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Week 16 Game Recap: Washington Redskins 32, Minnesota Vikings 21
What you need to know
| Washington Redskins |
QB Todd Collins played an excellent game. He was accurate and efficient, throwing for two touchdowns and zero interceptions. He led the Redskins to an early lead as the running game was unsuccessful to start the game.
RB Clinton Portis was extremely versatile and effective. He ran the ball well in the second half, eventually gaining 76 yards on 20 carries. The Redskins ran two plays were Portis was throwing the ball downfield, and one of them resulted in a 15 yard touchdown pass to Antwaan Randle El.
WR Santana Moss caught a touchdown pass while being well covered, jumping up and grabbing the ball over the top of the defender. TE Chris Cooley caught a 33 yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to get the Redskins offense on the scoreboard.
| Minnesota Vikings |
QB Tarvaris Jackson had a tough first half, throwing two interceptions against only one safety. Eventually the Vikings started calling plays in the second half to exploit the defense the Redskins were using, but not before they were already down by 25 points. Jackson was very successful in the second half, eventually racking up 220 passing yards. He also ran for two touchdowns in the red zone.
RB Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor had a tough time against the Redskins, who brought eight men to the line of scrimmage. They combined for only 41 yards rushing.
WR Robert Ferguson and Troy Williamson led the Vikings on the outside. They were targeted 20 out of the 41 times the Vikings threw the ball, but only caught nine of them.
What you ought to know
| QB Todd Collins, Pass: 22 - 29 - 254 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 3 - 6 - 0 |
Collins was very efficient on the night. He played a poised and consistent game making several very good throws. He ended up going 22 for 29 with two touchdown passes and no interceptions.
| RB Clinton Portis, Pass: 1 - 1 - 15 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 20 - 76 - 1, Rec: 5 - 48 - 0 (5 targets) |
Portis was very effectively used Sunday night. Although his rushing numbers were not too stellar early in the game, he caught five balls and threw for a touchdown out of the backfield. He sprained his ankle in the second quarter but continued to play through the injury. He also had a cutback touchdown run in the fourth quarter to stop any momentum Minnesota had.
| RB Ladell Betts, Rush: 5 - 21 - 0, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (1 targets) |
Betts did not get much playing time as Clinton Portis carried the majority of the load on the night. Betts only ran the ball five times on the night.
| RB Mike Sellers, Rush: 3 - 3 - 0, Rec: 1 - 3 - 0 (2 targets) |
Sellers played his normal role of getting a few touches and blocking most of the night. There was a scare he was hurt in the third quarter, but he eventually got off of the field under his own powers.
| WR Antwaan Randle El, Rec: 5 - 66 - 1 (5 targets) |
Randle El caught a pass from Clinton Portis for a touchdown in the second quarter, which blew the game wide open in favor of the Redskins. He also was able to hold on to the other four balls thrown his way, leading to 66 total yards.
| WR Reche Caldwell, Rec: 4 - 33 - 0 (4 targets) |
Caldwell caught all four balls thrown his way and gained 33 yards, with a couple of them being well covered routes.
| WR Santana Moss, Rec: 4 - 71 - 1 (7 targets) |
Moss made a great leaping grab for a 32 yard touchdown in the second quarter. Todd Collins threw the ball to his back shoulder and he grabbed the ball out of the air before the well positioned defensive back could stop him.
| WR James Thrash, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (2 targets) |
Thrash saw limited snaps and targets, ending up with one catch on two balls thrown his way.
| TE Chris Cooley, Rec: 1 - 33 - 1 (5 targets) |
Cooley was fairly uninvolved in the offense for the majority of the game, but he did catch a 33 yard touchdown over the middle of the field against single coverage in the first quarter. He was only able to catch one of the five balls thrown his way, but he made it count.
| TE Brian Kozlowski, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (1 targets) |
Kozlowski was the backup tight end and caught the only ball thrown his way.
| PK Shaun Suisham 1 - 1 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 6 points |
Suisham made a 26 yard field goal and three extra points on the night.
| WAS Rush Defense |
The rush defense was superb for the Redskins Sunday night. They often stacked eight in the box to accomplish this, but they were rewarded for doing so. They held Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson to 41 yards rushing. They also recorded a safety in the first quarter after the offense turned the ball over on downs at the one yard line.
| WAS Pass Defense |
The Redskins were able to keep Tarvaris Jackson at bay for most of the night. They rushed him early and often, trying to make him make mistakes. Jackson threw two interceptions early and helped the Redskins defense set the tone for the game.
| QB Tarvaris Jackson, Pass: 25 - 41 - 220 - 1 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 8 - 44 - 2 |
Jackson had a rough start to the game, throwing an interception on his first passing attempt. He struggled throughout the first half as the Vikings offense looked out of synch. Jackson finally got going in the second half when they ran some inside routes against the eight man front of the Redskins.
| RB Chester Taylor, Rush: 6 - 14 - 0, Rec: 5 - 42 - 0 (5 targets) |
Taylor did not do much on the ground, as he was only able to gain 14 yards on six carries. He did catch five passes for 42 yards, reeling in every throw tossed his way.
| RB Adrian Peterson, Rush: 9 - 27 - 0, Rec: 2 - 21 - 0 (3 targets) |
Peterson struggled to get going against the eight man front the Redskins used. It did not help that Tarvaris Jackson was unable to get the passing game going to open up the running game. Peterson was quick in the open field where he caught his two passes. He was used as a kick returner in the second half.
| RB Tony Richardson, Rush: 1 - -1 - 0, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (1 targets) |
Richardson was seldom used on the night. He was stopped on his only rushing attempt in the end zone for a safety.
| WR Troy Williamson, Rec: 5 - 39 - 0 (9 targets) |
Williamson was the second most targeted receiver for the Vikings. He caught five of the nine balls thrown his way for 39 yards. There were a couple of times were he caught the ball out of bounds, and one time he stepped out before he caught the ball.
| WR Robert Ferguson, Rec: 4 - 51 - 0 (11 targets) |
Ferguson was the most targeted receiver for the Vikings, but he only caught four of the 11 balls thrown his way. It seemed like a lot of the passes thrown his way were while Jackson was pressured and on the run, and many of them were thrown high. He gained 51 yards on the night.
| WR Bobby Wade, Rec: 3 - 34 - 0 (5 targets) |
Wade had a fairly unexciting night, catching three of the five balls passed his way for a total of 34 yards.
| WR Aundrae Allison, Rush: 1 - 3 - 0 (1 targets) |
Allison was used on a reverse and gained three yards.
| TE Visanthe Shiancoe, Rec: 4 - 20 - 0 (4 targets) |
Shiancoe caught all four balls thrown his way, but lost a fumble on one of them. He only gained 20 yards on four receptions, showing he was only thrown to on underneath routes.
| TE Jim Kleinsasser, Rec: 1 - 2 - 1 (2 targets) |
Kleinsasser was the backup tight end and caught a touchdown pass from the two yard line.
| PK Ryan Longwell 0 - 1 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 3 points |
Longwell was unable to make a 53 yard field goal in the first quarter, but made all three of his extra point attempts.
| MIN Rush Defense |
The rush defense for the Vikings started strong, but wore down as the game progressed. It seemed like the Redskins offensive line got a good push on the majority of plays throughout the game, but that did not always lead to success because the Vikings stacked the line and use several rush blitzes.
| MIN Pass Defense |
The Vikings were unable to put much pressure on Todd Collins, who had a great day. He threw for 254 yards on 22 of 29 passing. They were unable to force turnovers like they normally do, and surrendered a couple of big plays to the Redskins in the second quarter that put them behind for good.
