Week 11 Game Recap: Washington Redskins 17, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20

What you need to know

Washington Redskins

Jason Campbell threw two second half scores to tight ends Chris Cooley and Todd Yoder and finished with 196 passing yards in his season debut. Campbell was able to keep the Redskins in the game, but could not do enough to get his team the victory.

RB Ladell Betts filled in for the injured Clinton Portis, but could not get much going on the ground, rushing only seven times for 18 yards. He was used in the passing game, where he caught five balls for 48 yards.

TE Chris Cooley led the way receiving with 58 yards on five catches, including a three yard touchdown reception. WR Brandon Lloyd was Campbell’s most targeted receiver, finishing with eight, but was able to come down with only two balls for 24 yards.

The Redskins’ defense continued to struggle, giving up just the second 100 yard rushing effort of the season to Tampa Bay running back Cadillac Williams. They did force two Buccaneers’ turnovers, but failed to record a sack and because they could not stop the Tampa Bay rushing attack, Washington lost the time of possession battle.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bruce Gradkowski struggled in the first half, but came on strong in the second, connecting on scoring strikes to TE Anthony Becht and WR Joey Galloway. He continued his unspectacular play, but did enough to keep the Buccaneers in the game and in the end, did just enough for them to earn the victory.

RB Cadillac Williams recorded his second 100 yard outing of the season, rushing for 122 yards on 27 carries. Williams failed to reach the end zone, but his rushing total was a welcome site for Williams’ owners.

Joey Galloway led Tampa Bay with 64 yards receiving on four receptions that included a 34 yard touchdown reception. Galloway also dropped another potential touchdown that fell into the hands of Buccaneers’ tight end Anthony Becht.

Tampa Bay shut down the Washington running attack, holding them to 64 yards rushing, and put enough pressure on young Redskins’ QB Jason Campbell to limit his options in the passing game. The Buccaneers took advantage of the absence of WR Santana Moss, and focused on shutting down the run and making the youngster Campbell have to beat them through the air, which he could not do.

What you ought to know

QB Jason Campbell, Pass: 19 - 34 - 196 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 5 - 11 - 0

Campbell showed glimpses of why the Redskins like the youngster so much as he looked poised and ready to play at this level in his regular season debut. Campbell finished 19 of 34 for 196 yards and two touchdowns. He showed some mobility and arm strength, and does not seem to get rattled under pressure. His touchdown passes were both to his tight ends, Chris Cooley and Todd Yoder, and Campbell did not commit any turnovers. All in all, his numbers were respectable, especially considering the Redskins played without offensive weapons Portis and Moss.

RB Ladell Betts, Rush: 7 - 18 - 0, Rec: 5 - 48 - 0 (6 targets)

Betts filled in for the injured Portis, but failed to provide the production many in the fantasy world expected. Even though he led the team in rushing attempts, he rushed the ball just seven times for only 18 yards, but was a factor in the passing game, catching five passes for 48 yards. He was targeted six times, catching three balls that resulted in first downs. Betts also lost a fourth quarter fumble that led to a Buccaneers’ touchdown.

RB T.J. Duckett, Rush: 5 - 26 - 0

Duckett was not a big factor in the game, rushing the ball five times for 26 yards.

RB Clinton Portis

Portis, who was placed on injured reserve earlier in the week with a hand injury, did not play in the game and is out for the remainder of the season.

WR James Thrash, Rec: 4 - 46 - 0 (7 targets)

Thrash finished with 46 yards on four receptions, and was targeted seven times. Two of his catches resulted in first downs.

WR Brandon Lloyd, Rec: 2 - 24 - 0 (8 targets)

Lloyd was Campbell’s most targeted receiver, finishing with eight for the game, but was able to come down with only two balls for 24 yards.

WR Antwaan Randle El, Rush: 1 - 3 - 0, Rec: 1 - 14 - 0 (4 targets)

Randle El caught one pass for 14 yards on four targets, and ran the ball one time for three yards.

WR Santana Moss

Moss missed his second game in the last three with a hamstring injury.

TE Chris Cooley, Rec: 5 - 58 - 1 (6 targets)

Cooley had a productive game, catching five of the six balls thrown his way for 58 yards and a touchdown. From their joking around in pre game warm-ups to real action on the field, it seems clear that Cooley is a guy that Campbell will lean on.

TE Todd Yoder, Rec: 1 - 4 - 1 (2 targets)

Yoder was targeted twice in the game, on back to back plays from inside the five yard line, catching the second pass for a four yard touchdown on his only reception for the game.

PK Nick Novak 1 - 1 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 5 points

Novak hit a 45 yard field goal, as well as both of his extra point attempts, to finish with five points.

