Byron K. Dixon Jr. (@BKD_TV)
Kirk Cousins knew if his team wanted to make the playoffs for the second year in a row he would have to perform at a high level. Cousins, who threw for a touchdown and ran for two more did all he could Saturday to keep those hopes alive and well.
Washington (8-6- 1) was aided by a big game from DeSean Jackson who had 114 receiving yards and a defense that intercepted Matt Barkley five times in a wire to wire victory in the Windy City. The Redskins playoff hopes are not guaranteed and will still need some help to punch their ticket into the second season.
Jackson who has been in his share of NFC East battles before stated:
“Our backs are against the wall, it has been that way for a few weeks and we know it all comes down to what we do on the football field.”
The eighth team standings wise in the NFC coming into play Saturday the Redskins got off to a fast start scoring 14 points in the first quarter.
Cousins who was shaky against Carolina was 18-for-29 for 270 yards. He threw a 17-yard touchdown to Chris Thompson in the first quarter and scored on a 9-yard run in the second quarter. He also pushed in from the one late in the third to make it 31-14. Jackson had a 57-yard reception but left after he got hit in the jaw while blocking in the third quarter. He said he could have stayed in, but coach Jay Gruden took a cautious approach.
Pierre Garcon caught four passes for 94 yards. Thompson had a rushing touchdown in the first quarter to go with his scoring catch. Josh Norman and Bashaud Breeland each had two interceptions, and the Redskins won their seventh straight against Chicago.
The crowd in Chicago was no help at all, with 57,953 tickets distributed only 39,837 actually showed up. The Bears who will have a top-five pick in April’s forthcoming NFL draft have many needs to address and that was on display today especially at the QB position.
Barkley’s five interceptions matched the second-highest total in Bears history and were the most since Jay Cutler threw five against San Francisco on Nov. 12, 2009.
Barkley said, “On some plays I tried to do too much, sometimes you just have to live to fight another day.”
Cameron Meredith added 135 yards receiving and Alshon Jeffery had 92. Jordan Howard ran for 119 yards, but the Bears gave up a season high in yards for the second straight week.
This time, Washington went off for 478 after Green Bay racked up 451 last week. The only hope for the Bears is to finish 4-12 to match their worst record since 2002.
For the Redskins a fast start was indeed the difference in the game getting ahead 14-0 after only being able to muster up three first quarter points in the previous four contest. Washington was able to string together four straight scoring drives which help put the game out of reach.
