Cornerback Quinton Dunbar #47 of the Washington Redskins celebrates after recovering a fumble against the Cleveland Browns in the third quarter at FedExField on October 2, 2016 in Landover, Maryland.
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Tight end Jordan Reed #86 of the Washington Redskins celebrates after scoring a first quarter touchdown against the Cleveland Browns at FedExField on October 2, 2016 in Landover, Maryland.
(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
Washington Redskins running back Matt Jones (31) goes over offensive guard Arie Kouandjio (74) and Cleveland Browns nose tackle Danny Shelton for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, in Landover, Md.
(AP Photo/Mark Tenally)
AP Photo/Mark Tenally
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor (11) celebrates his touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game Washington Redskins, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, in Landover, Md.
(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
AP Photo/Chuck Burton
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor (11) celebrates his touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, in Landover, Md.
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
Washington Redskins defensive end Trent Murphy, bottom, sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback Cody Kessler (6) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, in Landover, Md.
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell, center, lunges to score a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, in Landover, Md.
(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
AP Photo/Chuck Burton
Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman (24) smiles with cornerback Will Blackmon (41) on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, in Landover, Md. The Redskins won 31-20.
(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
AP Photo/Chuck Burton
The Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins man the line of scrimmage during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, in Landover, Md.
(AP Photo/Mark Tenally)
WASHINGTON — The Redskins will take Sunday’s win over the Browns and they did — literally. Their defense created three second-half turnovers that led to 14 points and the 31-20 win to improve to 2-2 on the season.
A .500 record is hardly a sexy one for the defending division champions, and, even with wins in consecutive weeks, the Redskins do not have momentum heading into Sunday’s meeting with the Ravens in Baltimore.
Credit must be given to the Redskins’ defense for saving the game against the Browns. In the third quarter, Cleveland led 20-17 and was starting to gain control when Redskins linebacker Will Compton jarred the ball from running back Malcom Johnson. Quinton Dunbar recovered the fumble on the Redskins nine-yard line, and a potential knockout blow was prevented.
In the fourth quarter, Compton recovered a fumble and Josh Norman came up with an interception, and the Redskins turned those turnovers into touchdowns. It was very much like the win over the Giants, in which the Redskins needed a couple of fourth-quarter interceptions to seal the deal.
The Giants could have won that game — they had more yards of offense than the Redskins. The Browns also had the advantage on the Redskins in total yards, including 163 yards on the ground, and were 8 of 12 on third-down conversions. Fortunately, the defense is making up for its own mistakes.
On offense, the Redskins established the run, and Matt Jones had his second-best day as a pro with 117 yards rushing. Jones’ success on the ground should have paved the way for an easier day, but in the second and third quarters the Redskins seemed to lose their way on offense and were only saved by the Browns turnovers
There’s a fine line between winning and losing, and, while showing improvement in some areas, the Redskins continue to straddle the fault line.
Dave Johnson is Senior Sports Director and morning sports anchor. He first arrived at WTOP in 1989, left in 1992 and returned in 1995. He is a three-time winner of the A.I.R. award as best radio sportscaster in D.C. In 2008 he won the Edward R. Murrow award for best writing for sports commentaries.
