John Matthews
WMAL.com
CHICAGO — (WMAL) The Redskins blew a 14-point lead. Twice.
Kirk Cousins threw an ill-advised interception that allowed the Bears to tie the game.
The Redskins faced a hostile crowd in Chicago, having failed to win away from Fed Ex Field even once this season.
All of those were signs the Redskins are improving, because they overcame all of it and beat the Bears at Soldier Field, 24 – 21, thanks in no small measure to Chicago kicker Robbie Gould, who kicked a 50-yard would-be game-tying field goal wide right with 1:40 left to play.
“It feels good to win, especially on the road,” Cousins said. “It’s not an easy thing to do. It felt like it took the whole team. It took special team plays, defense plays, offensive plays, it took a lot of different guys making plays, contributing to finding a way.”
Cousins completed 24 of 31 passes for 300 yards on the day, and ran in the Redskins’ second touchdown of the day, a 4-yard scamper to give the Redskins a 14-0 lead in the second quarter – a lead that would not hold up.
Jay Cutler drew the Bears close just before the half, connecting with Alshon Jeffery on a 20-yard touchdown pass to close the gap to 14 – 7. After the teams traded touchdowns early in the third quarter, Cousins underthrew a pass to Pierre Garcon down the right seam that was picked off by Chicago’s Kyle Fuller. Three plays later, the Bears tied the score at 21, and the momentum appeared to shift Chicago’s way.
But the Redskins’ resilience paid-off. Cousins responded with a drive to the Bears’ 29, that ended with a 47-yard Dustin Hopkins field goal that proved ultimately to be the game-winner.
“We have everything we want still in front of us,” coach Jay Gruden said. “It keeps us alive, it keeps our heart beeping, heart pumping, guys should be excited to come back to work on Monday.”
After winning on the road for first team this season (and becoming the last team in the NFL to do that), the Redskins now must do something else they haven’t been able to accomplish in 2015 – win two in a row.
The Skins will host the Bills Sunday in their last home game of the season. Buffalo lost a close one to the Eagles Sunday, and Rex Ryan’s team is an extreme long shot to make the playoffs in the AFC.
For the Redskins, however, it’s another chance to achieve a first for the season – winning two games in a row. As long as they don’t lose again, they’ll be the champions of the NFC East.
However, the math is simple. Reality is hard.
Copyright 2015 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (PHOTO: Washington Redskins)
