Defensive coordinators around the league are in agreement about one thing: Scrambling quarterbacks keep them up at night. The perfect plan, the perfect coverage can be trashed in an instant by a mobile man taking the snaps.
Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson took the Redskins’ defensive gameplan and ran all over it Monday night.
Wilson ran for 122 yards on 11 carries and the Redskins’ offense did little in a 27-17 loss to the defending Super Bowl champions Monday night. Wilson’s rushing yards were a Monday Night Football record for a quarterback.
The Redskins were within a touchdown much of the evening. The 17-10 halftime score held until Wilson flipped a pass into the flat to Marshawn Lynch for a 9-yard touchdown with 6:31, putting the Seahawks in front 24-10. A late 11-play, 80-yard drive pulled the Redskins back within seven points when Kirk Cousins hit Andre Roberts for a 6-yard touchdown.
But, it was the Wilson-Lynch connection that would be the Redskins’ final undoing. Wilson pivoted out of danger, then flipped to Lynch for a 29-yard gain and on third-and-4 at the 50-yard line to pick up 30 yards.
The Redskins are one of four teams in the NFL with a 1-4 record. Only the Jacksonville Jaguars and Oakland Raiders remain winless.
Washington, which has one win in the last 11 months, has a short week to recoup before it heads to a 3-1 Cardinals team out of the rough-and-tumble NFC West.
The final score could have been worse. Seattle speedster Percy Harvin had three touchdowns negated by penalties; two in the first half, one in the fourth quarter.
Seattle committed penalty after penalty, finishing with 13 for 90 yards. The flags derailed the fantastic field position it held throughout the night, particularly in the second half. The Seahawks started drives at their 44, the 50-yard line, 40 and 47, before a touchback finally forced them to start at the 20.
The Redskins kicked away from Harvin all evening, including a botched onside kick attempt.
Cousins was again hot and cold, though he did not turn the ball over for the first time in his six NFL starts. He was 21-for-36 for 283 yards.
Alfred Morris had 13 carries for just 29 yards.
Wilson ran and ran in the first quarter. Using either zone-reads where he opted to keep the ball or straight scrambles, Wilson zoomed around the field. He had 80 rushing yards at the end of the first quarter. The Redskins had 16 total yards.
The avalanche from the Super Bowl champions appeared pending. But, flags and the occasional Redskins sack were enough to keep them from being blown out. The Seahawks pushed to a 17-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
A rare coverage mistake by the Seahawks allowed the Redskins to hop back into the game. Speedy DeSean Jackson ended up opposed by strong safety Kam Chancellor when cornerback Richard Sherman switched inside, leaving Chancellor outside. Jackson sprinted upfield and Cousins lofted a pass to him for a 60-yard touchdown with 2:32 remaining in the half.
It was the league-leading 19th total TD for Jackson of 50-plus yards since entering league in 2008.
Little else went right for the Redskins in the first half. They were outgained 267-118. They were 1-for-4 on third down. Cousins was 7-for-17 (41.2 percent).
• Todd Dybas can be reached at tdybas@washingtontimes.com.
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