In a game played almost exclusively by reserves on both sidelines, the Washington Redskins defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-10, Thursday night at Raymond James Stadium. The game completed a 1-3 preseason for the Buccaneers and fell just before the final roster cuts scheduled for the weekend.
Of those young players seeking to make a good last impression, the best game tape probably belongs to CB Keith Lewis, LB Danny Lansanah, RB Jeff Demps and WR Solomon Patton. After a first half in which the Bucs' offense managed just 14 total yards, Patton finally got the home team into the end zone in the third quarter with a nifty 25-yard catch-and-run. Patton eluded one tackler at the 15 and beat another to the goal line, barely diving over the right pylon.
Lewis' first NFL interception was one of two consecutive picks in the end zone for a Buccaneer defense that bent but came up with the big play when necessary. On the ensuing drive, just before halftime, Lansanah dived to tip a ball at the goal line, with fellow LB Nate Askew picking off the deflection. Despite a 183-yard edge in total offense at halftime, the Redskins only led 10-0 going into the intermission.
Both offenses perked up in the second half, though Washington continued to hold a big edge in total yards, 443 to 157 by game's end. Demps was one of the Bucs' offensive standouts in the second half, finishing the game with 59 yards on 20 carries and also adding an impressive 37-yard kickoff return that showed off his Olympic-level speed.
Mike Glennon started at quarterback but gave way to Mike Kafka after just one series. Kafka struggled to move the offense in the first half but settled in a bit after halftime and finished with 7 completions for 86 yards and a touchdown.
The rest of the teams around the NFL also wrapped up their preseason slates on Thursday. Each team must reduce its roster from 75 players to the regular-season limit of 53 by 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.
