The Washington Redskins won their sixth straight game Sunday afternoon, holding off the Philadelphia Eagles 27-20, and setting up a showdown with the Dallas Cowboys next Sunday for the NFC East title at FedEx Field.
The Eagles were five yards away from the tying touchdown, but Nick Foles was called for intentional grounding with one second to go. The penalty carried with it a ten-second run-off, ending the game.
Washington could have clinched a wild card playoff spot with a win and losses by the New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, and Chicago Bears; however, Minnesota's 23-6 win over Houston precluded that possibility.
After a knee injury forced Griffin to yield to Kirk Cousins last week against Cleveland, the Rookie of the Year candidate showed few ill effects from the Grade 1 LCL sprain, completing 16 of 24 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns.
Philadelphia got off to a fast start, taking the opening kick-off and driving 76 yards in 11 plays. Jeremy Maclin ended the drive by catching a 27-yard touchdown pass from Foles. However, that would be the only touchdown the home team would score on the day.
Washington's offense took over a quarter to get going, but after a pair of Kai Forbath field goals, the Redskins took a 13-7 lead when Josh Morgan ran a Griffin screen pass into the end zone from 11 yards away. Philadelphia made the halftime margin 13-10 on an Alex Henery 38-yard field goal.
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The Redskins briefly pulled away in the third quarter. The visitors opened the half with a 5-play, 72-yard drive that was capped by an Alfred Morris 10-yard touchdown run. After Philadelphia responded with another Henery field goal to make the score 20-13, Washington answered with a 7-play, 50-yard march that ended when Griffin delivered a beautiful 22-yard touch pass into the arms of Santana Moss, who dragged his left foot along the ground to complete the catch before going out of bounds.
Philadelphia wouldn't go away quietly. After a Griffin pass went off the hands of Morgan and into the arms of Colt Anderson for an interception, the Eagles drove 61 yards in 6 plays. Dion Lewis scored from 17 yards out to make the score 27-20 and set up the dramatic finish.
