Five Biggest Plays in Redskins Gutsy Win over Seahawks

Shorthanded with a grocery list of injuries, the Washington Redskins pulled off a gutsy performance to stun the Seattle Seahawks on the road 17-14. Down the entire left side of their offensive line, two tight ends, their top wide receiver, and a plethora of other injuries, the Redskins hobbled into Seattle and battled through a 60-minute clash before pulling off the upset.

Here are five plays that defined the Redskins win over the Seahawks:

5. Blair Walsh Misses Three Field Goals

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The Redskins can thank the embattled field goal kicker Blair Walsh. After going through a deep slump in Minnesota, Walsh landed in Seattle. He made 12-of-13 field goals through the season’s first seven games. Unfortunately, on Sunday the old Walsh resurfaced.

Walsh missed all three of his field goal attempts. All there went wide left. All three came in the first half. In a three-point game, it’s easy to point the finger at the culprit. There is no ducking the blame for Walsh. As the Redskins kept the ball in front of them for much of the game defensively, whenever they shut the door on the Seahawks’ offense, Walsh gave no help for Seattle.

4. Will Compton Intercepts Russell Wilson

The Redskins already had an interception off Seahawks QB Russell Wilson. But, Will Compton’s pick killed a huge opportunity for the Seahawks to get back into the contest.

With the score 10-2 in favor of Washington, Seattle was moving towards midfield trying to gain momentum of the game.

On 2nd-and-7, Wilson got flushed and pressured by Redskins inside linebacker Zach Brown. Wilson tried to lob a pass off balance to Doug Baldwin. Except, Redskins ILB Will Compton was able to snag it with a tough catch for the interception.

The change of possession kept the momentum on Washington’s side of the field. While the offense was unable to take advantage, the spectacular play made by Brown and Compton took away another possession in a gallant effort by the defense.

3. D.J. Swearinger Picks off Russell Wilson on Two-point Conversion and Chaos Ensues

The Seahawks offense finally broke through early in the fourth quarter when Wilson found tight end Luke Wilson for touchdown to close the gap to 10-8. The math spoke two-point conversion. Seattle’s method of going for the tie was a similar play they ran in Super Bowl XLIX. Yeah, that play, the one where New England Patriots CB Malcolm Butler jumped a pick-slant for the game-clinching interception.

Just like that fateful February night, the Seahawks’ rendition of the play on Sunday resulted in an interception. Redskins safety D.J. Swearinger read the play all the way and jumped the underneath slant for an interception. With the play coming on a two-point conversion, Swearinger alertly raced down the field with Seahawks trailing.

As Swearinger ran out of real estate, he lateraled the ball to teammate Josh Norman. When Seattle was able to get in front of him, Norman lateraled it back to Swearing before he was tackled. While Washington’s effort to score two points themselves failed, the result of the play was what they needed, a failed two-point conversion for Seattle that maintained their lead at 10-8.

2. Kirk Cousins Finds Brian Quick for Critical Play on Final Drive

With the Redskins offense stalling, the Seahawks eventually cracked the door open on their defense by taking the lead with 1:34 remaining at 14-10. The ball was in Kirk Cousins’ court and he responded with two great passes allowing his receivers to make plays. The first occurred when Cousins connected with Brian Quick for a 31-yard pickup.

Cousins stood in the pocket with pressure from the Seahawks barreling over him. He tossed a pass to the outside shoulder of Quick. The receiver adjusted and made the catch before taking a big hit from Seattle safety Kam Chancellor. With the game on the line, Cousins made a great read and throw and Quick made great catch to keep the drive and the Redskins’ season alive.

1. Josh Doctson Makes Great Diving Catch to Set Up Game-winner

On the very next snap after Quick’s snag, Cousins dropped back and fired a pass down the sideline for Josh Doctson. With the pass leading ahead, Doctson dove out and snagged the pass while falling on the turf at Seattle’s one-yard line.

The catch was Doctson’s biggest of his short NFL career and essentially put the nail in the coffin, as Rob Kelley scored a touchdown on the very next play to put Washington ahead 17-14 for good.