Ceci FerraraWhen the Redskins faithful filed into FedEx Field for the 2015 season opener on Sunday, many of them did so with tickets depicting the image of quarterback Robert Griffin III. Only a few weeks earlier, those same fans had expected to see RGIII on the field as their starting QB. Instead, Griffin, the overall No. 2 pick in the 2012 draft, was on the sidelines, having been relegated to third string quarterback after losing his spot to Kirk Cousins.
In fact, even if the fans had wanted it, or circumstances demanded it, there was zero change of seeing RGIII play in the first game of the season. The Redskins had listed him as inactive.
With Griffin donning a headset instead of a helmet, the Redskins opened the season with Cousins under center. At first, it seemed that the quarterback change had revitalized the team, who jumped out to an early lead and held Miami scoreless through most of the first half. With under two minutes to go in the second quarter, they led 10-0.
Washington hoped to take their shutout lead into halftime, but a nine-play scoring drive by Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins cut their lead to just three at the break. By the fourth quarter, the two teams were tied at 10 apiece. The sea of burgundy and gold had been quieted.
Penalties and inefficiencies plagued Washington in the second half, who was unable to score despite getting in Dolphins territory more than once. Their defense also stumbled, allowing Jarvis Landry to return a punt 69-yards for the game-winning score. Miami scored 17 unanswered points in the final three quarters to best Washington 17-10. Despite a strong start, the Redskins once again came up empty.
Cousins’ performance was fair, but not spectacular. He completed 21 of 31 throws for 195 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Despite the loss, coach Jay Gruden remained optimistic. “I’m not going to be down,” he said. “I’m upset that we lost, but I think there’s a lot of good things going on.”
One of those good things is the run game. Alfred Morris, who had a breakout season in 2014, ran for 121 yards on 25 carries. But while his performance lent itself to good field position for his team, it was squandered. “We didn’t capitalize offensively,” the running back said. “We’ve got to find a way to score more.”
Washington played most of the game without star wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who limped off the field early in the first quarter after trying to run down a long pass. On Monday, the team announced Jackson could miss 3-4 weeks with a strained hamstring. The loss is huge for Washington, who relies on Jackson to make big plays.
As the Redskins try to figure things out, it seems that simply making a quarterback change isn’t going to make them a new team overnight.
“We battled and came up short. I guess we’re all pretty tired of that around here,” Cousins said. “We’ve done that too many times. So eventually the tables need to turn. The tide needs to be turned. And we need a day like today to end up having us be on top at the end.”
