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Game analysis

Redskins cut Minnesota’s lead to 38-30, but fail onsides kick attempt as game ends

Washington kicker Nick Rose made a 56-yard field goal with a little over a minute left to play to cut the Vikings’ lead to 38-30. But Rose’s onsides kick didn’t travel the required 10 yards, giving the ball to Minnesota and allowing the Vikings to kneel to run out the clock and win the game. The Redskins drop to 4-5.

Vikings kick a field goal, extend lead to 38-27

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In three-plus seasons as a member of the Redskins, Vikings kicker Kai Forbath’s longest field goal was 50 yards. Now a member of the Vikings and returning to FedEx Field, Forbath drilled a 53-yarder midway through the fourth quarter that could prove to be crucial. The kick gave the Vikings a 38-27, making this a two-possession game. Kirk Cousins and Co. will have to score twice in the next seven and a half minutes to challenge Minnesota.

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D.J. Swearinger’s second interception leads to Redskins touchdown as Vikings’ lead is cut to 35-27

He calls himself two spoons. Well, D.J. Swearinger now has two interceptions after snagging another pass from Case Keenum. Although he fumbled out of bounds on the return, it gave Washington’s offense the ball at the 2-yard line. Kirk Cousins scored his second rushing touchdown two plays later on a read-option play to make it a one-score game, 35-27, with 14:47 left in the fourth quarter.

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Swearinger intercepts Case Keenum, provides hope for Redskins

And finally a mistake from Case Keenum. Now the Redskins will have to show whether they can capitalize. Keenum was enjoying a near-flawless game with a lot of good pass protection. The Redskins have zero sacks and just two quarterback hits. But then Keenum floated a pass that was destined for Redskins’ hands, and sure enough. D.J. Swearinger came down with it, his first pick since joining Washington as a free agent this offseason. Washington’s offense took the field with a bit of momentum and in need of a score to make the final quarter here competitive.

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Redskins cut Vikings’ lead to 35-20

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Washington kicker Nick Rose made a 21-yard field goal with 8:28 left in the third quarter after the Redskins’ drive stalled at the Vikings’ 3-yard line, bringing the score to 35-20 in favor of Minnesota.

Minnesota extends lead to 35-17 as Case Keenum throws his fourth touchdown pass

This game flipped quickly, and just two and a half minutes into the second half, the Vikings suddenly raced out to a 35-17 lead and the Redskins were left searching for answers, especially on the defensive end. The Washington defense has allowed a touchdown on five of the Vikings’ first six drives this afternoon. The latest was a 72-yard drive on just six plays to open the third quarter, capped by Case Keenum’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Jarius Wright.

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Keenum is having quite the afternoon. He’s 14-of-18 passing for 250 yards and four touchdowns. His 158.3 passer rating is perfect.

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Vikings lead 28-17 at halftime after Cousins interception

Kirk Cousins was intercepted by Vikings defensive back Mackensie Alexander with 1:38 left in the first half, leading to another touchdown by Minnesota and a 28-17 lead heading into halftime.

Just when it appeared the Redskins had a chance to take the lead before halftime, they now trail by two scores. Cousins threw a costly interception, a pass intended for Jamison Crowder that sailed over his hands, and Minnesota was able to double-dip with two touchdowns in the final two minutes of the first half to take a 28-17 lead.

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The Vikings have had the ball for just over 11 minutes, yet they’ve gained 247 total yards. Washington’s secondary has struggled defending Minnesota wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, who have 10 combined catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns.

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Adam Thielen touchdown catch gives Vikings a 21-17 advantage

Minnesota engineered a six-play, 71-yard touchdown drive that took fewer than three minutes off the clock, scoring on Case Keenum’s 7-yard TD pass to Adam Thielen.

One week after turning in one of their best defensive performances of the season, this one has been pretty uneven for the Redskins. Keenum has faced little pressure, and the Washington secondary has given up some big plays. DeAngelo Hall, Josh Norman and Bashaud Breeland have all been beat soundly in coverage at some point in the opening half of play.

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On this Vikings’ scoring drive, receiver Thielen beat Breeland for a 38-yard gain that put the Vikings in the red zone. Thielen hauled in a 17-yard catch on the next snap and then two plays later caught a 7-yard touchdown pass to give Minnesota a 21-17 lead.

