Orchard Park, NY (Sports Network) - Robert Griffin III made his debut on
Thursday and didn't disappoint as he helped the Washington Redskins take a
7-6 win over the Buffalo Bills in the preseason opener for both teams.
The second overall pick of the 2012 draft, Griffin won the Heisman Trophy last
season and Washington traded up to get the Baylor product. Named the starter
of the team immediately, he played three series on Thursday and went 4-for-6
with 70 yards and a touchdown, but also lost a fumble.
The recipient of that touchdown was Pierre Garcon, who signed with the
Redskins as a free agent in the offseason. He caught three passes for 58
yards, including a 20-yard score in the first quarter that was the only
touchdown of the game.
Washington is coming off a 5-11 campaign that saw the team finish dead last in
the NFC East. Washington hasn't had a winning season since a 9-7 mark in 2007.
The Bills, who finished 6-10 last season after starting 3-0, did a lot to
improve their defense in the offseason as they landed All-Pro defensive end
Mario Williams and pass-rushing specialist Mark Anderson. Also, the team
drafted cornerback Stephon Gilmore with the 10th overall pick in this year's
draft.
Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 61 yards on 6-of-14 passing and led Buffalo to one
of its two field goals in the game, but that was thanks to a recovered fumble
by the defense.
Griffin's first series was a quick three-and-out, and then his next series saw
him fumble the ball and Buffalo recovered deep in Washington territory, which
led to a 43-yard field goal from Rian Lindell.
Griffin finally got it together on the next drive as he marched the team 80
yards in eight plays, capped on a 20-yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon.
Griffin and Gracon also connected on plays of 20 and 18 yards during the drive
Buffalo drove down to the Washington four-yard line with Tyler Thigpen under
center late in the second quarter, but a chip-shot 22-yard field goal attempt
from Lindell was no good.
The teams exchanged interceptions before the half ended and neither offenses
could get any points on the board in the third.
The Bills ended the third with the ball and a 15-play, 57-yard drive that ate
up over eight minutes was finished with a 45-yard field goal from Lindell to
make it a 7-6 game early in the fourth.
That capped the scoring, though, as Buffalo was unable to get into field range
on its next two touches and Washington killed the clock.
The Sports Network