Well, well.
Two quick touchdowns have given Washington a 21-7 lead at Denver early in the third quarter.
The Redskins took the lead early in the third when Alfred Morris scored on a one-yard run. Morris’ touchdown was set up by Redskins outside linebacker Brian Orakpo’s recovery of a Peyton Manning fumble at the Denver 19. Ryan Kerrigan had knocked the ball away from Manning on a passing attempt.
Then, on Denver’s next series, Manning was intercepted by Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who took it back 26 yards for a touchdown. Broncos wideout Demaryius Thomas fell on the play, leaving Hall all alone to catch the ball.
Strong performances from the Redskins’ defense and running game have been key to Washington’s impressive early play. The Redskins held the ball for nearly 17 minutes and rushed for 84 yards in drawing to a 7-7 tie through two quarters.
Washington evened up the game in the final minute of the second quarter on a Robert Griffin III seven-yard TD pass to wideout Leonard Hankerson. The score capped a 16-play, 95-yard drive taking a little more than seven minutes. The Redskins were aided when Denver was penalized for having 12 players on the field on a field goal attempt with 30 seconds left in the half. The penalty gave Washington a first down, and it capitalized with the touchdown on the next play.
The Broncos scored the game’s first points on a Manning-to-Wes Welker six-yard TD in the first quarter. However, Washington’s defense has held up well since.
UPDATE 6:27 p.m. ET: The Broncos responded with a Montee Ball TD run to cut Washington’s lead to 21-14 with 7:48 left in the third quarter.