Redskins 24, Raiders 14
OAKLAND, Calif. -- After spotting the Oakland Raiders a quick 14-0 lead on Sunday, the Washington Redskins roared back to score 24 unanswered points to beat the Raiders 24-14 and record their first victory of the season.
Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III passed for 227 yards and a touchdown, completing 18 of 31 passes. Alfred Morris rushed for 71 yards on 16 carries before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a rib contusion, and backup Roy Helu Jr. carried 11 times for 34 yards and a touchdown.
Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter Monday night against Denver, was inactive Sunday. Pryor was cleared to play Friday, and, according to multiple reports Saturday night, was expected to start. But the Raiders apparently switched gears Sunday.
Raiders backup quarterback Matt Flynn made his first start of the season and first overall since Jan. 1, 2012, against Detroit when he was Aaron Rodgers' backup with the Green Bay Packers. Flynn completed 31 of 44 passes for 480 yards and six touchdowns with one interception that day, a performance that helped him secure a huge contract with the Seattle Seahawks in 2012.
This time, Flynn wasn't nearly so sharp. He completed 21 of 32 passes for 227 yards and one touchdown. But he threw an interception that rookie cornerback David Amerson returned 45 yards for a touchdown. Flynn also lost two fumbles and was repeatedly booed by Raiders fans in the second half.
The Raiders built a 14-10 halftime lead, but Washington moved ahead for the first time all day, 17-14, on Griffin's 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Pierre Garcon with 2:58 left in the third quarter.
The go-ahead score came after Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski missed a field goal attempt from 52 yards. The Redskins then marched 58 yards in eight plays to take the lead. Garcon beat rookie cornerback DJ Hayden's man-to-man coverage with a quick inside move, and Griffin hit him with a strike.
The Raiders grabbed a quick 7-0 lead, thanks to their defense, which forced a punt deep in Redskins territory, and their special teams. Rashad Jennings blocked Sav Rocca's punt in the end zone, and Jeremy Stewart recovered for a touchdown with 10:40 still left in the first quarter. It was the first time the Raiders had blocked a punt since tight end Brandon Myers blocked one on Oct. 10, 2010, against the Chargers.
The Raiders doubled their lead to 14-0 on Flynn's first touchdown pass as a Raider, an 18-yard dart to rookie tight end Mychal Rivera, who made his first career touchdown grab, capping a 10-play, 81-yard drive.
The Redskins answered with 10 straight second-quarter points. Using a hurry-up offense, Washington marched 73 yards in 11 plays, setting up John Potter's 25-yard field goal. That cut Oakland's lead to 10-3 with 14:23 left in the first half.
Moments later, the Redskins' defense found an even quicker way to score. Amerson stepped in front of a Flynn pass for an interception and raced 45 yards for a touchdown, cutting Oakland's lead to 14-10 with 10:59 left in the first half.
Flynn tried to hit wide receiver Denarius Moore on a quick out on the right side, and Amerson cut in front for his first career interception, then outran Moore to the end zone.
NOTES: Raiders fullback Marcel Reece suffered a knee injury in the first half and did not return to the game. ... Raiders running back Darren McFadden suffered a hamstring injury in the first half and did not return. ... Redskins wide receiver Joshua Morgan suffered a right hamstring injury early in the second quarter while covering a kickoff and walked slowly off the field after being examined by the team's medical staff but returned to action. ... Redskins nose tackle Chris Neild suffered a right calf strain midway through the second quarter and limped off the field. He did not return. ... Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall limped off the field after being injured late in the first half but returned in the second. ... Washington rookie tight end Jordan Reed was on the inactive list with a bruised thigh. Reed, a third-round draft pick out of Florida, has 13 catches for 106 yards and a touchdown. ... Veteran tight end Fred Davis suited up after missing one game with a sprained ankle, but Logan Paulsen started for the Redskins. ... Redskins kicker Kai Forbath (groin) was inactive for the third straight game. Potter filled in again. ... Raiders starting defensive left end Jason Hunter (quad) was inactive. Brian Sanford started for Hunter. ... Three other Raiders starters, in addition to Pryor, were inactive: offensive left tackle Menelik Watson (knee), left guard Lucas Nix (ankle) and strong safety Tyvon Branch (ankle). Brandian Ross started for Branch. Andre Gurode started for Nix, while right tackle Khalif Barnes moved to left tackle, and Tony Pashos started at right tackle.
