Washington fails to make good of chances in loss
LANDOVER, Md. – Turnovers kept them close; Peyton Manning made sure they never got closer. And a spate of good fortune over the past two games ended, along with the Redskins’ winning streak.
Indianapolis beat Washington, 27-24, in front of 87,883 fans Sunday night. The Redskins (3-3) dropped to second place in the NFC East. The Redskins caused three turnovers, but it was the ones they failed to capitalize on that might have prevented the win.
That and a Colts offense that hurt them on the ground as running back Joseph Addai rushed for 128 yards on 17 carries. His backup Mike Hart finished with another 43 yards. Manning called for numerous runs and draws to defeat the Redskins’ six-defensive back package.
Not that they were stopping Manning, either. He completed 25 of 38 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns. The stat line showed no interceptions; the game film will show three dropped potential picks.
“It was just a little bit too late,” Redskins corner DeAngelo Hall said. “Obviously we didn’t make a couple layups; it probably would have changed the game.”
Still, the Redskins stayed in the game thanks in part to turnovers.
They used a 92-yard drive, and 8-yard scoring pass to Keiland Williams, to creep within three points with 2 minutes, 46 seconds remaining.
“You put a bunch of guys who have a never-die attitude and know how to face adversity,” Redskins guard Artis Hicks said, “then when you’re in tough games like this you find a way to keep digging and try to will ourselves back into a game. As long as we keep that attitude all year good things will happen.”
And he sees the offense continuing to develop.
“You can see it a piece here or a piece there,” Hicks said, “but it’s going to click.”
It didn’t click on the next possession.
The Redskins even got the ball with with 2:13 to play, but gained no yards on four plays, effectively ending the game.
Turnovers kept Washington in the game in the third quarter. Linebacker Brian Orakpo stripped Manning and linebacker Andre Carter recovered at the 13-yard line. Ryan Torain eventually scored from the 1-yard line for a 17-14 deficit.
Then, trailing 24-14, Lorenzo Alexander jarred the ball free on a punt return. That led to a 39-yard Graham Gano field goal.
Another turnover, with 14:23 left in the game, stymied a Colts drive. Kedric Golston and London Fletcher combined to knock the ball from running back Joseph Addai with LaRon Landry recovering at the 17-yard line.
But the Redskins also dropped at least three possible interceptions and had their hands on a fourth.
Washington was fortunate to only trail 17-7 at halftime. Then again, if the defensive backs had held onto potential interceptions, it could have been much better. Safety Kareem Moore dropped a potential pick on Indianapolis’ second touchdown drive. Manning’s surgical throws after the Moore drop were hard to stop.
His last throw was a five-yard pass to Austin Collie, who froze corner Carlos Rogers by faking a run block and then continuing to the end zone. It was an easy catch, snapping a 7-7 tie.
Redskins running back Ryan Torain gained 68 yards in the first half, with nine coming on a perfectly-blocked run around right end. Tight end Chris Cooley and receiver Anthony Armstrong sealed the end and Torain juked the defensive back for the score.
The 89-yard drive answered Indianapolis’ quick strike, a 57-yard Manning to Pierre
Garcon pass – on the first play following Jerraud Powers’ interception of Donovan McNabb.
Gano missed a 48-yard field goal attempt wide right. Vinatieri also missed a 38-yard field goal wide right.
In the end, it was too much Manning.
“He’s been in this offense for 13 years,” Redskins linebacker London Fletcher said. “Receivers come and go, but he’s the man. He’s the standard and you can see why. He makes throws in tight windows that other quarterbacks just can’t make.”