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Redskins take a 17-14 lead on Kirk Cousins’ QB sneak

Washington finished off a 13-play, 60-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by Kirk Cousins on a quarterback sneak. The biggest play on a drive was a 32-yard catch and run by Jamison Crowder.

Washington’s offensive line is healthy, and it has made a significant difference on the run game, as seen on this drive. The unit was able to get some great push in the running game against a talented Vikings defensive line, which is playing without Everson Griffen, guiding Washington’s offense down the field on a 13-play drive that lasted over seven minutes.

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Vikings take a 14-10 lead with Diggs touchdown

Minnesota quarterback Case Keenum connected with wide receiver Stefon Diggs for a 3-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, giving the Vikings a 14-10 advantage.

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Kirk Cousins has an impressive first quarter

The Redskins carried a 10-7 lead into the second quarter, and Kirk Cousins seems to be benefiting from the healthy offensive line in front of him. He’s making the most of his time in the pocket and is spreading the ball around effectively. Five different Washington players registered at least one catch in the opening quarter — and not a single one of them was a tight end.

Cousins’ first quarter numbers: 10-of-12 passing for 110 yards and a touchdown and a passer rating of 132.6. Cousins often finds himself looking first at his tight ends or running backs in short-yardage situations, but in the first quarter he targeted his wide receivers six times, which resulted in six receptions.

Redskins take a 10-7 lead

Washington got a field goal out of a 10-play, 52-yard drive at the end of the first quarter. The Redskins converted a fourth down play with a pass from Kirk Cousins to running back Chris Thompson. Running back Rob Kelley appeared to injure his knee on one play.

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Vikings tie game at 7-7

Minnesota answered the Redskins’ scoring drive with one of its own. Latavius Murray scored on a one-yard run two plays after Case Keenum connected with Stefon Diggs for a long completion.

We haven’t seen Josh Norman get beat deep much, if at all, this season. But he got caught cheating during the first defensive possession. Diggs got about two steps on Norman during his 51-yard reception on the third play of the drive. Diggs, a Maryland product, got Minnesota down to the 2-yard line, and Murray scored two plays later. It was an uncharacteristic play for Norman, who has been the shutdown corner Washington had hoped he would be when he signed in 2016, leading to a quick response by Minnesota.

Redskins take early 7-0 lead

Maurice Harris made a spectacular one-handed diving catch for a touchdown to give Washington an early 7-0 lead. The catch capped off a seven-play, 75-yard drive that took just over four minutes.

Minnesota cornerback Trae Waynes is going to watch film of Harris’s 36-yard reception and shake his head. There’s not much he could’ve done to prevent that one. Harris came up with a highlight-reel, diving one-handed grab as he tumbled inside the pylon for the Redskins’ first score of the game. The catch was initially ruled incomplete, but after a review, it was clear that Harris successfully made the grab inbounds. Harris was promoted to the active roster just one day earlier, and has given the Washington offense plenty of momentum out of the gate.

Reunited and it feels so good

Actually, given the injuries they’ll play through, it probably is going to hurt a bit for the Washington Redskins’ offensive line. The toughness of that unit will be on full display Sunday as the entire starting unit will suit up for the first time since Washington’s Week 7 game against Philadelphia. Since that game every member of the starting unit has missed some amount of game time, whether it was just a few plays, in the case of right tackle Morgan Moses, or several games, as is the case for Trent Williams.

Despite a right-knee injury that will require surgery to correct, Williams is suiting up and will play Sunday vs. the Vikings, joining Shawn Lauvao (who missed time with a stinger), Brandon Scherff (knee) and Moses (ankles) in the trenches. Chase Roullier is starting at center for the injured Spencer Long (knee), who is active.



Injury report and inactives

For the first time since Week 7 the entire Redskins’ starting offensive line will be active, as Trent Williams will play Sunday despite a right knee injury that will require surgery after the season.

While that is certainly good news for a banged-up Redskins team that is facing one of the league’s top defensive fronts in the Vikings, they will be without tight end Jordan Reed Sunday. Here’s the full list of inactives, via Liz Clarke.

You can read more on each injury coming into today’s game and potential impact here.