This week's Redskins Drive of the Game, presented by Ford, was a eight-play, 60-yard drive capped by a Josh Doctson touchdown that gave the Redskins the lead.
In what was otherwise an offensive struggle, characterized by some sloppy play with offensive parts that had little time to find rhythm together over a short practice week, the Redskins put together a scoring drive when they needed it the most.
With the game tied at 10-10, and just more than eight minutes left in the fourrth quarter, quarterback Kirk Cousins led a touchdown drive that finished with a brilliant pass to wide receiver Josh Doctson in the corner of the end zone, giving the Redskins a lead they wouldn't relinquish in their 20-10 Thanksgiving day victory over the Giants.
Starting at their own 40-yard line, running back Samaje Perine carried the load to begin the drive, rattling off a couple of runs for seven yards. The drive seemed doomed when Cousins was sacked, but a defensive holding penalty gave Washington a fresh set of downs. Perine kept the ball moving, rushing for a first down before a couple of short runs put Washington into another third down situation.
Wide receiver Jamison Crowder, who had been out with a knee injury, returned to the field at the perfect time, running a slant route over the middle and catching a pass for 17 yards and into field goal range. The Redskins wouldn't settle.
After a two-yard gain by Perine, Cousins dropped back, looked for tight end Niles Paul, turned to his left and zipped a 14-yard pass to Doctson in the corner of the end zone, just out of the reach of cornerback Janoris Jenkins for a touchdown.
Check out the top images from the Washington Redskins' offense in their 2017 Week 12 matchup against the New York Giants Nov. 23, 2017, at FedExField.
"We called it a throwback in the sense that he's not the number one there," Cousins said. "We were trying to work Niles [Paul] down the sideline off play-action and hope that we could get the defense to bite on the fake. They didn't bite. They had a coverage before the snap that didn't look like they weren't going to bite. Josh [Doctson] did a good job trying to sell, you know, run to the right and then he's supposed to just kind of sell that, sell that, sell that and then whip out of it and be an outlet for me late and he did the rest. He got separation and made a great catch and kept his feet in bounds."
The Redskins defense stopped the Giants on the ensuing drive, kicked a game-sealing field goal and walked out of FedExField late Thursday night with a much-needed victory.
"We have to take one game at a time, 'coach speak' obviously, but there's no way you can even look forward to the playoffs right now," head coach Jay Gruden said. "We have a great game against the Dallas Cowboys who came in here and beat us last time so we take one game at a time and after the season we'll see where we stand."
