Redskins 30, Bills 7
LANDOVER, Md. -- With starting quarterback Robert Griffin III and backup Kirk Cousins sidelined with injuries, reserves Rex Grossman and Pat White led the Washington Redskins to a 30-7 victory over the visiting Buffalo Bills on Saturday.
Grossman, Washington's starter in 2011, led the Redskins on a 10-play, 86-yard scoring march on their first possession that included completions of 21 yards to running back Roy Helu and 31 to tight end Fred Davis before a 7-yard touchdown strike to receiver Pierre Garcon.
Kevin Kolb started in place of injured Bills rookie quarterback EJ Manuel. Kolb's first series ended with a sack by Redskins rookie outside linebacker Brandon Jenkins, but the former Arizona Cardinals starter then directed a 10-play, 66-yard drive that concluded with C.J. Spiller's 2-yard run. Kolb departed late in the first quarter with what were termed "concussion-like" symptoms.
The Redskins responded to Buffalo's score with Kai Forbath's 28-yard field goal, capping a series that featured a 45-yard catch-and-run by veteran receiver Santana Moss.
Less than four minutes into the second quarter of the preseason game in which the starters are supposed to play past halftime, the quarterback matchup was White, who last played a regular season game in 2009, and Buffalo rookie free agent Jeff Tuel.
Bryan Kehl forced Buffalo's Stevie Johnson to fumble and fellow linebacker Rob Jackson recovered at the Washington 17 to preserve the 10-7 lead that expanded to 10 points when White scooted 14 yards for the touchdown that finished a nine-play, 83-yard series late in the second quarter. Forbath's 53-yarder with 1:04 left in the half made it 20-7.
Forbath kicked a 21-yard field goal with 1:55 left in the third quarter and Keiland Williams scored on a fourth-and-goal run with 11:05 remaining in game to make it 30-7
NOTES: NT Barry Cofield (hand) and S Brandon Meriweather (knee) joined Griffin as absent Redskins starters. Reserve CB Richard Crawford exited late in the first quarter with a sprained left knee. ... The Bills lost S Da'Norris Searcy (head) and CB Stephon Gillmore (wrist) during the second quarter. ... LB Brian Orakpo played his first home game for Washington since 2011.
