Adrian Peterson Pounds Cardinals Defense to lead the Redskins to their first Week 1 win since 2012

By – Brandon Williams

UPPER MARLBORO, MD – Don’t tell Adrian Peterson he’s too old after he just pounded the Cardinals defense for almost over 100 yards rushing. Ever since the 2012 season the Redskins have not been able to win a season opening game under head coach Jay Gruden, but now people are singing a different tune after their dominating 24 to 6 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Washington ran roughshod over the Cardinals defense in their 2018 season opener thanks to newly acquired RB Adrian Peterson who carried the ball 26 times for 96 yards, passed Hall of Fame RB’s Marshall Faulk and Jim Brown on the all-time NFL rushing list, and Peterson scored his 100th career rushing touchdown in the win.

With Peterson being added to the run game it allowed Washington to sustain longer scoring drives, win the battle in Time of Possession and they were able to score in the red zone. Last season the Redskins struggled with pounding the ball up the gut at the goal line, but they made it looks easy when Peterson glided through the A gap into the end zone.

The offense performed well, and showed remnants of what it was able to do last season. One of the reasons why was due to the return of RB Chris Thompson, who is coming off a knee injury that cut his 2017 season short. Last season vs the Saints Thompson was blocking for then quarterback Kirk Cousins on a scramble play, and got his knee rolled on by a Saints defender.

In his return to the field yesterday, Thompson scored the games first touchdown, caught six catches for 63 receiving yards and carried the ball five times for 65 yards. This is the type of production that Thompson brings to the table which makes him an invaluable asset to the Redskins offense.

“He’s a critical player for this football team” said coach Gruden.

With Thompson being back in the week to week game plan, it allows the offense to change their tempo and makes things a bit more challenging for opposing defenses to stop.

As the game went on the Redskins defense didn’t spend a lot of time on the field, but all for good reasons. It is because of how they were able to get off the field on third down situations that allowed the Redskins offense to do more damage on the scoreboard.

Heading into the season one of the big question marks was at the corner position. With Brashaud Breeland becoming a free agent and DeAngelo Hall retiring from football, it opened up some more opportunities for some younger players in the secondary to make a name for themselves. Fourth year corner Quinton Dunbar got the start at corner and showed how much of a difference maker he could be.

As a whole, the defense flew around, tackled well and was able to contain David Johnson, who is arguably the best running back in football.

“I was most impressed with the way we tackled” said coach Gruden, “I don’t know if we missed any tackles, really.”

Back in the preseason the defense did not do so well tackling which allowed opposing backs and receivers get to the second level a lot. However, with adding players like first round pick Daron Payne out of Alabama, it gives the D-Line more depth, and adds another run stuffer in the teeth of the defense.

Also, with getting Jonathan Allen and Matt Ioannidis back from injury it gives defensive coordinator Greg Manusky a chance to dial-up different packages to throw off opposing offenses.