Landover, Maryland- An up and down day for the Washington Redskins ends in heartbreak as the Houston Texans defeated the Redskins 23-21 at FedEx Field. This game featured the first lead change in a game this season, as well as multiple turnovers. Sadly the Redskins saw their starting quarterback Alex Smith go down with a major leg injury. Backup Colt McCoy came in and led the offense to the lead only to have their comeback fall short with a missed 63 yard field goal at the end.
The Texans got off to a fast start in the first quarter jumping out to a 10-0 lead. The Texans had a game plan on offense to get the Redskins middle linebackers, mostly Mason Foster in coverage. On their first drive the Redskins held them to a field goal, on their next drive the Texans punched in the ball in the end zone on a pass from Deshaun Watson to DeAndre Hopkins. The Redskins offense started off slow and it looked like another offense was going to shred the Redskins defense.
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In the second quarter the tide turned and went the Redskins way. Smith and the offense went uptempo and started to move the ball in huge chunks, culminating with an Adrian Peterson three yard touchdown run. A Mason Foster interception on the next series gave the offense great field position but a Vernon Davis drop ended that threat. The turning point and biggest play of the game came at the end of the second quarter. The Redskins had driven into the red zone and were position to either take the lead or kick a game typing field goal when Smith threw a pick six interception. Jordan Reed was the intended receiver on the play and sat down while Smith expected him to go to the outside. That play was a 10 to 14 point swing as instead of tying the game or going up four, the Redskins were down 17-7. Smith threw another interception on the following drive however the Texans were unable to get points.
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The second half continued the dominance of the Redskins’ defense where they forced a fumble then an interception. The Alex Smith injury came on a sack on a pivotal third down that forced the Redskins out of field goal range. Texans safety Kareem Jackson came on a blitz unaccounted for and Smith was caught off guard and was tackled and landed on by JJ Watt. Smith broke his tibia and fibula in his right leg and had to undergo emergency surgery right away. Colt McCoy came in ran a zone read keeper on his first play, then his first throw was a touchdown pass to Jordan Reed.
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The defense held the Texans to two field goals in the second half to give the team a chance a win. Unfortunately for the Redskins the offense needed about another 20 seconds to get closer for a Dustin Hopkins field goal. The fans were amazing today but the Redskins lost to a talented today at FedEx field. The Redskins will have little time to think about this loss as the team travels to the arch rival Cowboys on Thursday. Colt McCoy has experience of beating the Cowboys on the road. The team should have Trent Williams and Chris Thompson to help McCoy as well. The NFC East is still a very winnable goal for the Redskins and Thursday will be a huge factor in that race.
