The Redskins got back into the win column this afternoon with a 20-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals. 

Per usual, Rich Tandler has the many ups and downs from today's game. 

The Redskins got off to the start they needed. On the third play from scrimmage, Anthony Lanier busted up the middle and smashed in to Blaine Gabbert, knocking the ball free. Preston Smith recovered and only an ankle tackle prevented him from scoring. As it was, the Redskins got the ball at the six and two plays later Cousins went play action and threw to Jamison Crowder for a touchdown.

The Cardinals started moving after the kickoff. A couple of passes from Gabbert to Larry Fitzgerald got first downs and Gabbert scrambled to convert a third and five and get them into the red zone. A sack by Junior Galette and one split by Lanier and Preston Smith stopped the drive and the Cardinals settled for a field goal to make it 7-3.

The Redskins expanded their lead on a well-designed play. From the Arizona 39, Cousin did play action to the running back and then faked a jet sweep handoff to Ryan Grant. While all that was going on, the Redskins had a nice screen developed on the right side. Cousins threw to Kapri Bibbs who wasn’t touched as he picked up his blocking and rambled into the end zone to make it 14-3 Redskins.

Soon after completing a 41-yard pass, Gabbert did what he does and fired a pass right a Preston Smith, who bobbled the ball before picking it off at the eight. His return and a horse collar penalty gave the Redskins the ball on their own 41. But on the next play, Vernon Davis fumbled after a reception and the Cardinals picked up the loose ball and returned it to the Redskins 33. The Cardinals go it all the way down to the one but the defense held there and a field goal make it 14-9 at halftime.

The Cardinals popped the second-half kickoff into no-man’s land and they recovered the ball, which never was touched by a Redskin. The defense held and Arizona settle for a field goal but it still was another black mark in the Redskins’ special teams.

It’s funny how when the running game gets going even a little bit, the passing game starts to roll. On a drive from their own five, Samaje Perine got a couple of four-yard runs that seemed to unleash an offense that had been struggling. Cousins went to Crowder, Perine, and then Crowder again for big gains to the Arizona 10. But they couldn’t punch it in and had to settle for a 24-yard Dustin Hopkins field goal to make it 17-12.

The Redskins got good field position on a punt at the Arizona 45 and moved it to expand their lead. Passes to Vernon Davis and Perine got first downs. ON third and five at the 14, Cousins’ pass for Doctson was too high and the Redskins had to settle for a field goal to make it 20-15.

The Cardinals put a scare into the Redskins. Gabbert got it going with a run into Redskins territory. Then a pass interference call set up a first down at the 21. On fourth and 10 with 23 seconds left, Fitzgerald couldn’t quite get a handle on a pass that would have been good for a first down. There was a bit of hesitation when flags flew at the end of the play but the incompletion counted and the Redskins went into victory formation.