The Washington Redskins lost an overtime heartbreaker to the Atlanta Falcons, 25-19 at the Georgia Dome.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins, who moments before has rallied his team to a game-tying field goal with less than 30 seconds to play in the game, watched in horror as his sideline pass was intercepted and returned for the game-winning Falcon’s touchdown.
Still, the Redskins (2-3) played the undefeated Falcons expecting to win, and their defense held the high-flying Falcon’s offense, which is third in the league in scoring average, to 19 points in regulation, 15 points below their average and had come away with three takeaways and was in position to win.
Cousins, who was 21 of 32 for one touchdown and two interceptions was not as sharp as he had been last week when he rallied the team to a last minute victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
But that said, when the team needed him he got it done, driving the team 46-yards in four plays with a drive that began with only 24 seconds to play in the game.
That set up Kicker Dustin Hopkins, who earlier had missed from 53 yards, connected from 52 yards to ignite a mini-celebration and extend the game.
The Redskins won the coin flip and chose to go on offense first in the overtime period. Cousins drove the team to midfield, but on second down his receiver, Ryan Grant fell down and the pass intended for him was instead caught by Atlanta’s Robert Alford who returned it 59 yards for the game winning touchdown.
The teams got off to a slow start, and after a scoreless first quarter, Washington got on the board first with a 12 play, 67-yard drive that ended with a seven yard scoring pass to tight end Derek Carrier for a 7-0 Washington lead. Carrier was replacing starter Jordan Reed who is out with a concussion.
The Falcons countered with a 42-yard field goal from kicker Matt Bryant, who later would miss two field goals, and the first half ended with Washington ahead 7-3.
Atlanta took their first lead of the game on a fortunate bounce of the football. After driving 91-yards in 11 plays, running back Devonta Freeman fumbled the ball at the goal line but it bounced forward into the end zone and was recovered by Atlanta wide out Julio Jones.
The Falcons tried for a two-point conversion, but failed and they took a 12-7 lead with 9:14 to play in the third quarter.
Washington responded with a three play, 80-yard drive that was aided by a pass interference call that placed the ball at the two yard line. Rookie running back Matt Jones ran a sweep to the right and scored to give his team a 13-12 lead. Washington’s two-point conversion also was not successful.
They later added a 28-yard field goal to make the score 16-12 with 2:38 to play in the game.
Atlanta took the lead again on a 10 play, 80-yard drive when running back Freeman scored from six yards out to give his team a 19-16 lead with 24 seconds to play in the contest.
Washington countered with the field goal-tying drive which set up the exciting finish.
The Falcons won the total yards battle and had 29 first downs to Washington’s 18. They were also 3-3 on fourth down.
Jones led the Redskins in rushing with 20 yards on 11 carries. Rookie Jamison Crowder led the team in receiving with 87 yards on eight receptions.
Atlanta’s quarterback Matt Ryan was 24-42 for 254 yards and two interceptions. Freeman led the Falcons in rushing with 153 yards on 27 carries and one touchdown. It was the first time this season a runner had run for 100 yards against the Washington defense.
Jacob Tamme led Atlanta in catches with eight for 94 yards in a winning effort fot the (5-0) Falcons.
