A total of 480 yards of offense was not nearly enough as the Washington Redskins defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Tampa Bay scored 0 points on five trips to the redzone and Dustin Hopkins won the kicking battle against Chandler Catanzaro to give the Redskins their sixth win of the season.
First Quarter
On the first drive of the game, The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drove down the field deep into Washington territory. The drive stalled with an interception by Josh Norman in the end zone. The Buccaneer defense held the Redskin offense in check. Washington totaled 60 yards in the quarter compared to over 100 yards of offense for the Buccaneers. Due to the interception though, the Buccaneers trailed 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter
The redzone struggles continued for Tampa Bay in the second quarter. The first drive of the quarter stalled and Chandler Catanzaro missed the ensuing field goal from 30 yards away. Catanzaro redeemed himself later in the quarter by connecting on a 33-yard field goal but Dustin Hopkins won the kicking battle in the first half as the Redskins entered the locker room with a 6-3 lead. The Buccaneers out-gained their opponent by a total of 136-279 on offense and Tampa Bay had 16 first downs compared to 6 for Washington. Washington failed to convert on a third down the entire first half.
Second Half
Third Quarter
The Buccaneer defense stood tall on the first drive of the second half by forcing a punt that pinned them inside their own five yard line. Tampa Bay drove 80 yards but a fumbled snap and another missed field goal resulted in no points again. The Redskins closed a quarter with a drive of their own that led to a touchdown to give them a 13-3 lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Three turnovers proved to be too much to overcome in the fourth quarter. A Ryan Fitzpatrick interception led to another Washington field goal. The next drive ended in a Jacquizz Rodgers fumble that landed in the Redskins endzone for a touchback. The third was a Fitzpatrick fumble in the Redskins’ redzone. Tampa Bay finished with four turnovers in the game.
Ryan Fitzpatrick totaled 403 yards and 2 interceptions on 29/41 passing. Jacquizz Rodgers led the game in receiving with 102 yards on 8 catches.
Alex Smith finished with 178 yards on 19/27 passing with one touchdown and no interceptions. Josh Doctson caught the only touchdown of the game as part of his 46 receiving yards.
Up next for Tampa Bay is a trip to New York to face the Giants next Sunday at 1:00.
Washington returns home to face the Houston Texans next Sunday at 1:00.
