**
**
PRESEASON WEEK 4WASHINGTON REDSKINS (2-1) at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1-2)Thursday, Aug. 28 – 7:30 p.m. ET
Raymond James Stadium (65,908) – Tampa, Fla.
The Washington Redskins will conclude their 2014 preseason slate on Thursday night when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kickoff from Raymond James Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m.
Last Saturday, the Redskins suffered their first defeat of the preseason, dropping a 23-17 decision to the Baltimore Ravens. The loss was the Redskins' first in preseason play since Aug. 18, 2012 at Chicago, a span of 736 days. The Redskins have won eight of their last nine and 12 of their last 15 preseason games.
Thursday's game will mark the fourth time in as many years that the Redskins and Buccaneers will play one another in a preseason finale. Washington secured victories against Tampa Bay in the final preseason game across each of the 2011-13 preseasons, including a 29-24 home win in 2011, a 30-3 home win in 2012 and a 30-12 road win last preseason.
The preseason game will serve as another evaluation tool as the Redskins and all NFL teams prepare to trim their rosters to 53 players in advance of the 4 p.m. deadline on Saturday, Aug. 30.
"You let the games take care of themselves and then you try to evaluate after every practice to see who is maintaining their level of play and who is slipping from a day-to-day basis," Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said. "I don't like to predetermine my roster spots at all. I like to let these guys compete. They deserve that right, they've earned that right. Tampa will be a huge game for a lot of the guys that are competing for the 53."
SERIES HISTORY:— Regular season series tied 9-9
— Redskins lead preseason series, 8-5
A look back at some of the top images in preseason and regular season games between the Washington Redskins and Tamapa Bay Buccaneers.
— Last regular-season meeting: Sept. 30, 2012 (22-22 WAS)
— Last preseason meeting: Aug. 29, 2013 (30-12, WAS)
TELEVISION:NBC4/Comcast SportsNet— Kenny Albert (play-by-play)
— Joe Theismann (color)
RADIO:Redskins Radio Network— Larry Michael (play-by-play)
— Sonny Jurgensen (color)
— Rick "Doc" Walker (sidelines)
THE OPPONENT:Former Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith now lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers heading into the 2014 season. Tampa Bay finished fourth in the NFC South last season with a 4-12 record.
Josh McCown, another former Chicago Bear, is expected to start at quarterback for the Buccaneers this season. In 2013, McCown completed 149-of-224 passes for 1,829 yards with 13 touchdowns and one interception. He posted a quarterback rating of 109.0 in eight games with five starts for the Bears.
Last season, Doug Martin rushed for 456 yards on 127 carries (3.6 avg.) with one touchdown after being limited by injury to only six game. In his rookie year in 2012, Martin eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark, gaining 1,454 rushing yards on 319 carries (4.6 avg.) with 11 touchdowns. That season, Martin also added 49 receptions for 472 yards with a receiving touchdown.
Vincent Jackson led Tampa Bay in receptions last season. Jackson started all 16 games, compiling 78 receptions for 1,224 yards with seven touchdowns. This season, he will be joined by rookie Mike Evans, whom the Buccaneers selected with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Linebacker Lavonte David is once again expected to lead the Tampa Bay defense in 2014. In 16 games last season, David recorded 144 combined tackles (106 solo) with five interceptions, both team highs.
After missing the 2013 season because of injury, Connor Barth is competing with first-year player Patrick Murray for kicking duties. In 2012, Barth went 28-of-33 on field goal attempts (84.8 percent). At punter, Michael Koenen returns after punting 87 times for an average of 44.2 yards per punt last season.
Eric Page returns as both the kick and punt returner for Tampa Bay. Page recorded 548 yards on 22 kick returns (24.9 avg.) last season and returned 23 punts for 251 yards (10.9 avg.).
PRESEASON SERIES:Thursday's preseason game between the Redskins and Buccaneers will be the 14th preseason meeting between the two franchises since the teams' first preseason matchup on Aug. 4, 1979. The Redskins are 8-5 all-time against the Buccaneers in preseason play.
The matchup on Thursday will mark the fourth time in four seasons the teams will face one another in a preseason finale. Washington has won each of the last four preseason contests between the two teams dating back to a 40-10 Redskins win in Tampa in 2002.
NOTES FROM LAST GAME:— The Washington Redskins dropped to 2-1 for the 2014 preseason on Saturday, falling to the Baltimore Ravens, 23-17, in front of an announced crowd of 70,876 people at M&T Bank Stadium.
— The loss snapped an eight-game preseason winning streak for the Redskins. Prior to Saturday, the Redskins last preseason loss was a 33-31 loss at Chicago in Week 2 of the 2012 preseason.
— Washington has won 12 of its last 15 preseason games.