WAS Rush Defense

Washington’s rush defense gave up 181 yards to a Tampa Bay offense that has struggled, to say the least, in that aspect of the game. Tampa Bay RB Cadillac Williams ran for over 100 yards for only the second time this season, and the Buccaneers ran the ball on 42 of their 63 plays in the game. The Redskins’ defense has struggled this season, and their efforts against a sluggish Tampa Bay offense certainly did nothing to help their cause.

WAS Pass Defense

The Redskins were able to keep the Tampa Bay pass yardage numbers under control, but did give up two scores through the air. Washington kept the Buccaneers’ receivers in check for most of the game, before allowing Joey Galloway to beat them downfield for a 34 yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. DB Shawn Springs intercepted a Gradkowski pass and the Redskins also recovered a Gradkowski fumble, both of which were big plus plays for a defense that has struggled in the turnover battle all season.

QB Bruce Gradkowski, Pass: 14 - 21 - 178 - 2 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 6 - 9 - 0

Gradkowski played well enough to win, despite a few mistakes by the rookie quarterback. He finished 14 of 21 for 178 yards and two scores, but turned the ball over on both an interception and a lost fumble. Gradkowski completed passing touchdowns to TE Anthony Becht from two yards out, and WR Joey Galloway from 34 yards out. The Becht score came on a pass that deflected off of Galloway and fell into the hands of Becht, who happened to be in the right place at the right time. While Gradkowski hasn’t put up huge numbers since filling in for injured QB Chris Simms, his production and play has been a pleasant surprise considering he was only a sixth round draft choice.

RB Cadillac Williams, Rush: 27 - 122 - 0, Rec: 2 - 34 - 0 (2 targets)

Williams was able to get the running game going, rushing for his second 100 yard effort of the season. Williams finished with 27 carries for 122 yards, and brought some stability and protection to the Tampa Bay offense and QB Bruce Gradkowski. He was also involved in the passing game, catching two balls for 34 yards, both of which resulted in first downs.

RB Mike Alstott, Rush: 6 - 28 - 0, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (2 targets)

Alstott was given some work in the offense against the Redskins, with six rushes for 28 yards in the running game, as well as one reception for eight yards in the passing game. He seemed to give the Buccaneers’ offense some spark, and get the hometown crowd fired up with his bruising rushing style.

RB Michael Pittman, Rush: 2 - 17 - 0, Rec: 2 - 31 - 0 (2 targets)

Pittman ran the ball two times for 17 yards, and caught two passes for 31 yards. One of his receptions resulted in a first down.

WR Joey Galloway, Rec: 4 - 64 - 1 (7 targets)

Galloway was the most targeted Buccaneers’ receiver, finishing with seven for the game. He was able to come down with four balls for 64 yards, including a touchdown reception from 34 yards out. Galloway was targeted in the red zone in the third quarter, but the pass bounced off of him and fell into the hands of Tampa Bay TE Anthony Becht.

WR Michael Clayton, Rush: 1 - 5 - 0, Rec: 1 - 14 - 0 (1 targets)

Clayton continues to be an afterthought in the Buccaneers’ offense, catching just one ball for 14 yards on the only ball thrown in his direction.

WR Ike Hilliard, Rec: 1 - 12 - 0 (1 targets)

Hilliard caught the only pass thrown his way for 12 yards and a first down.

TE Anthony Becht, Rec: 2 - 9 - 1 (2 targets)

Becht was targeted twice in the game, catching two passes for nine yards and a touchdown. The touchdown reception came from two yards out on a ball that bounced off of WR Joey Galloway and found its way into Becht’s hands for the score. Depending on the injury status of TE Alex Smith, Becht may be looking at an increased role in the offense.

TE Alex Smith (1 targets)

Smith was held without a catch, and was injured during the second quarter with a leg injury. Smith had to be carted off the field, so owners will want to keep an eye on his status for the upcoming week.

PK Matt Bryant 2 - 2 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 8 points

Bryant connected on a 26 yard field goal in the first quarter and a 31 yard attempt in the fourth quarter that proved to be the difference in the game. He made good on both of his extra point attempts to finish with eight points. Bryant was flagged with a personal foul for a late hit on a kickoff, and also cost the Buccaneers by sailing one kickoff out of bounds.

TB Rush Defense

The Buccaneers’ defense looked like the Tampa Bay defenses of old, holding the Redskins to 64 yards rushing on 20 attempts, for only a 3.2 ypc average. Washington was missing two of their biggest playmakers, and Tampa Bay took advantage. They gave up only three rushing first downs, and as a result, they were able to keep the Redskins from winning the time of possession battle.

LB Derrick Brooks led the way with seven solo tackles and one assist.

TB Pass Defense

The Buccaneers gave up two short passing scores, but held QB Jason Campbell to under 200 yards passing, sacked the young QB twice, and held the Redskins to four of 13 on third down conversions.

DB Ronde Barber finished with five tackles, three assists, and a half sack and DB Jermaine Phillips had five tackles, one assist and a forced fumble.