SPORTS INSIDER – Robert Griffin III, Redskins fall short in Minnesota

Ceci Ferrara
November 3, 2014
Sports Writer
Sports Insider

Sunday morning, hours before their game even started, the Redskins were already making headlines.  On the way to their way to TCF Stadium to face the Minnesota Vikings, a bus carrying players and coaches was involved in an accident. Two of the team’s buses collided on a highway exit ramp after a Minneapolis police squad car that was escorting them crashed into a guard rail ahead of them. After the first bus slammed on its break, the second bus rear ended it.

Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, though coach John Gruden suffered a stiff neck and running back Silas Reed was sidelined due to back spasms he experienced after the accident.

“It was scary to be in that situation,” said quarterback Robert Griffin III. “You don’t expect that being on a bus, heading to a game, to get in a wreck, especially a wreck that bad.  That could have been catastrophic had the bus driver on the other bus not saved everybody.”

The scary accident wasn’t only the only news coming from the Redskins camp prior to kick-off. Early Sunday morning it was reported that the decision to start RGIII came from the top–owner Daniel Snyder and General Manager Bruce Allen–not from coach Gruden. Reports also claimed the locker room was divided over the decision, while some went so far as to say Griffin had “alienated” himself from his teammates.

These reports stemmed from an incident Friday, when Redskins players started shouting when Griffin attempted to address the media in the locker room. The shouting got so loud Griffin and the reporters had to exit the room to speak. Apparently their departure was met with cheers and more shouting.

RGIII shot down those reports on Sunday saying, “I know exactly what happened. We were laughing and they were creating the joke….Both sides need to respect each other. You guys have a job to do and we have a job to do, and it won’t happen again, but it had nothing to do with them worrying about me starting or not wanting to start. … It is completely false, the reasoning behind that report, but I try not to dive into what you guys have to do.”

Despite the drama and question marks surrounding his return, Griffin played relatively well. In his first appearance since September 14th, he went 18-for-28 for 251 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for 24 yards on seven carries. But it wasn’t enough to make up for his five sacks and lead his team to what would have been their third straight victory.

After jumping out 10-0 early, the Skins were unable to produce after their touchdown at the beginning of the second quarter. With the lead and under two minutes to go in the first half, RGIII threw an interception which set up the Vikings’ first touchdown and shifted the game’s momentum. Instead of heading into half-time down by 10, the Vikings only trailed by three.

Minnesota scored a touchdown on their first drive of the third quarter, which the Redskins quickly answered with one of their own. After Washington was able to go ahead 20-14 heading into the fourth, the Vikings scored another TD for a one point lead. Alfred Morris, who was the offensive star of the game with 92 rushing yards, scored his second touchdown of the game early in the fourth quarter for a 26-21 Washington lead. But a failed two-point conversion left the game up for grabs.

The game-winning play on the very next drive, with a Vikings touchdown and successful two-point conversion gave them a three-point lead.  Though the Redskins had the opportunity to tie with a field goal, they were unable to score again, going three-and-out on their final drive. They were able to get the ball back one last time, but with six seconds left the game ended on a bad incomplete pass by Griffin.

The Redskins now head into the bye 3-6, with a daunting second half schedule that includes games against the 49ers, Colts, and rematches with all three division rivals. Here’s hoping during their off week they can put the past behind them and work towards figuring out, and maintaining, a winning formula.