Defense looms large in Redskins’ 16-10 win

With just 39 seconds remaining in the game, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco aired out a pass to wide receiver Breshad Perriman, who stretched skyward to haul in what at first looked like a game-tying miracle catch.

But after an official review, Perriman was ruled out of bounds. Perriman’s non-catch was as close to the end zone as the Ravens would get, allowing the Redskins to escape Baltimore with a 16-10 win.

“He caught it and I looked down and I was like, ’aw yeah, you out,’” cornerback Josh Norman said. “And then they gave him a touchdown. I was like ’was you looking at what I was looking at? Wow, you was right there. How you miss that one?’”

Norman, who was on Perriman, said he essentially did everything right in coverage, forcing Perriman out toward the sideline in a textbook-perfect defensive execution.

It was a good day for Norman and his Redskins’ defense. After a sub-park defensive performance against the Cleveland Browns in Week 4, Washington limited Baltimore to 306 yards, forcing the Ravens into seven three-and-out situations and only allowing three third-down conversions on 15 opportunities.

“Execution,” linebacker Will Compton said. “This week, everyone was clicking on all cylinders. Guys competed at the ball, and we got off on third down. It truly was execution.”

“They were phenomenal today,” quarterback Kirk Cousins said. “They showed great character and toughness both mentally and physically. They came up big for us.”

At times, the defense picked up for the Redskins offense struggles. Cousins, who threw for 260 yards and a touchdown, overthrew his receivers on deep, downfield passes on three separate occasions. He also threw an interception from the Redskins’ own 1-yard line. Ravens’ linebacker C.J. Mosley snagged Cousins’ pass, returning all the way to the end zone. But Mosley fumbled the ball through the end zone, giving the Redskins a touchback and what was essentially a 24-yard gain off the interception.

“I saw they were in a two-deep zone coverage, and their linebackers do a good job in that spot,” Cousins said. “He made a great play. I didn’t see what happened after that, but we were very fortunate that it turned out the way it did.”

Following the touchback, Cousins led a 72-yard drive that resulted in a field goal, completing four of his five passes for 40 yards.

“That was a great drive,” coach Jay Gruden said. “We got to eat up some clock and got our defense fresh again. That was a big-time play.”

Special teams played a big role in the game. One of the Redskins’ two touchdowns came on a Jamison Crowder 85-yard punt return in the first quarter.

“[There] was a lot of pieces involved in that,” Crowder said. “Guys did a really good job of blocking. I saw a crease, broke a tackle and it was just a run to the end zone.”

The offense’s lone touchdown came on a Cousins pass. From the 21-yard line, Cousins rifled a pass to Pierre Garçon to score what would ultimately be the game-winning touchdown.

The game was won on a strong defensive effort, but initially the Redskins defense looked like it was primed to have a déjà vu performance.

On the opening drive of the game, the Ravens marched 75 yards downfield for a touchdown, fueled by a Terrance West rushing attack.

“The first drive was a little scary,” Gruden said. “’Here we go again.’ But they came back and took it personal and played well. They did what it took to win. They got off the field, played well on third down, rushed the passer and stopped the run for the most part in the second half.”

The Ravens abandoned the run in the second half, and that allowed the Redskins defense to execute an active pass rush accompanied with solid coverage. Flacco was sacked three times: Once by defensive end Trent Murphy and linebacker Terence Garvin, once by defensive end Ziggy Hood, who recorded his first sack of the season and once by linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, who played after originally being ruled as questionable earlier in the week for the game with an elbow injury.

“It feels good,” Kerrigan said of his sack. “It always feels good to get to the quarterback. Sacks are hard to come by, so anytime you can get there, it’s an extremely rewarding feeling.”

The win over the Ravens gave the Redskins their third-straight win and their third of the season. With a Week 6 matchup against the divisional opponent Philadelphia Eagles ahead, morale is high in Washington.

“These guys are talented, and they don’t quit,” Norman said of his teammates. “That’s a scary combination.”

“When we have everybody playing, and the coaches get us to play their game plan, we can go wherever we want to go. Sky’s the limit.”

***Injury report***

Norman briefly exited the game with what was called a wrist aggravation sprain. Norman would return to the game. Norman said he just “sucked it up” and told himself he’s “not going to die” and seemed fine following the game. Offensive tackle Morgan Moses was evaluated for a concussion. Moses did not have a concussion, but he was held out of the game for dizziness. Quinton Dunbar exited the game in the fourth quarter with cramps.