The Washington Redskins vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is an interesting study in opposites.
The Redskins are one of the best defenses in the league while the Bucs are one of the worst. The Bucs excel at picking up chunks of yardage through the air, while the Redskins would rather win close through ball control on the ground.
The first half was a masterful performance by the Redskins, who dictated the slowest game of the season for the Bucs by running the football and following a "bend but don't break" strategy on defense.
Here are three pivotal plays on defense that allowed the Redskins to enter halftime with a 6-3 lead:
1. Josh Norman's Interception: The Redskins ended the Bucs' first drive with a clutch interception by Josh Norman on the goal line. He rolled into the end zone and came up running, returning the ball past the 30-yard-line:
OH MY @J_No24!What a pick!--: FOX #HTTR pic.twitter.com/U8Y5J1g9An
— NFL (@NFL)
November 11, 2018 2. Matt Ioannidis Gets Another Sack: The interior defensive lineman now leads the Redskins with 7.5 sacks in nine games, putting him squarely in the Pro Bowl conversation. More importantly, this latest sack happened on first down inside the red zone, as the Bucs were threatening to score their first points on the game:
Wouldn't want to stand in @MattIoannidis' way. --#WASvsTB | #HTTR pic.twitter.com/V0wQCV3l1N
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins)
November 11, 2018 3. D.J. Swearinger Breaks Up the Pass: Swearinger has always brought the energy and insight to know where a pass was going, but has previously lacked the discipline to time it correctly. He couldn't have played this pass any better, breaking it up shortly after it's arrival at the receiver on third down in the red zone:
Great job by Swearinger breaking on the route from the slot, arriving as the ball does to ensure it falls incomplete and get off the field on 3rd down. #Redskins pic.twitter.com/nix0kqFyMQ
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL)
November 11, 2018 The Redskins go to halftime with a 6-3 lead and the ball first in the second half. With the way this game has gone, every possession will matter in the second half.
