Redskins Fall to Vikings 29-26

The Redskins were in the news before taking the field today at Minnesota. First, the Redskins team bus was in an accident roughly a mile from the stadium. There were no serious injuries from the accident, but Silas Redd will be inactive because of back spasms from the wreck.

As if that wasn't enough, ESPN has reported that RG III starting today was Dan Snyder and Bruce Allen's decision, not Jay Gruden. I personally don't buy that at all. ESPN has also reported that Robert Griffin the third has "alienated" himself from his teammates and has lost support in the locker room. Once again, I don't buy it. Here at Hogs Haven, we're going to stick to covering football, not stories broken based on unnamed sources.

On to the game, this is a big one for the Redskins. Both the Skins and the Vikings enter today's game at 3-5, and one team is going to take a huge step in the right direction and the other's playoff hopes will be all but eliminated. The Redskins have the opportunity to head into the bye week on a three game win streak and one game from evening their record, but they have had a history of underperforming in "trap" games, can they shed that reputation under new head coach Jay Gruden? We're about to find out.

Griffin was impressive on his first drive back in action. He executed a design run for positive yards (without absorbing a hit), converted on third down, and had a beautiful escape to extend the play for another third down conversion. Griffin did get bent awkwardly on a sack from Vikings rookie Anthony Barr, but appeared okay after the hit. Redskins up 3-0.

At the end of the first quarter Griffin is 6/6 for 103 yards, including a beautiful deep ball to DeSean Jackson (Jackson's 8^th reception of 40+ yards). Griffin has lead this offense well, and has looked healthy and confident. Redskins are driving heading into the second quarter with a 3-0 lead. It is also worth noting that Alfred Morris has been running well throughout the first quarter.

Alfred Morris goes untouched into the end-zone to finish off the drive, Redskins lead 10-0.

The second quarter was relatively uneventful until Robert Griffin threw a late interception with around two minutes left in the half. Two breakdowns in coverage led to a Vikings touchdown and now the Redskins will go into the locker room only up by three points after dominating the first half.

Some notes from the first half: Bashaud Breeland picked up right where he left off against Dallas. Breeland has covered well, and made plays in the run game as well. Breeland's instincts are phenomenal, something you cannot teach or coach. He could be a special player if he keeps it up.

Aside from the interception, RG III has played a very good first half. He has been accurate with the football and made plays. With Griffin's return, Alfred Morris has ran relatively well in the first half, but did have a dropped pass that killed momentum on a drive.

I love the leadership Ryan Clark brings to the Redskins, and although no one thought he was the long term solution at safety, he is becoming a liability in coverage. The Redskins don't have a ton of options at safety, but I would think they are going to have to look at mixing in Phillip Thomas and Trenton Robinson soon.

Sticking with negative play recently, Andre Roberts has been struggling as a receiver and returner recently, it will be interesting to see the role Leonard Hankerson plays when he returns.

It feels as if the Redskins are in complete control of this game, but the scoreboard does not indicate that; which is all that matters at the end of the day. The Redskins need to come out in the second half and try to take back control of this game. Griffin needs to shake off the interception and come out slinging in the second half.

The Redskins came out of the locker room and went three and out, the drive ending with a sack of Griffin, and all of the sudden it feels like the Vikings have momentum.

The Redskins defense has done a 180 on the past two drives. After allowing zero points prior to those drives, the Redskins defense has given up 14 on the past two. They are getting pressure, but not getting the quarterback to the ground, and helping Minnesota with silly penalties. Vikings have their first lead of the game 14-10.

It wasn't the most in-sync the Redskins offense has looked, and the drive was extended by a silly penalty by the Vikings, but Robert Griffin hit DeSean Jackson for a touchdown. Redskins up once again 17-14.

The defense got a much needed stop, but the Redskins can only manage a field goal on the ensuing drive, the score now stands at 20-14. A touchdown would have gone a long way in getting momentum back on the Redskins side heading into the fourth quarter.

The Vikings march down the field, with the Redskins defense appearing to be on its heels, the Redskins now trail 21-20. Not sure what exactly happened to the defense after the RG III interception, were playing fast and with confidence before, look lost now.

Robert Griffin to DeSean Jackson could be scary good. Griffin hit Jackson on a 56 yard pass on a perfectly placed ball, who aired it out just enough to let Jackson run under it and haul in the bomb. That is Jackson's 9^th catch of 40+ yards (more than Philadelphia's entire team). Jackson also ran a picture perfect route to get open.

Griffin's ability to escape pressure and reset his feet to make a throw down field has been impressive. In the past he had a tendency to take off as soon as the play broke down, that hasn't been the case today.

The Redskins did a good job finishing the drive after the big play from Jackson. Morris plunges into the end zone for the score. The Redskins went for the two point conversion in attempt to make it a seven point game but were unsuccessful. Redskins lead 26-21.

The Redskins defense has not played well in the second half. Haven't gotten enough pressure on the quarterback, have let receivers ridiculously open, and haven't been able to get off the field on third and long.

The Redskins defense had Matt Asiata stopped short of the goal line. Will Compton had him stopped, and instead of going high and driving him back, Perry Riley went low as well and Asiata easily reached in for his third touchdown of the game. Asiata also plunged into the end zone to complete the two point conversion. Redskins now trail 29-26.

The Redskins didn't do enough to win this game. The defense could not make key stops, the offense left points on the field, and the Redskins lost the turnover battle. The Redskins will fall to 3-6 heading into the bye week. A demoralizing loss for the Redskins, who if they could have pulled out a win today would be only one game under .500 heading into a bye with  their starting quarterback healthy and the Eagles and Cowboys starting quarterbacks in question.

These are the types of games the Redskins have to find a way to pull out a victory in if they every want to be contenders.