LANDOVER — Had Quinton Dunbar been told a year ago he’d catch a pass in an end zone from Eli Manning, Dunbar would have been skeptical. What he certainly wouldn’t have been able to comprehend is that he would do it as a cornerback.
“Yeah, I mean, I wouldn’t have believed that at all,” Dunbar said. “This has been all a dream.”
Dunbar intercepted Manning with 7:23 remaining in the third quarter of the Washington Redskins’ 20-14 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday — the third interception Manning threw in the game.
A wide receiver dating to his days growing up in Miami, Dunbar played the position at Florida and switched to defense during training camp, with the Redskins moving the undrafted rookie because of concerns they didn’t have enough healthy players at the position.
That quandary was what led Dunbar back to the field on Sunday. Cornerback Chris Culliver tore the ACL in his right knee in practice on Thursday, leading to the increased role for a player who entered having played only 20 snaps on defense all season.
“We all were juiced up to see him go out and play because we knew he had the movement,” cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. “It was just understanding the football and the concepts and things like that he has to work on. We tried to talk to him pre-snap, make sure he knew what he was doing and what we wanted him to do throughout the course of the down, but watching him go out there and execute, there was no doubt in our mind he could play.”
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The Redskins left Dunbar on the right half of the field — a situation that challenged him at times, considering he’d be left in man coverage with Odell Beckham Jr., the Giants’ dangerous wide receiver.
On the interception, Manning attempted to thread a pass to wide receiver Rueben Randle in the middle of the end zone, but Dunbar, primed for the play through his film study, knew Randle wasn’t going to cut back out as he crossed the field, allowing him to jump the route.
He left the game on the next series when, in breaking up a pass meant for wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, Dunbar dislocated the index finger of his left hand.
Dunbar spent time during training camp watching Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, who also made the transition from wide receiver in the NFL. Lately, he’s been studying Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson, but has also been focusing on his own improvement within the Redskins’ defense.
“Months ago, I don’t feel like I would have made that play, but I’ve been working hard each and every day to get that down pat,” Dunbar said, referring to the interception. “I’m a long ways to go to being a good corner. I’m OK. I’m still learning the defense. I’m still learning the technique, but one thing I can say about me [is that] I’m going to go out there and compete, and that makes up a lot.”
Running game has awakening
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The Redskins ran for 105 yards, bouncing back from their 14-yard output in a loss to the Carolina Panthers the previous week and marking their second-highest rushing total since Week 4.
Alfred Morris gained 78 yards on 23 carries and had eclipsed the 80-yard mark before losing a yard on each of his final two carries.
“When he’s on fire, I want to get on fire with him, so you know, he did a heck of a job today running the ball downhill, man,” said running back Matt Jones, who ran for 19 yards and caught a screen pass he took 45 yards. “We just complement each other. It’s a great duo for us.”
Carrier injures Achilles; Robinson sits
Tight end Derek Carrier strained an Achilles’ tendon in the first quarter and did not return to the game. Running back Chris Thompson (unspecified shoulder injury), defensive end Chris Baker (hyperextended elbow) also were hurt, but returned to the game.
Inside linebacker Keenan Robinson (stinger) missed his third consecutive game, and strong safety Trenton Robinson (strained hamstring) also did not play. Quarterback Robert Griffin III, defensive end Frank Kearse, left guard Arie Kouandjio, cornerback Deshazor Everett and tight end Je’Ron Hamm were also inactive. … The Redskins successfully challenged a touchback in the first quarter, meaning they’ve won three of their four challenges this season.
The Redskins have now won five consecutive home games in a single season for the first time since 1991. They had a five-game home winning streak span the 2004 and 2005 seasons. … Washington has shut out its opponent in the first half three times, which it also hasn’t done since 1991. … Kirk Cousins became the first quarterback since Brad Johnson in 1999 to throw for more than 300 yards four times in a season. … Pierre Garçon now has 274 catches with the Redskins, moving him past Hugh Taylor, who played from 1947 through 1954, for 10th on the team all-time.
• Zac Boyer can be reached at zboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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