BALTIMORE— The Redskins are going into the 2017 season with high hopes of getting back to the playoffs, but after their first preseason game it’s apparent that they have a lot of work to do, especially on offense. They completed fewer than 50 percent of their passes and they ran for 1.8 yards per carry, as the Ravens prevailed in the preseason opener 23-3.
Kirk Cousins and the first-team offense were on the field for just six plays, two three-and-out series. The first series ended in a sack and the second one was over when Rob Kelley was stuffed for a four-yard loss on third and one.
Cousins completed 1 of 2 passes for 5 yards. He had a chance for a completion on his first throw but his pass to an open Terrelle Pryor was off target.
The defense had some solid performances by some front-line players including top draft pick DE Jonathan Allen, who got a sack, and ILB Zach Brown, who had two tackles including one for a loss.
The Redskins sustained two injuries to top players when OLB Trent Murphy went down with what was announced as a knee sprain and Su'a Cravens also hurt his knee. Both are scheduled for MRIs.
It’s only the first preseason game and six snaps is a very small sample size. But the Redskins would have like to have gotten some rhythm going on offense and they never came close.
Scoring drives:
First quarter
West 1 run (Tucker kick)
Drive: 8 plays, 57yards, 4:05
Drive Summary: Neither team had anything going until Redskins cornerback Jayron Holsey picked up a 23-yard pass interference penalty to give the Ravens a first down at the Washington 32. The Redskins stuffed Buck Allen on third and two, and it looked like Baltimore would settle for a field goal. Justin Tucker missed the kick but the Redskins were caught in an illegal formation. That gave the Ravens a fresh set of downs and on the next play Terrance West scampered 18 yards to the two. Two plays later West leapt over the goal line for the touchdown.
Ravens 7, Redskins 0
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Second quarter
FG Tucker 37
Drive: 14 plays, 34 yards, 6:08
Drive Summary: The Ravens started with a short field and they took advantage. On third and 10 Ryan Mallett threw to Michael Campanaro for a first down in Washington territory. Baltimore faced a fourth and one at the 35 and Ricky Ortiz leapt for two yards to the 32. Taquan Mizell bolted for two yards for another first down at the 22. On third and 10 Mallett completed a pass well short of the stocks and Tucker came in and booted the three-pointer.
Ravens 10, Redskins 0
FG Tucker 59
Drive: 4 plays, 13 yards, 0:16
Drive Summary: The Ravens got a quick three points after Jaylen Hill picked off a Colt McCoy pass at the Baltimore 46. Mallett completed two short passes and that was enough for Tucker, who boomed it through from 59 yards with a couple of yards to spare.
Ravens 13, Redskins 0
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Third quarter
Hopkins FG 49
Drive: 5 plays, 18 yards, 2:04
Drive Summary: The Redskins got the ball in Ravens territory at the 49 and finally got on the board. It wasn’t much of a drive as Samaje Perine picked up the only first down with an 11-yard run. That got it close enough for Hopkins to boot it in from 49.
Ravens 13, Redskins 3
White 33 pass from Woodrum (Tucker kick)
Drive: 1 play, 33 yards, 0:07
Drive Summary: The Ravens got into the end zone on two big plays. First, former Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds returned a punt 46 yards to the Washington 33. Reynolds found a hole in the middle and he followed his blocking until he was just tripped up at the 33. On the next player, fourth-string QB Josh Woodrum threw a nice TD pass to Tim White, who had beaten Jeremiah McKinnon.
Ravens 20, Redskins 3
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Fourth quarter
FG Tucker 21
Drive: 10 plays, 77 yards, 6:03
Drive Summary: The Ravens got going when Woodrum ran for 13 yards for one first down and passed for another first. Then a pass interference flag on Washington’s Tevin Homer set up a first and goal at the nine. On third down at the four, Woodrum scrambled again but he was held short and Tucker came in again.
Ravens 23, Redskins 3