The Washington Redskins orchestrated the greatest comeback in team history and defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-30 at an ecstatic FedEx Field.
Behind 24-0 at the midpoint of the second quarter, the Redskins (3-4) rallied and came storming back, outscoring Tampa 31-6 the rest of the way.
The turning point in the game came when the Redskins recovered the first onside kick in the NFL this season.
Having gained the momentum after cutting the Tampa lead to 24-14, they marched down the field on a seven play, 51-yard drive that ended with a three yard touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Reed, making the score 24-21 with 6:56 to play in the third quarter.
Reed one of the stars of the game for Washington would later catch the game-winning six yard touchdown pass with 24 seconds to play in the game.
With the score now 24-21, Tampa Bay responded with a 45-yard field goal making the score 27-21 with 13:51 to go in the game.
Washington countered with a 35-yard field goal from the on-side-kick star of the game Dustin Hopkins to cut the Tampa Bay lead to 27-24 with 7:29 to go.
The defense then became another star of the game. First, cornerback Bashaud Breeland ran down Tampa’s Doug Martin, who had broken into the clear and was headed for the end zone. Breeland tackled him at the five yard line.
The rest of the defense did the rest, coming up with a game-winning goal line stand that limited the Bucs to a 21-yard field goal with 2:24 to play in the game.
With the score now 30-24, Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins engineered his second game-winning drive of the season. He took his team on a history-making 11 play, 80-yard drive which ended with Reed’s second touchdown reception of the game, one for the Redskin history books.
Cousins ended the game 33-40 for 317 yards and three touchdowns. Reed led the team in catches with 11 for 72 yards and two scores. Rookie Matt Jones led the team in rushing with 29 yards on nine carries.
Tampa’s rookie quarterback and number one pick Jameis Winston was 21-29 for 297 yards and two touchdowns, but none in the second half.
The Bucs were led in receiving by Mike Evans who had eight catches for a team-high 164 yards. Doug Martin led the team is rushing with 136 yards on 19 carries in a losing effort for the (2-5) Buccaneers.
