Liz Clarke’s early version of the game story is here. The first few paragraphs are below.
With a new starting quarterback, rebuilt right side of the offensive line and overhauled defense, the radically revamped Washington Redskins opened their 2015 season Sunday at FedEx Field.
But a host of familiar problems — costly interceptions, gassed defenders down the stretch and special-teams gaffes — produced an all-too-familiar result.
As a result, the Redskins fell, 17-10, to the Miami Dolphins before a crowd of 76,615 that at least for a stretch, when the home team dominated the early going, cheered what appeared to be a turnaround.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 21 of 31 throws for 195 yards and one touchdown, but again undercut his production with two interceptions.
Alfred Morris did the lion’s share of the work in carrying 24 times for 107 yards. But the rushing attack wasn’t enough to compensate for mistakes that led to a scoreless second half.
Moreover, the Redskins lost two starters to injury: Wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who strained a hamstring before making a single catch; and safety Duke Ihenacho, who injured his left wrist. Neither returned.
The loss dropped Cousins’s record as a starter to 2-8 and suggested that the turnaround Coach Jay Gruden is trying to pull off in his second season in Washington may be a long time coming.