The Washington Redskins home-opener ended in disappointing fashion with a 21-9 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. In their first game against the Colts since 2014, the Redskins had a rough time gaining momentum on both sides of the ball.
Here are the players who saw their value rise or fall during the matchup.
VALUE UP:
Safety D.J. Swearinger
Swearinger provided sparks that the defense needed with two critical interceptions that briefly shifted momentum towards the Redskins.
The Colts were driving down the field looking to add to their 7-0 lead when Redskins LB Mason Foster tipped Colts QB Andrew Luck’s pass. It sailed over the middle to a place where a diving Swearinger was able to get his hands on it.
Later in the third quarter, the safety stepped in front of one of Luck’s passes to Indianapolis wideout T.Y. Hilton for his second interception of the day.
Linebacker Mason Foster
Foster made several key tackles against the Colts and seemed to be the only player on defense who showed much consistency. Most notably, the former Husky was a factor in both of Swearinger’s interceptions. As previously written, it was Foster who got a hand on a pass to put the ball in a position for Swearinger to pick it off. As well, it was the LB that brought the pressure underneath on Hilton to aid in the second interception.
Foster finished the game with eight tackles.
Two spoons, two picks.#INDvsWAS | #HTTR pic.twitter.com/R6YOCfIr5z
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 16, 2018
VALUE DOWN:
Defensive Backs
Realistically, the entire defensive unit had issues on Sunday but it was mistakes from the Redskins’ secondary that resulted in some of the Colts big plays. In the first quarter, Indianapolis marched down the field and scored when Indy TE Eric Ebron hauled in a seven-yard touchdown pass with Redskins S Montae Nicholson on the coverage. Later in the game, with the Colts deep in their own territory, CB Josh Norman missed a tackle in the end zone that likely would have resulted in a safety.
In the second quarter, CB Fabian Moreau received a 37-yard pass interference penalty that helped the Colts convert on third-down which extended a Colts drive and turned into a touchdown. This increased their lead to 14-3.
T.Y. Hilton was a problem for the defensive backs in that they simply couldn’t adequately cover him throughout the game. Late in the fourth quarter, there seemed to be a miscommunication between CB Quinton Dunbar and Swearinger that left Hilton wide open for a score.
Offensive Line
The Redskins offensive line struggled all day. Whether it was injuries or getting completely manhandled by the Colts defensive front, they could not get in sync. As a result, QB Alex Smith was hit or pressured multiple times which impacted his ability to find a rhythm. Also, without any holes opening up, the running game that shined against the Arizona Cardinals during the Redskins Week 1 victory was nonexistent this past Sunday.
Right guard Brandon Scherff left the game in the first half with a knee injury, LT Trent Williams left the game in the fourth quarter after injuring the knee on which he had surgery in the offseason; and RT Morgan Moses had already been listed as QUESTIONABLE with a knee injury before the game even begun. Both Scherff and Williams returned to the game but not at 100 percent.
The O-line will need to find a way to protect Smith and open up lanes for RBs Adrian Peterson and Chris Thompson.