Redskins Pros and Cons: Week 2

The Washington Redskins experienced the ultimate highs and lows Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

From injuries to quarterback Robert Griffin III and wide receiver DeSean Jackson to displaying total domination on offense, defense and special teams for the first time in recent memory, Sunday had it all.

Washington racked up 449 yards on offense and the defense held the Jaguars to just 148 yards in a 41-10 victory, evening their record to 1-1 on the season and snapping their streak of nine straight losses dating back to 2013.

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Pros:

  • Kirk Cousins cruises

The Redskins offense looked very efficient under the helm of Robert Griffin III before he dislocated his left ankle in the first quarter. With renewed energy in the stadium seemingly dashed for the minutes that Griffin lay on the ground, Cousins came in and delivered a performance reminiscent of his 2012 start versus the Cleveland Browns. Cousins completed his first 12 passes and went 22-of-33 passing for 250 yards, two touchdowns and a 109.4 passer rating. For now, Kirk Cousins is approaching every game as the starter for the foreseeable future.

  • Domination by the front seven

The Redskins compiled 10 sacks on Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne today, tying a team record previously set on Oct. 9, 1977. Ryan Kerrigan registered the first four-sack performance of his career. Seven players recorded at least half a sack. Jacksonville only managed 148 yards on the day, 117 of which came on two plays.

Cons:

  • Injuries to Griffin and Jackson

Those in attendance at FedExField took a collective breath when Robert Griffin III dislocated his left ankle and stayed down on the sidelines for several minutes. He was taken back to the locker room on a cart and was using crutches after the game. He is expected to get more tests done Monday and it is unclear how long he will be out. He finished the game two-of-three passing for 38 yards and ran twice for 22 yards.

Not long after Griffin left the game, DeSean Jackson suffered an AC joint sprain in his shoulder. Jackson was initially expected to miss at least one week but is now considered day-to-day after feeling less pain after the game. The Redskins play his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, on the road next Sunday. Jackson’s lone catch of 19 yards came on Griffin’s final play.

  • Penalties

The Redskins were called for 11 penalties for 98 yards, including a personal foul call on DeAngelo Hall in the second quarter and an unsportsmanlike conduct call on tackle Trent Williams in the fourth quarter. Both players are team captains and should show a better example on the field. If the Redskins want to compete with top-notch opponents cutting out these kinds of errors is a must, especially by the leaders.

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