EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Cornerback Bashaud Breeland is setting a pace not matched by the rest of the Washington Redskins’ defense. He has two interceptions as the rest of the team has one. He has two fumble recoveries as the rest of the team has two. Of the 14 passes broken up by defenders, Breeland has eight of them.
Breeland had three takeaways in the first half of the Redskins’ 34-20 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday, as he recovered two fumbles and made an interception in front of the Jets’ No. 1 receiver, Brandon Marshall.
“The first fumble recovery, it was knocked out by one of the [defensive backs] and it came straight to me,” Breeland said. “I tried to scoop it, but it kind of slipped through my hands, so I just fell on top of it. The other, [Marshall] kind of beat me on the slant. During film study, we saw that he’s aggressive, so he doesn’t let you take him down. He’s kind of careless with the ball a little bit. So, I was just thinking [of] taking the ball away.
“On the pick, it just happened to bounce. I saw it as it was going to the ground and just dove for it.”
The Redskins scored 13 points on drives set up by Breeland’s takeaways. He became the first Redskins player to recover two fumbles in a game since LaVar Arrington did it on Dec. 29, 2002 against the Dallas Cowboys. Breeland is the first member of the Redskins since at least 2000 to recover two fumbles by the opponent and intercept a pass in the same game.
In the second half, Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick flipped an underthrown pass toward Marshall which appeared en route to the ground. Both Marshall and Breeland broke back to the ball. Marshall was able to slip his fingertips under it and finish with a 35-yard touchdown reception after free safety Dashon Goldson bumped into Breeland.
Breeland sat on the ground in disbelief as Marshall celebrated in the end zone.
• Todd Dybas can be reached at tdybas@washingtontimes.com.
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