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Desert dominance: Redskins crush Cardinals, win season opener for 1st time since 2012

Posted at 7:21 PM, Sep 09, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-10 00:59:53-04

Quarterback Sam Bradford under pressure. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Redskins’ longest road trip of the season turned into a long day for the home team.

With a dominant defensive effort, Washington crushed the Arizona Cardinals, 24-6,  to win its first season opener since 2012. The Redskins held Arizona to just 213 yards of total offense and 14 first downs.

The Cardinals scored their first points of the game with 5:47 left in the 4th quarter ending the Redskins’ hopes of their first shutout since 1991. After a scoreless first quarter, Washington put-up 21 points in the second quarter – a stanza that saw the ‘Skins score on a pair of touchdown passes from new quarterback Alex Smith, who was playing his first game in burgundy and gold.

Running back Adrian Peterson runs vs. the Arizona Cardinals. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

In his return to Arizona, where he played last season, Redskins running back Adrian Peterson scored his 100th career touchdown. According to NFL345, Peterson is just the seventh player in NFL history with at least 12,000 career rushing yards and 100 rushing TDs. He finishes the game with 26 carries for 96 yards and one score.

Chris Thompson, playing his first game since a season-ending leg injury last November, scored the game’s first touchdown on a 13-yard reception from Smith.

The Redskins (1-and-0) return home next Sunday to host the Indianapolis Colts (0-and-1) in a game to be broadcast LIVE on News 3 in Hampton Roads.