It went three-and-out on its first drive of the second half and it only got marginally better through most of the second half. There were drives of little consequence up until there was just over five minutes left in the game when things got going again after the defense caused a turnover and got them the ball back. Peterson knocked off a 17-yard run and then a few more… enough to get the Redskins into field goal range. The Redskins closed out the game with three more points and, because Green Bay had only scored the one touchdown early in the half, the Redskins got the win, 31-17.

A few notes:

• That roughing-the-passer penalty on Packers LB Clay Matthews was painful to see. While it certainly benefited Washington, it was a terrible call. The sack was about as clean as it can get.
• Three different Redskins recorded the four sacks on Rodgers — Matt Ioannidis, Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen with two.
• ILB Mason Foster led the team in tackles with 10 and safety Montae Nicholson was next with eight.
• CB Fabian Moreau is developing nicely and was impactful in the game. He was the one who caused the strip/fumble that Norman recovered in the fourth quarter to get the ball back to the Redskins offense. That’s when they scored the last field goal.
• The Redskins had seven plays of over 15 yards. The Packers had just four.
• Redskins Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne and Matt Ioannidis are developing into a formidable trio of quarterback-harrassing defensive linemen