Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as the Washington Redskins rallied in the second half to win 31-30 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It was the largest comeback in Redskins history.
Cousins ended with 305 yards on a day when the running game could only manage 50 yards. He lead the team back from a 24 point deficit for the victory.
Tight end Jordan Reed had 11 catches, but none bigger than his 4th quarter grab that gave the Redskins the lead. It was Reed's second touchdown of the day.
Rookie quarterback Jameis Winiston had a good day, throwing for 289 yards and two touchdowns. But the Buccaneers were plaqued by penalties at bad times, being flagged 16 times for 142 yards.
The Redskins are now 3-4 and headed into a bye week before playing host to the New England Patriots on Nov. 8.
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After a restart of the opening kickoff, the Redskins could only manage seven yards on their opening drive. They punted and the Buccaneers wasted no time pushing into Redskins territory in two plays.
On the third play, Winston connected with wideout Mike Evans for 40 yards on a nice touch pass and game the Bucs an early 7-0 lead.
The Redskins offense still couldn’t manage much on the next drive, only going 15 yards on four plays.
The Bucs were able to drive down the field again, added by Winston’s accurate arm. But they stalled as they got close to the end zone, managing only a field goal and extending the Tampa Bay lead to 10.
Yet another three and out for the Redskins offense as they can only manage four yards on this drive.
The Buccaneers’ offense continued to be impressive, driving down the field again, getting down quickly inside the Redskins 20 as the first quarter ended. The Bucs managed more than 200 yards of offense in the opening quarter compared to the Redskins 21 yards of offense.
The second quarter started with a little fireworks as the teams scuffled after a short run. Tampa Bay ended up with a personal foul, pushing them back.
Linebackers Ryan Kerrigan and Keenan Robinson had to leave the field due to injuries.
Winston kept his team focused, moving down field again before yet another touch pass into the end zone. Donteea Dye hauled in the 7-yard pass for the score, and it was also his first NFL reception ever.
The Redskins offense seemed to shake loose of the doldrums with a couple Cousins’ completions. However, the Redskins quarterback was stripped of the ball as he dropped back to pass, creating a fumble.
Bucs defensive lineman Howard Jones scooped up the loose ball and sprinted 43 yards for a touchdown, putting the Redskins down 24-0 with a little over 8 minutes to go in the half.
The Redskins again moved down field with some crisp passing by Cousins. The quarterback decided to run it in himself from 8-yards out to cut the lead, 24-7.
Nice 1st-half TD run by @KirkCousins8. Watch it again: https://t.co/OIs3r0mai0 pic.twitter.com/JY6D9ONVoU — Washington Redskins (@Redskins) October 25, 2015
Neither team could manage much more offense in the second half with both defenses tightening up.
Tampa Bay lead 24-7 and would get the ball at the start of the second half.
The Bucs offense apparently didn’t come out for the second half, going five plays and gaining no net yards. They also had back-to-back plays with penalties, including another personal foul by one of the offensive linemen.
After the punt, Cousins again directed the Redskins down the field, hooking up with Jamison Crowder for 38 yards. Crowder made a nice adjustment on a ball thrown away from the defender.
Two back-to-back roughing the passer calls against the Bucs put the Redskins on the 3. Cousins found Ryan Grant wide open in the end zone for a touchdown and cut the lead to 10.
That's #Redskins WR Ryan Grant's first career TD! #TBvsWAS https://t.co/2aq6vm88gu — Washington Redskins (@Redskins) October 25, 2015
On the ensuing kickoff, a bit of trickery as the Redskins performed a successful onside kick and the offense was back out on the field at the 50. Cousins immediately went back to Grant for 32 yards.
The first onside kick recovered by the kicking team in the NFL this season. WATCH: https://t.co/7ovW7fFggv pic.twitter.com/qctR7xjMoB — Washington Redskins (@Redskins) October 25, 2015
After a false start, Cousins scrambled for 8 yards, then completed a pass to Crowder for 8 yards to get the team inside the 10-yard line.
Assisted by a defensive holding penalty, Cousins again tossed his second touchdown pass of the day, this one to tight end Jordan Reed and the Redskins only trailed by 3 with just under 7 minutes to go in the third quarter.
#Redskins TE Jordan Reed celebrates his 3rd quarter TD here in #TBvsWAS! https://t.co/eFMbWtWCgD — Washington Redskins (@Redskins) October 25, 2015
The Buccaneers offense tried to regain their form, driving down the field after a more traditional kickoff. A good mix of runs, passes and a few penalties got Tampa Bay down to the 20.
It looked like Winston worked some magic after scrambling and finding Mike Evans in the end zone for an apparent score. However, Evans was called for offensive pass interference and the Bucs were pushed back again.
After the penalty, the Redskins brought five rushers and were able to sack the quarterback as the third quarter ended. A short pass to start the fourth and a 47 yard field goal allowed the Bucs to extend their lead, 27-21.
Matt Jones ripped off an 11-yard run, but the Bucs committed yet another personal foul penalty to help the Redskins move further down the field. But a penalty of their own in their territory pushed the Redskins back after an 11 play, 63 yard drive.
Kicker Dustin Hopkins booted a 35 yard field goal to draw Washington to within three again with 7:29 to go in the game.
The Buccaneers responded, keyed by a 49 yard run by Doug Martin that moved Tampa Bay inside the 10 yard line. However, three consecutive runs could not get the Bucs in the end zone.
A short field goal extended the Buccaneers lead again, 30-24, with 2:27 to go in the game.
The Buccaneers moved 11 plays in 91 yards in about 5 minutes, but the ensuing touchback meant the Redskins would have to go 80 yards in just over 2 minutes to complete the rally.
Cousins had two quick completions before the 2 minute warning moved the Redskins down the field. Two more completions put the offense in Bucs territory with 1:32 to go.
Two more completions put them on the 31 yard line. They were aided by the 16th penalty on Tampa Bay, moving them to the 26. A sidelines pass to Roberts put them close to the 20 with under a 1 minute to play.
A great touch pass by Cousins to Crowder moved them down to the 6 yard line with 36 seconds to go. A pass to Reed was just out of reach, breaking a streak of seven consecutive completions by Cousins.
Another try in the end zone fell incomplete before Cousins found Reed on a short slant for a touchdown. The extra point, no longer automatic, was good and the Redskins had a one point lead with 24 seconds to go.
Celebrating that game winner in #TBvsWAS! https://t.co/kdWnOa4PHQ — Washington Redskins (@Redskins) October 25, 2015
The Buccaneers weren’t going down without a fight. Two quick passes to the sidelines moved the close to the 50 yard line.
Winston decided to try the middle of the field, hooking up with running back Charles Simms. But Simms tried to extend the play, lateraling the ball backwards and it was recovered by the Redskins.
