The Washington Redskins won a game. In 2019. Hold on, that might not be a crazy enough statement to describe what we just witnessed.
The Redskins held a lead, gave it up late, and then came back down the field thanks to a couple of budding rookie players and kicked a game-winning field goal, ending their nine-game home losing streak, picking up their second win of the year.
Many problems still surround the franchise as a whole, but if that win can’t put a smile on your face for a split second, then I can’t help you. Rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins showed a lot of poise and improvement, and fellow rookies Terry McLaurin, Kelvin Harmon, and Steven Sims put on a show on offense and special teams. When all is said and done it won’t matter much, but for now, it’s good enough for an afternoon of celebration. Here are our three biggest takeaways from the game.
A Rare and Inspiring Win for Washington
The Redskins took a lead early, then lost it late, but then they regained it in the final second. If you were to take a straw poll at halftime as to who would win the game, I think the result would show little confidence in Washington, but they managed to pull it out on the back of Haskins and an impressive defensive performance.
Washington held a 10-point lead at the half, and they scored 13 points in the first two quarters, which is their highest point total in the first half since putting up 20 points against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1. After relinquishing the lead late in the fourth quarter, back-to-back field goals from Dustin Hopkins gave Washington a three-point lead late, and the defense held on to win it.
When looking at the game from a broad scope, Haskins was decent, the offense was fine, and the defense was pretty good. The rookie quarterback finished the game with 156 yards and 0 touchdowns on 13-for-29 passing with 1 interception. Terry McLaurin and Kelvin Harmon were the top receivers in Washington, hauling in a combined 115 yards.
The Redskins snapped their nine-game home losing streak, and Haskins got the first win of his career. The draft stock took a hit, but fans got to celebrate for a day.
Steven Sims Needs to Touch the Ball More
It only took two plays, but in that small sample size, undrafted rookie Steven Sims proved that he is one of the most dynamic players that the Redskins have, and he needs to be given more of an opportunity to shine in Washington.
On the very first play of the game, a kick-return for the Redskins, Sims hauled in the kick and scampered upfield for a 33-yard return to near midfield. A couple of drives later, with the game tied at 3-3, Sim was back to receive again, and he made some magic happen.
ALL THE WAY @StevenSimsJr | #DETvsWAS pic.twitter.com/PjzdS1p7Mb
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) November 24, 2019
We’ve seen Sims’ ability a couple of times this season when the Redskins have tried to get him touches in the offense, but fans have always been left begging for more. It’s clear that the rookie has explosive speed and a knack for making things happen. With the season all but over, he needs to be getting more reps.
A Chance to Feel Happy
Obviously, there are still a lot of things to be upset about if you’re a fan of the Washington Redskins. You still have an inept owner, a general manager who can’t make two correct decisions in a row, and a team that can’t get out of their own way. But for a day at least, fans should take a second to feel happy.
The future of the Redskins showed itself of Sunday against the Lions, and it has a chance to be bright. Haskins didn’t put up eye-popping stats, but he did what needed to be done at the most critical times and got his team in a position to win the game. McLaurin ran all over the field and out-played Darius Slay, one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL, and Kelvin Harmon proved that he can be something special when given the chance.
In the end, it ended in a rather meaningless victory that won’t matter when all is said and done, but that doesn’t mean it can’t matter right now. Though the stands at FedEx Field were nearly empty, the seats that were fill got to witness a show. If some things are able to break in the right direction, there’s a chance the team can grow from this in the future.