Redskins vs. Saints: Griffin III, Washington stun New Orleans, 40-32

NEW ORLEANS — Asked this week how he thought Washington Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III would transition to the NFL, New Orleans Saints star Drew Brees described his fellow Texas native as “a winner,” and said: “It’s only a matter of time before he takes this league by storm. I just hope he doesn’t do it on Sunday.”

Griffin touched down in New Orleans, where both his parents grew up and where he spent a portion of his childhood, and had as fine an outing Sunday as he, the Redskins and their euphoric legion of fans could have imagined, leading his team to a 40-32 stunner over the Saints. The Redskins’ defense forced the Saints into an uncharacteristically disjointed outing that included 12 penalties.

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After posting a near-flawless showing in the first half, Griffin played more of a caretaker role in the second half. His NFL debut ended with him completing 19 of 26 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 42 yards on 10 carries on a variety of designed keepers and option plays to give the Redskins’ offense a new dimension. The team’s 40 points are the most scored by the Redskins since Mike Shanahan took over as coach in 2010.

“It was definitely loud, first of all. You could feel it in your body, the amount of loudness,” Griffin said. “The guys told me it was going to be like that – the loudest place I’ll ever play in – but why not? It’s New Orleans and the Superdome, so we came out and played big in a big arena, big stage and did a good job.”

Shanahan and Washington’s other decision-makers believed that Griffin had big-play capability when they pulled the trigger in March on a blockbuster trade that sent three first-round picks and a second-rounder to the St. Louis Rams for the No. 2 overall pick in the draft.

But despite his potential, questions remained about how quickly Griffin would make his presence felt. It didn’t take long. By the time the clock struck triple zeros, the Superdome crowd of 72,180 that had reached a deafening pitch just before kickoff, filed out almost in silence.

A cluster of rowdy Redskins fans descended to the lower rows of the stadium and began singing “Hail to the Redskins” as the team headed off the field and to the locker room. Griffin, who high-fived fans, was the last player into the tunnel as the fans cheered for him.

Griffin connected with eight different receivers – Pierre Garcon led the way with four first-half catches for 109 yards and a touchdown before leaving with a foot injury – to keep the Saints guessing. Rookie Alfred Morris had a solid debut, starting at running back and collecting 96 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries. And place kicker Billy Cundiff was a perfect 4 for 4 on field goals in his first official game as a Redskin.

“Robert did an unbelievable job,” Shanahan said. “For him to play the way he did in his first game in the National Football League, with the poise that he played [with] and some of the throws that he made, and to execute the offense in this environment. . . . They threw a lot at us, very well-coached team. And to come away with the win and the way we played, it was a big plus for our guys.”