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News | Washington Commanders - Commanders.com

Redskins Defense Can't Slow Dallas Run Game

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While the Redskins showed improvement in their run defense against the Cowboys, Dallas was still able to carry the ball 30 times, eventually getting the game-winning score with Alfred Morris.

On Sunday, the Redskins lost a tough back and forth battle against the Cowboys, leaving FedExField with a 27-23 loss.

Check out the top images from the Washington Redskins' defense and special teams in their 2016 Week 2 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys Sept. 18, 2016, at FedExField.

A main concern prior to Sunday was the Cowboys' run game, which was able to get the better end of the Redskins defense with 102 rushing yards on 30 carries, one of which led to the game-winning score late in the game.

"We were getting it where we wanted to. Then they went from inside runs to outside runs. Not taking anything away from Prescott, but whoever the offensive coordinator is sitting up top, did a hell of a job at adjusting and showing the kid what he needed to actually pull off this game for them," defensive end Ricky Jean Francois said. "And they did just what they did."

Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan and rookie quarterback Dak Prescott executed their game plan efficiently, with Prescott completing 73.3 percent of his passes for 292 yards. This led Dallas to 432 total offensive yards against the Redskins.

Five-year veteran linebacker Ryan Kerrigan also noticed that the Cowboys planned for their run game to be tested against a Redskins defense looking to rebound.

"Their run game is such a point of emphasis," Kerrigan said. "They've got so many good backs, with their offensive line, you are really trying to hunker down on the run game, so it was a good job by them to prep for that."

According to safety DeAngelo Hall, boot plays were another issue for the defense.

"The boot game is something that was very successful for them," he said. "We didn't feel like they took shots downfield and made plays. They just kind of methodically picked us apart. We're just overeager on the run sometimes – sometimes, we just got fooled."

The Redskins defense also struggled to stop the Cowboys' red zone success, as the team had 60 percent efficiency in the red zone in comparison to 33 percent efficiency from the Redskins offense.

One particular Cowboys player that enhanced the red zone efficiency percentage was former Redskins running back Alfred Morris, who scored the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter from the Redskins four-yard line.

"No vindication, no hard feelings, no anything," Morris said after the game. "It was just another game and I wasn't really sure if I meant that until I got out on the field, then I approached it like any other game."

This was Alfred Morris' first return to FedEx Field without a Redskins uniform.

For next week, Redskins head coach Jay Gruden remains positive through the sense of urgency to win against the New York Giants.

"I think every week you have a level of urgency in the National Football League, without a doubt, especially playing a division game on the road," the head coach said. "Knowing the we've lost our first two home games, it's very important. We have a good group of guys that have strong will, and we faced adversity before. We can hang our heads and cry all we want to, but the fact of the matter is we've got a game at 1:00 next Sunday, and it's going to be a tough one against the Giants – We're going to come out fighting, that's for sure."

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