— The Redskins held the Ravens to 2.9 yards per carry. Saturday's game marked the second time this preseason the Redskins have held an opponent to less than 3.0 yards per carry (2.6 vs. New England).
— The Redskins stopped the Ravens on Baltimore's first offensive possession. Linebacker Keenan Robinson tackled Baltimore running back Bernard Pierce for a one-yard loss on fourth-and-one from the Washington 49-yard line.
— The Redskins recorded another fourth down stop on the Ravens' third drive, stopping Ravens running back Lorenzo Taliaferro for no gain on fourth-and-one from the Washington 11-yard line.
— The Redskins' first possession culminated with a 32-yard field goal by Kai Forbath. It marked the second time this preseason the Redskins scored on their opening drive. Washington opened their first preseason game with an 11-play field goal drive against the New England Patriots.
—
Defensive end Jason Hatcher made his Redskins preseason debut. On Baltimore's second drive, Hatcher sacked Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco for a 12-yard loss on third down.
— Wide receiver Andre Roberts gained 23 yards on a punt return in the first quarter, the longest of his preseason career as either a member of the Redskins or Arizona Cardinals (2010-13).
— The Redskins held the Ravens to -8 yards rushing in the first quarter. The last time the Redskins held an opponent to negative rushing yardage in the first quarter of a regular season game was Oct. 24, 1999 at Dallas (-4).
— Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan recorded a sack in the second quarter, his third sack of the 2014 preseason.
— Linebacker Trent Murphy, the Redskins' top selection in the 2014 NFL Draft, earned the first sack of his preseason career, dropping Ravens quarterback Tyrod Taylor for a nine-yard loss in the third quarter.
— Wide receiver Santana Moss caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kirk Cousins in the third quarter. The reception was Moss' first preseason touchdown since Aug. 25, 2012 vs. Indianapolis.
— Cousins later completed his fourth touchdown pass of the preseason, connecting with Nick Williams for a seven-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. The four touchdowns this preseason surpass his most for a single preseason (three) from the 2012 preseason.
— The touchdown reception was Williams' second of the preseason and second in as many weeks.
— Head Coach Jay Gruden is now 2-1 in his preseason head coaching career.
— With a win at Tampa Bay next week, the Redskins can clinch a winning preseason record for a fourth consecutive year. It would mark the team's longest streak of winning preseasons since posting winning percentages better than .500 across six straight seasons from 1985-90.
REDSKINS-BUCCANEERS CONNECTIONS:
Former Buccaneers on Redskins:
— President/General Manager Bruce Allen (2004-08)
— Head Coach Jay Gruden (2002-08)
— Offensive Coordinator Sean McVay (2008)
— Offensive Line Coach Chris Foerster (1996-2001)
— Wide Receivers Coach Ike Hillard (2005-08)
— Defensive Backs Coach Raheem Morris (2002-05, 2007-11)
— CB E.J. Biggers (2009-12)
— LB Adam Hayward (2007-13)
— P Robert Malone (2010)
Former Redskins on Buccaneers:
— Tight Ends Coach Jon Embree (2010)
Buccaneers from the D.C./Maryland/Virginia area:
— LS Andrew Depaola (Parkton, Md.)
— QB Mike Glennon (Fairfax County, Va.)
— G Andrew Miller (Bassett, Va.)
Redskins from Florida:
— CB E.J. Biggers (North Miami Beach, Fla.)
— WR Pierre Garçon (Greenacres, Fla.)
— S Brandon Meriweather (Apopka, Fla.)
— RB Alfred Morris (Pensacola, Fla.)
— WR Santana Moss (Carol Country, Fla.)
— LB Darryl Sharpton (Coral Gables, Fla.)
— RB Chris Thompson (Madison, Fla.)
— Special Projects Coach Bret Munsey (Winter Park, Fla.)
Buccaneers who went to college in the D.C./Maryland/Virginia area:
— CB Keith Lewis (Virginia University of Lynchburg)
— G Andrew Miller (Virginia Tech)
Redskins who went to college in Florida:
— LB Everette Brown (Florida State)
— G/T Maurice Hurt (Florida)
— S Brandon Meriweather (Miami)
— RB Alfred Morris (Florida Atlantic)
— WR Santana Moss (Miami)
— TE Jordan Reed (Florida)
— LB Darryl Sharpton (Miami)
— RB Chris Thompson (Florida State)
Notable Pro Connections:
— DE Jason Hatcher (2006-13), Buccaneers Assistant Special Teams Coach Carlos Polk (2008) and Buccaneers CB Mike Jenkins (2008-12) all worked together in Dallas.
— LB Everette Brown (2009-11) and Buccaneers QB Josh McCown (2008-09) played together in Carolina.
