Check out the top photos from the Washington Redskins' Week 6 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
FIRST IMPRESSIONSThe Washington Redskins marched into the University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday hoping to continue on an upward trend after a deflating loss to the New York Giants two weeks ago.
Here's an exclusive look from the Washington Redskins' sideline during their Week 6 game with the Arizona Cardinals.
After playing tough against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks last week in a Monday Night Football matchup that ultimately resulted in a 27-17 loss, Washington took the field Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals hoping to show both itself and its fans a little resiliency.
Although the result was the same as last week, the Redskins were able to show they've improved against a talented Cardinals squad. The Redskins moved to 1-5 on the season with a 30-20 loss in front of a packed house in Glendale, Ariz.
With the loss, the Redskins snap their eight-game winning streak against the Cardinals (4-1), and move to 74-45-2 all-time against the franchise.
REVEALING MOMENTThe Redskins knew it was imperative to immediately address their issues in the field position battle after their Week 5 game against the Seahawks.
In that game, the Redskins, on average, began their 12 drives from their own 17-yard line, including drives that started from their own 10, 1, 8 and 9.
Seattle's offense, meanwhile, often found itself with prime field position against the Washington defense. On average, the Seahawks began their 12 drives from their own 35, including drives that began from their 43, 47, 44, 40, 47 and the 50.
Against Arizona, the Redskins turned up the intensity and showed much improvement in this area.
Kicker Kai Forbath had three straight touchbacks on kickoffs, and the coverage team on Tress Way punts was solid, too. In five punts, Way averaged 47.4 yards per kick and landed two inside the Arizona 20-yard line, neutralizing dynamic returner Ted Ginn Jr. in the process.
PLAY OF THE GAMEThe Redskins might be on to something with this DeSean Jackson guy.
In the second quarter with 14:19 left, the Redskins faced a 2nd and 20 with the play clock ticking dangerously close to zero.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins, lined up in the pistol formation with running back Roy Helu Jr. to his left, took the snap, executed a three-step drop and looked to his right and threaded the needle to Jackson, who ran a perfect slant route and beat his initial defender, cornerback Patrick Peterson.
All Jackson had to do from there was turn on the burners, and 64 yards later he was in the end zone to tie the game at 7 apiece.
Jackson – who now has 20 total touchdowns covering 50 yards or more since entering the league in 2008, the most in the NFL – passed teammate Santana Moss for sole possession of the 10th-most total touchdowns of 50 yards or more in the NFL since the 1970 merger.
He joins Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Steve Smith, Joey Galloway, Ken Burrough, Devin Hester, Mel Gray and Stanley Morgan as the only players to score 20 total touchdowns of 50 yards or more since the merger.
PLAYER OF THE GAMEFor a second-straight week, Jackson gets the nod here – but he'll share the honors with ourside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan.
Kerrigan unofficially led the team with at least nine tackles, 1.5 sacks of Carson Palmer and also was credited with a forced fumble. He made multiple plays on third down to stop the Cardinals short of the first-down marker, and continues to lead the Redskins in sacks with 7.5 for the year.
Jackson's stat line, however, is just too much to ignore for player of the game, too. Three catches, 115 yards and a touchdown. That's having an impact.
Including a 60-yard touchdown last week, Jackson has now scored touchdowns covering 50 yards or more in consecutive games for the first time since Weeks 6-7 of the 2009 season. It also gave Jackson 50-yard receptions in consecutive games for the first time since Weeks 9-10 of last season.
Jackson also became the first member of the Redskins to record three 50-plus-yard total touchdowns in a season since Moss in 2008.
WHAT'S NEXTWith today's game against the Arizona Cardinals now a thing of the past, the Washington Redskins turn their attention to next Sunday's home matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
The day will be much more than your average Week 7 matchup, however, as dozens of Redskins alums are expected to be in attendance for the team's annual Homecoming celebration. Also, at halftime, legendary Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien will be inducted as the 46th member of the team's Ring Of Fame.
The Titans enter next Sunday's action with a 2-4 record, after beating the winless Jacksonville Jaguars, 16-14, today at LP Field in Nashville.
The Redskins-game will represent the teams' first meeting since Nov. 21, 2010, a 19-16 Redskins overtime win.
The Redskins will attempt to even their all-time record against the Titans at 6-6. The Redskins are 5-6 against the Titans' franchise all-time, including a 3-3 record against the Houston Oilers, an 0-1 record against the Tennessee Oilers and a 2-2 record against the Tennessee Titans.
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