LANDOVER — Ron Rivera said his team wouldn’t quit. There have been a lot of questions for Washington over the last eight months, but Rivera vowed last week that no matter what happens this season, his team would never give up.
On Sunday, when Washington faced a double-digit deficit in the very first game of the year, that declaration was put to the test.
Rivera’s players backed it up.
Washington pulled out a 27-17 victory Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, scoring 27 unanswered in ferocious comeback. The team took the lead on a two-yard rushing touchdown by Peyton Barber — a score set up by a gusty call in which Rivera went for it on fourth-and-1 inside the 10-yard line.
The victory was sealed with a series of defensive stops, including a strip-sack by rookie Chase Young. Young, the second overall pick in this year’s draft, was a force in his debut — recording 1 1/2 sacks and a forced fumble.
Washington’s defense lived up to the preseason hype, logging eight sacks and helping slow an early Philadelphia barrage.
The win was Washington’s first at home to open the season since 2014, though that was far from the most unusual angle to what happened at FedEx Field on Sunday.
From pregame protests to new uniforms to the atmosphere in the stadium, nothing felt the same.
Before kick-off, Washington took part in a social justice demonstration that honored victims of police brutality and other violence. Players and coaches locked arms during the playing of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the song known as the “Black nationals anthem” that will be played at every game this year as the league incorporates social justice messaging into its events.
Then there was the playing of the national anthem, the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Philadelphia remained in the locker room, while Washington stood on the sideline with several players — including quarterback Dwayne Haskins — raising fists.
But for all the changes, there was still football to be played. And for a quarter-and-a-half, it looked like someone forgot to tell Washington.
Philadelphia jumped out to a 17-0 lead as Washington struggled on both ends.
Washington’s offense, which ranked among the league’s worst last year, was disjointed, going three-and-out on the opening drive and punting five times in the first half. The left side of the offensive line, with tackle Geron Christian and Wes Martin, was a glaring weak spot, giving Haskins little time to throw. Haskins hit just three of his first nine passes.
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, meanwhile, carved up Washington’s defense. After being ranked dead last in third-down defense last year, Washington was again horrible in that situation, including a sequence in which Philadelphia had no problem converting on third-and-22. The Eagles exploited Washington with Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, two athletic tight ends.
But Washington showed signs of life — in large part because of the defense.
With Philadelphia missing three starters upfront, Washington’s defensive line feasted on Wentz: Four of its eight sacks were in the first half. Ryan Kerrigan became Washington’s all-time sack leader as his two sacks jumped Dexter Manley.
The defense also produced two timely turnovers, picking off Wentz twice. Third-year corner Fabian Moreau intercepted the quarterback with less than two minutes left in the first half, setting up Washington’s first score (A Haskins pass to tight end Logan Thomas). In the third quarter, Jimmy Moreland stole another.
Capitalizing on the takeaways, Washington’s offense found its rhythm. Haskins played well enough to get Washington into scoring territory, throwing for 178 yards and a touchdown on 17 of 31 passing.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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