Redskins lead 13-10 at halftime
The Washington Redskins lead the Philadelphia Eagles 13-10 at halfime. The 8-6 Redskins need to win today and a week from today against the Cowboys in order to guarantee themselves a division championship for the first time since 1999.
The Eagles struck first, driving 76 yards on 11 plays on the opening drive of the game, culminating in a beautiful 27-yard TD pass from QB Nick Foles to WR Jeremy Maclin. Redskins DB D.J. Johnson was badly beaten on the play when he tried to jam Maclin at the line of scrimmage, but missed. Johnson was beaten last week for a 69-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter of the win in Cleveland when he bit on a play fake and let the receiver get behind him.
The Redskins drove 56 yards on 10 plays on their first posession, but Robert Griffin III threw an incomplete pass on 3rd and 2 and Washington turned the ball over at the Philly 35-yard-line on downs.
The Eagles came back and drove deep into Washington territory, their offensive looking unstoppable at that time. Then ILB Perry Riley rushed up the middle on an Eagles pass on second down and sacked Foles. The Eagles came back with another called pass, but Ryan Kerrigan forced Foles out of the pocket and then chased him down. Kerrigan wrapped up Foles and forced the Philly rookie QB to fumble. The ball was recovered by Washington rookie CB Richard Crawford, who returned it to the Washington 39-yard line.
The Redskins drove 32 yards on 8 plays before the drive stalled and PK Kai Forbath came on for a 45-yard field goal. Forbath booted it right down the middle of the uprights and the Redskins narrowed Philly's lead to 7-3. Forbath's kick tied him with Garrett Hartley of the New Orleans Saints with 16 straight made field goals to start an NFL career.
The Eagles ran a quick three and out, unable to gain a single yard on the Redskins defense. A bad punt by the Eagles gave Washington the ball at their own 47-yard line. The Redskins drive to the Philly 24-yard line before the drive stalled again and Forbath came on for a 42-yard field goal. Forbath's kick was perfect and he held the record of made field goals to start an NFL career all by himself. The kick narrowed Philadelphia's lead to 7-6.
The Eagles came back out at their own 22-yard line, but gained little on first down. On second down Forbath was sacked again by OLB Ryan Kerrigan, giving him two in the first half and 8.5 on the season -- a new high for him. On 3rd and 12, Foles went back to throw and looked to his right. He threw, but the ball was tipped at the line of scrimmage by NT Barry Cofield and the ball floated into the hands of ILB London Fletcher, who returned it to the Eagles 25-yard line.
The Redskins quickly drove toward the end zone, getting over it when RG3 tossed a line of scrimmage pass to WR Josh Morgan, who made a man miss and picked up a perfect block from WR Pierre Garcon. Replays showed Morgan's knee might have touched down before he got the ball over the end zone line, but it was not clear and the call on the field of a touchdown was upheld. The Redskins lead 13-7.
The Eagles got the ball on their own 20-yard line and quickly drove deep into Redskins territory. However, a holding penalty on Eagles LT King Dunlap ruined the drive and forced the Eagles to kick a 38-yard field goal to bring the score to 13-10 with 18 seconds left in halftime.
Second half coming up...
