Ravens Could Not Find Their Rhythm Against Redskins
BALTIMORE -- The Washington Redskins' defense put together its best game of the season, holding Baltimore scoreless in the second half and leading the way for a 16-10 victory over the Ravens on Sunday.
Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco appeared to throw a go-ahead 23-yard touchdown to Breshad Perriman with 30 seconds left, but the play was overturned after a review. The Redskins then forced an incomplete pass on a 4th-and-8 to pick up their third straight win.
Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins was 29 for 41 for 260 yards. He gave the Redskins their first lead, 13-10, on a 21-yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon with 8:28 left in the third quarter.
Washington (3-2) then caught a major break when Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley intercepted Cousins, but fumbled the ball through the end zone for a Redskins' touchback. It was a costly mistake that led to a 27-yard field goal by Dustin Hopkins that extended Washington's lead to 16-10.
Baltimore (3-2) was playing with a patchwork offensive line and was out of sync for much of the game. Rookie left tackle Ronnie Stanley missed his second straight week with a foot injury and right tackle Rick Wagner left the game with an injured thigh in the third quarter.
Flacco was sacked three times and was forced to check down most of the game because of constant pressure. He completed 30 of 46 passes for 210 yards with a touchdown.
Baltimore running back Terrance West had 95 yards on just 11 carries.
Washington entered the game with the league's No. 29-ranked defense, allowing 133 rushing yards per game and 280.5 yards passing.
The Ravens exploited that weakness on their first possession with a 75-yard scoring drive, capped by a 7-yard pass from Flacco to Crockett Gillmore. But that was the last time Baltimore would manage a touchdown.
Washington got a spark with an 85-yard punt return by Jamison Crowder. It was the first Redskins punt return for a touchdown since Santana Moss ran one back on Oct. 26, 2008. However, Dustin Hopkins missed the PAT and Baltimore led 7-6.
The Ravens defense came up big with 6:10 left in the half when linebacker Zachary Orr stripped running back Matt Jones and recovered the ball on the Washington 15. The Ravens, however, could not extend a 10-6 lead when kicker Justin Tucker threw an incomplete pass on a fake field-goal attempt.