MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- The Washington Redskins enter halftime with a 7-3 lead over the Miami Dolphins. Here are some takeaways from the Redskins' Week 6 showdown:
1. Redskins Offense Stagnant Early
Washington was unable to get anything going offensively during the first quarter of Sunday's matchup. Despite facing the NFL's worst total defense, the Redskins ran 10 plays for a total of 25 yards and punted three times. On their second possession, the visitors ran three straight pass plays yet could not move the sticks.
In offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell's first game as play-caller, the Redskins' attack was silenced throughout the opening 15 minutes. But once the second quarter began, albeit from deep in Redskins' territory, a run-heavy series of plays helped the offense put up their first points of the game.
2. Defense Wreaks Havoc On Rosen
After a slow start to the season, the Redskins' pass rush sacked New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady three times last week, which matched the amount of time he was taken down in the previous four games combined.
That type of dominance in the trenches was on full display Sunday, as the Redskins sacked Miami quarterback Josh Rosen four times before halftime. Defensive linemen Matt Ioannidis and Jonathan Allen both got to Rosen on the first possession, while safety Landon Collins recorded his first sack of the season on the next drive. Later in the quarter, reserve defensive lineman Treyvon Hester joined the sack party by easily defeating his blocker 1-on-1.
3. Terry McLaurin Gets Redskins On The Board
There have been two games since McLaurin got his last touchdown, but the rookie receiver reminded everyone that he is still a key piece to the Redskins' offense Sunday.
Facing a 2nd-and-7 from the Dolphins' 25-yard line, McLaurin capped off an eight-play, 93-yard Redskins' drive with a grab in the end zone after leaving the defensive back turned around and on the ground. It was McLaurin's fourth touchdown of the year.
Quarterback Case Keenum and the offense took advantage of a running game that accounted for 68 yards on the drive. Keenum faked the ball to Peterson and only needed to wait one second before firing the pass to McLaurin, who had gotten open moments before the ball came his way.
4. Peterson Spearheads Effective Running Game
It took awhile for the Redskins' rushing attack to get any momentum, but thanks to Peterson, it gave the offense a much-needed boost.
It was exactly what interim head coach Bill Callahan wanted his offense to look like in the game. Peterson erupted for 59 yards on the Redskins' scoring drive, and six of the offense's eight plays on the drive were on the ground. In addition, three of the team's five first downs came during that span.
Two rushes of 18 and 25 yards from Peterson helped put the Redskins in scoring position, and the amount of rush attempts helped the offense execute the play-action pass that put the team ahead, 7-0.
