They celebrated the past on Saturday, with Art Monk and Darrell Green entering the Hall of Fame. Three plays into the preseason opener Sunday, the Redskins celebrated the present and envisioned the future.
By night’s end, Washington had plenty of reasons to feel good, a 30-16 victor over Indianapolis in front of 22,216 fans at Fawcett Stadium.
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The Redskins, under first-year coach Jim Zorn, have installed a new offense and know it could take time to make it work smoothly.
However, it took only three plays Sunday night for it to click.
On the Redskins’ third play, quarterback Jason Campbell hit receiver Antwaan Randle El in the left corner of the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown
“It was important for us to come out fast,” Campbell said. “One thing we talked about as a unit was coming out and trying to move the ball early and having a rhythm and a tempo.”
The play was run to perfection: outside receiver Santana Moss cleared the corner and froze the safety, allowing Randle El to run from the slot to the corner.
“It was a wonderful play,” Randle El said.
“I was excited to be able to score on the first drive,” Zorn said. “There is nothing more remarkable than that.”
Well, perhaps doing it in a game that counts would be more remarkable.
Campbell completed all five of his passes for 61 yards. He was sacked once when right tackle Jon Jansen was beaten by Raheem Brock.
“He had poise in the pocket,” Zorn said of Campbell. “His tempo was good and his accuracy was pretty good.”
And, in truth, after the first series, the Redskins’ starters did little. They allowed Indianapolis to drive downfield for a 26-yard field goal in 16 plays by converting three of four third downs. The Redskins held out seven projected defensive starters, but the Colts played minus quarterback Peyton Manning.
Washington rallied from a 13-9 halftime deficit for two touchdowns in the second half thanks to rookie quarterback Colt Brennan, who had a perfect quarterback rating in the third quarter (158.3). Brennan connected with receiver Maurice Mann on a 20-yard corner pattern with 5:51 left in the third quarter, tying the game at 16.
He untied the score by leading a 15-play, 88-yard drive. Brennan capped the drive by sprinting to his right and connecting with running back Marcus Mason from five yards out.
Redskins quarterbacks combined to complete 19 of 22 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns — a passer rating of 147.1.
Redskins reserve tackle Todd Wade limped off early in the fourth quarter. He was later carted off with his right ankle wrapped in ice. Left tackle Stephon Heyer left with a mild leg injury; Heyer was beaten badly three times in the first half in pass protection.
