Redskins vs. Vikings: Live Game Grades and Analysis for Washington

The Washington Redskins seemed to have the Minnesota Vikings where they wanted them. But in the end, the Vikings defense stood tough and came out on top. 

Final

Redskins: 27
Vikings: 34

Position Unit	1st Half Grade	Final Grade
Pass Offense	A+	C+
Run Offense	A+	A-
Run Defense	B	B
Pass Defense	B-	C
Special Teams	C+	D
Coaching	A	B-

Final Analysis for Washington

Pass Offense: After starting the game playing well in the first half, the Redskins offensive line began to crumble in the final two quarters, specifically up the middle through Will Montgomery and Chris Chester. It was almost as if the Vikings defensive line gained momentum at halftime, while the Redskins offensive line was punched in the gut.

Pierre Garcon was an absolute stud for the second straight week, and Leonard Hankerson quietly put together a nice performance for his second respectable game in as many weeks.

Robert Griffin III, meanwhile, had arguably his best game of the season. Although his second half wasn’t nearly as eventful as his first, Griffin came through in the clutch and almost led his team to victory. He took a ton of shots tonight, but didn't shy away from hanging in the pocket and making some extremely tough throws. 

This game was easily winnable for the Redskins, but between the line breaking down, dropped balls and failed third-down attempts (after converting 9-of-11 in the first half), the Redskins dug their own grave.

Run Offense: Alfred Morris was virtually unstoppable tonight. He refused to go down on first contact and he was never caught behind the line of scrimmage. He demonstrated great vision tonight and good patience, ripping off some impressive cuts and exploding through holes.

As soon as the Vikings worked their way into striking distance, the Redskins, for some reason, lost their effectiveness on the ground. Although Morris finished with 128 yards on 24 carries, you wonder how much more he could’ve gained had the Redskins drove on the Vikings like they did in the first half.

Run Defense: Anytime you can hold the league’s best running back to fewer than 100 yards, your defense deserves some credit. The Redskins did a good job sticking to their game plan and containing Adrian Peterson, making his 18-yard touchdown in the first quarter AP’s longest run of the day.

Peterson finished the game with 75 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. 

Pass Defense: It was a questionable coverage scheme in the first half, and the Redskins managed to squeak through. But in the second half, lack of adjustment and a poor pass rush allowed even a backup quarterback like Matt Cassel to beat the Redskins through the air.

Special Teams: It’s a broken record by now, but this Redskins special teams unit is atrocious. Joshua Morgan remains the team’s punt returner, but his decision-making is nerve racking and dangerous.

Meanwhile, Sav Rocca continues to be terribly inconsistent, punting terrible balls at the worst times in the game, and the coverage unit is hell for the offense due to the field position they give up. 

The lone bright spot for the special teams on Thursday was Niles Paul returning kicks (easily the Redskins' best option) and the kickoff team’s ability to keep the ball away from Cordarrelle Patterson.

Coaching: As usual, lots of stuff will be said regarding Kyle Shanahan and his play-calling in the fourth quarter. The offensive line played poorly to close the game, but Shanahan didn’t provide Griffin with any manageable checkdowns.

Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett shouldn’t get a pass in this game either, after allowing Christian Ponder and Matt Cassel to take from them what each quarterback wanted. The pass rush remains inconsistent, and there were more than a handful of coverage matchups that hurt the Redskins in the second half

First-Half Analysis for Washington

Pass Offense: Robert Griffin III has looked fantastic through two quarters behind an offensive line that’s doing its part in creating a useful pocket. The play-calling from Kyle Shanahan has kept things interesting for the Vikings defense, throwing off their looks and helping to open Griffin’s passing lanes. As usual, Pierre Garcon and Jordan Reed are Griffin’s go-to guys.

Speaking of Garcon, he’s playing grown-man ball yet again. Kyle Shanahan has worked in a handful of bubble screens for Garcon, getting the ball into the hands of a quick playmaker and letting him do the work. So far, it’s working.

At the half, Griffin is 16-of-21 for 179 yards and three scores. He would have had four touchdowns had tight end Logan Paulsen held on to a pass in the end zone on third down on the Redskins’ opening drive.

Run Offense: Great cuts, good vision and tough running—the typical stuff we see out of Alfred Morris every week. He’s allergic to the backfield in that he takes a handoff and refuses to go down anywhere behind the line of scrimmage. Morris has 17 carries for 88 yards through two quarters.

The offensive line deserves credit not only for their blocking, but also for the execution and how they’re selling their runs. The Vikings defense should continue to struggle against this Washington rushing attack tonight.

Run Defense: When you play the Vikings, stopping Adrian Peterson is goal No. 1. And for the most part, the Redskins have done a good job of that. But Peterson was able to make an incredible cut in the first quarter on his way to an 18-yard score.

For the half, Peterson has seven carries for 44 yards—not a bad line for this Redskins defense.

Pass Defense: It seems as if the Redskins are giving large cushions to the Vikings receivers, which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense considering the Minnesota wideouts aren’t that threatening and Christian Ponder is responsible for getting them the ball.

The only excuse for somewhat soft coverage is to give defensive backs the room and time necessary to avoid or get off their blocks in order to contain Peterson.

Safety Brandon Meriweather was able to pick off a Ponder pass early in the first quarter, playing an effective, yet simple, center field.

Special Teams: Did anyone think we’d be so thankful to see Niles Paul as the Redskins' primary kick returner? Well, let us all rejoice. Joshua Morgan wasn’t making good decisions as a returner, and the coaches needed to make a change.

Why Morgan is still back on punt returns, no one knows. Morgan took a punt return late in the second quarter with a Vikings defender on his feet, refused to take a fair catch, fumbled the return, recovered it and lost four yards. Disgusting.

The Redskins have made it a point to keep the ball out of Cordarrelle Patterson’s hands when kicking off. Instead, Washington has opted to give up some yards by kicking the ball short and wrapping up the returner near the 30.

Coaching: Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has called a brilliant game through one half. He’s mixing it up while retaining balance, he’s working to get the ball to Pierre Garcon in space, he’s clearly baiting the Vikings defense for the second half, and we even saw a running back screen to Roy Helu Jr. for a nice gain.

The Kyle-bashing by most fans suspends itself for yet another half of football.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter for rants and low blows throughout the game: @BetBigDC