For the second straight week, the Washington Redskins could not get an opposing offense off the field as they dropped their 2019 home opener to the rival Dallas Cowboys 31-21.
Washington took a 7-0 lead in the second quarter, cashing in after an interception in Dallas territory with a one-yard plunge by Adrian Peterson.
But the defense couldn’t contain Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott, who would lead two long touchdown drives before the half and another to open the third quarter to go up 21-7, and Washington never got closer than 10 the rest of the game.
Dallas had three drives of 10 or more plays that would lead to 17 of their 31 points.
Washington quarterback Case Keenum had a solid outing, completing 26 of 37 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns, but was out-dueled by Prescott, who finished 26 of 30 for 269 yards and three touchdowns.
Redskins head coach Jay Gruden acknowledged his youthful defense but would not use that as an excuse for why the team has given up more than 60 points in the first two games of the season.
“I don’t know yet, I will have to go back and watch this film,” he said afterward. “We have to look at ourselves and play better. We are missing pieces in the secondary. That is an issue. But we should be better than this.”
Washington is now 0-2 with both losses coming within the NFC East Division. The Chicago Bears (1-1) will come into FedEx Field for a Monday night game.