— WR DeSean Jackson (2008-13), LB Akeem Jordan (2007-12), and Buccaneers QB Mike Kafta (2010-12) all played together in Philadelphia.
— LB Everette Brown, WR DeSean Jackson, DE Clifton Geathers and Buccaneers WR Russell Shepard were teammates in Philadelphia in 2013.
— G Chris Chester (2006-10), LS Nick Sundberg (2009) and Buccaneers G/T Oniel Cousins (2008-10) all played together in Baltimore.
— S Ryan Clark, S Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith and Buccaneers T Jamon Meredith played together in Pittsburgh in 2011.
— G Shawn Lauvao (2010-13) and Buccaneers G/T Oniel Cousins (2011-13), Buccaneers Offensive Line Coach George Warhop (2013), Buccaneers Tight Ends Coach Jon Embree (2013) all worked together in Cleveland.
— T Tyler Polumbus (2010-11) played with Buccaneers DT Clinton McDonald (2011-13) in Seattle.
— LB Akeem Jordan (2013) and Buccaneers S Bradley McDougald (2013) played together in Kansas City.
— LB Akeem Jordan (2013) and Buccaneers Special Teams Coordinator Kevin O'Dea (2013) worked together when O'Dea served as the Assistant Special Teams Coach in Kansas City.
— LB Gabe Miller (2010-13), S Brandon Meriweather (2011), Buccaneers QB Josh McCown (2011-13), Buccaneers S Major Wright (2010-13), Buccaneers Head Coach Lovie Smith (2004-12), Buccaneers Special Teams Coordinator Kevin O'Dea (2011-12), Buccaneers Cornerbacks Coach Gill Byrd (2008-12), Buccaneers Wide Receivers Coach Andrew Hayes-Stoker (2006-12), Buccaneers Assistant Defensive Line Coach Mike Phair (2011-13), Buccaneers Safeties Coach Mikal Smith (2010-12) and Buccaneers Running Backs Coach Tim Spencer (2004-12) all worked together in Chicago.
— S Brandon Meriweather (2007-10) and Buccaneers LB Dane Fletcher (2010-13) played together in New England.
— CB Tracy Porter (2008-12) and Buccaneers LB Jonathan Casillas (2009-12) played together in New Orleans.
— CB Tracy Porter (2013) and Buccaneers CB Mike Jenkins (2013) played together in Oakland.
— WR Andre Roberts (2010-13) played with Buccaneers DE Ronald Talley (2011-13) in Arizona.
Notable College Connections:
— CB David Amerson and Buccaneers QB Mike Glennon played together at North Carolina State in 2011.
— CB Bashaud Breeland and Buccaneers DE Da'Quan Bowers played together at Clemson in 2010.
— RB Chris Thompson and Buccaneers FB/RB Lonnie Pryor played together from 2009-12 at Florida State.
— T Trent Williams (2006-09), P Tress Way (2009-12) and Buccaneers DT Gerald McCoy (2006-09) all played together at Oklahoma.
— NT Barry Cofield and Buccaneers QB Mike Kafta were teammates at Northwestern in 2005.
— G Spencer Long (2009-13), RB Roy Helu Jr. (2007-10), TE Niles Paul (2007-10), LB Will Compton (2008-12) and Buccaneers LB Lavonte David (2010-11) all played at Nebraska.
— QB Kirk Cousins (2007-11), S Trenton Robinson (2008-11) and Buccaneers DE William Gholston (2010-12) all played together at Michigan State.
— K Kai Forbath and Buccaneers CB Alterraun Verner played together at UCLA from 2006-09.
— DE Clifton Geathers played with Buccaneers T James Meredith at South Carolina from 2006-07.
— TE Jordan Reed (2009-12), G/T Maurice Hurt (2006-10), Buccaneers RB Jeff Demps (2008-11), Buccaneers WR Solomon Patton (2010-13) and Buccaneers S Major Wright (2007-09) all played together at Florida.
— G/T Maurice Hurt played with Buccaneers WR Louis Murphy from 2006-08 at Florida.
— G Shawn Lauvao played with Buccaneers LB Brandon Magee and Buccaneers CB Deveron Carr in 2009 at Arizona State.
— LB Ryan Kerrigan played with Buccaneers T Kevin Pamphile in 2010 at Purdue.
— LB Trent Murphy (2009-13), Buccaneers DT Matthew Masifilo (2007-10) and Buccaneers WR Chris Owusu (2008-11) all played together at Stanford.
— LB Darryl Sharpton (2005-08) and Buccaneers RB Mike James (2009-12) played together at Miami.
— NT Chris Neild and Buccaneers S Keith Tandy played together from 2008-10 at West Virginia.
.
. .
