The Washington Redskins surprised everyone on Sunday Night Football with a 27-10 rout of the Oakland Raiders. Three takeaways from the big win.
The Washington Redskins did something no one believed they were capable of on Sunday night. Washington’s defense dismantled the Oakland Raiders in a 27-10 rout on Sunday Night Football.
This game was essentially over after the second play from scrimmage saw Oakland quarterback Derek Carr get picked off by rookie safety Montae Nicholson. The Redskins would go on to march the ball down the field with precision and take a 7-0 lead. Carr would get picked again later — those were his first two interceptions of the season.
Defensively, the Redskins never faltered. On every possession, multiple defenders swarmed to the football. Stud receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree combined to catch two balls for 13 yards. Yes, you read that right. Josh Norman, Bashuad Breeland and Kendall Fuller all had outstanding performances.
And Marshawn Lynch, well, he wasn’t beastly, rushing for just 18 yards on six carries. Safety D.J. Swearinger’s hit on Lynch was textbook and one for the highlight reel. Lynch is not accustomed to defenders hitting him that hard. He never got going and neither did the Raiders’ high-powered offense as a whole.
Now that we’ve had a couple of days to digest Washington’s huge win, here are three takeaways from the game.
3. Jay Gruden was terrific
For the second straight game, Gruden had his team fully prepared and he thoroughly outcoached the opposing team. Last week, it was a run-heavy approach against the Rams to secure a 27-20 road win. This week, Gruden again leaned heavily on the run and used that to set up some plays downfield for quarterback Kirk Cousins.
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Veteran tight end Vernon Davis was terrific in the win. Davis caught five balls for 58 yards and a score. On the touchdown catch, Davis ran right by Oakland corner Sean Smith. Moving forward, Gruden must find ways to get the ball in his hands more often, whether Jordan Reed is available or not.
Gruden gets criticized for his lighter training camps and slow starts to the season. Valid criticisms for sure. However, he doesn’t get enough credit for his work with quarterbacks and how he tailors his game plan around the opponent’s weaknesses. That’s the sign of a smart coach.
Another decision Gruden caught flak for was the hiring of defensive coordinator Greg Manusky. Many thought he should’ve gone outside the organization for Joe Barry’s replacement but Gruden believed in Manusky’s approach and that is paying off thus far. Despite some tough circumstances, Gruden continues to do a good job as head coach of the Redskins.