Glendale, Arizona. Rookies Chase Young and Kamren Curl scored touchdowns from defense and Washington was a solo top of the National Conference East Division with a 23-15 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
Washington (6-7) has won four consecutive games and is one game ahead of the New York Giants, who lost 26-7 hours earlier to the Arizona Cardinals. This is Washington’s first four-game winning streak since 2016.
Washington, led by Ron Rivera, plays next weekend against Seattle. Rivera is of Puerto Rican descent and completed cancer treatment during the season.
Washington has its impressive young defense to thank for the win. The team took a 13-7 lead at halftime after Young grabbed a fumble, took off a tackle and ran 47 yards down the left flank for a touchdown 1:11 minutes before half time. It was Young’s first touchdown in the NFL.
Earned the right to be the FIRST PLACE team in the NFC East! pic.twitter.com/wAe8eroF8q
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) December 14, 2020
Second quarterback Dwayne Haskins wasn’t particularly good, but it wasn’t necessary. He completed seven of 12 passes for 51 yards and kept Washington out of harm’s way while the defense did the rest. Washington’s starting quarterback Alex Smith was hurt in the first half with a sore calf.
San Francisco didn’t do much else after taking a 7-0 lead. Mullens completed 25 of 45 passes for 260 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Brandon Aiyuk caught 10 passes for 119 yards.
Washington is the first team to obtain touchdowns two rookie defenses in the same game since the Rams did it against the Texans in 2013.
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