鈥?As his mind wandered to whether it was his final home game as the Washington’s starting quarterback [url=http://www.brownscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-austin-corbett-jersey]Austin Corbett Browns Jersey[/url] , Kirk Cousins had a bigger concern early against the Denver Broncos and their top-ranked defense.“After the first couple of possessions, I didn’t know if we were going to get 100 yards on them,” Cousins said.Cousins and the Redskins rebounded from losing 2 yards on their first two drives to put up 386 yards and three touchdowns against the Broncos in a 27-11 rout Sunday. Cousins was 19 of 37 with TD passes to Jamison Crowder , Josh Doctson and Vernon Davis and an interception, and managed the game well.“It just came down to protecting, making the throws, making the catches and converting,” said Cousins, the first quarterback in Washington history with three seasons of 25 or more TD passes and needs 65 yards for his third in a row with 4,000-plus yards. “It was an imperfect game, certainly, but when you have a defense playing at such a high level, it kept us in the game and kept giving us a chance, and then we finally got rolling and made enough plays to pull away.”Washington’s 386 offensive yards are third most by a Denver opponent this season, behind only Philadelphia and New England. The Broncos came in giving up an average of 276.8 yards a game.The Redskins (7-8) came 78 seconds from not allowing a touchdown for a second consecutive game for the first time since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Washington, which allowed a combined 68 points in its previous two games [url=http://www.pantherscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-rashaan-gaulden-jersey]Cheap Rashaan Gaulden Jersey[/url] , forced three turnovers.“That’s the name of the game,” said linebacker Zach Vigil, who recovered a fumble. “The more turnovers a defense can get and get the ball back to the offense, just gives you a great opportunity to win the game.”After a week of uncertainty, Brock Osweiler started at QB over Paxton Lynch for the Broncos (5-10) and was 22 of 38 for 193 yards with a fumble and an interception .“I’ve been a backup in this league, I’ve been a starter in this league,” Osweiler said. “I know how to prepare with no reps and I know how to prepare with all the reps. So was it ideal? No. But is it an excuse? Absolutely not.”C.J. Anderson scored a late touchdown and was the game’s leading rusher with 16 yards on 88 carries.KERRIGAN’S MILESTONELinebacker Ryan Kerrigan sacked Osweiler twice and has 11 this season, becoming the first Redskins player with 10 or more in consecutive seasons since Dexter Manley and Charles Mann in 1985 and 1986. His 69 1-2 sacks are tied for fourth since entering the NFL in 2011, behind only Von Miller, J.J. Watt and Cameron Wake.WHAT’S HE THINKING?Rookie receiver Isaiah McKenzie made a memorable blunder late in the first half that likely cost Denver three points. With the Broncos out of timeouts, McKenzie caught the ball near the sideline inside the Washington 30-yard line and kicker Brandon McManus’ field goal range. But he didn’t go out of bounds, and Osweiler and other offensive teammates were visibly upset not to get another snap.Coach Vance Joseph called McKenzie over after the play and gave him an earful while putting his arm around the 22-year-old.“I should’ve got out of bounds,” McKenzie said. “I just caught the ball and mentally was like, ‘Make a play.’ And unfortunately I didn’t make the right decision.”INJURIESBroncos: WRs Emmanuel Sanders (ankle) and Cody Latimer (thigh) were inactive.Redskins: NT Ziggy Hood left with a dislocated right elbow early in the second quarter. Coach Jay Gruden said Hood would have an MRI. … Rookie WR Robert Davis was knocked out with a concussion. CB Kendall Fuller was pulled from the game for a potential concussion late in the second quarter, but was cleared. … LB Zach Brown missed his second consecutive game with various injuries, including Achilles tendon and toe.UP NEXTBroncos: Host Kansas City next Sunday.Redskins: Finish at the New York Giants next Sunday. Patrick Mahomes had a quiet first start for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Mahomes' first appearance as the Chiefs' starting quarterback lasted nine plays and netted 29 yards Thursday during a 17-10 loss to the Houston Texans in the preseason opener for both teams.

Now [url=http://www.cowboyscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-jihad-ward-jersey]Authentic Jihad Ward Jersey[/url] , the challenge for Mahomes, who finished 5 of 7 for 33 yards on his two drives, is to use the game to get ready for the regular-season opener Sept. 9 at the Los Angeles Chargers.

"We've got to just keep perfecting our craft, keep perfecting the plays and hopefully move the ball and score a few more touchdowns," he said, calling the preseason "a little bit of a tease."

Mahomes, who took over the starting job when Alex Smith was traded to Washington during the offseason, was sacked once and didn't throw a touchdown or interception in a solid, if unspectacular, performance.

"Just scoring a touchdown or a field goal would probably have made it a lot better," Mahomes said. "We moved the ball a little bit; we made some plays. But at the same time, you want to kind of get the drive going a little bit more."

Eventually, Chiefs fans will get to see Mahomes' full ability on display. He didn't complete a pass longer than 14 yards and never targeted Sammy Watkins 鈥?who signed a three-year, $48 million deal in the offseason 鈥?on Thursday.

"Being the quarterback that I am, I like to take shots downfield," Mahomes said. "I just didn't get the opportunity to do it tonight."

The announced crowd of 58 [url=http://www.cowboyscheapauthenticstore.com/dalton-schultz-jersey-cheap]Dalton Schultz Jersey Cowboys[/url] ,465 also witnessed the return of Houston's second-year franchise quarterback in Deshaun Watson, who was selected two picks after Mahomes at No. 12 overall in the 2017 draft.

Watson won the Texans' starting job last season, but missed the second half of the season with a torn ACL. He played only one series and threw only one pass 鈥?a 4-yard completion to wide receiver Bruce Ellington 鈥?while handing off four times to running back Lamar Miller.

"I thought it was important for him to go through the whole warmup process and preparation for the game and get out there and operate the offense," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said.

That was good enough for Watson, who relished the return.

"It was a good time to get the juices flowing a little bit, to hear the fans and just walk on the field," Watson said.

Brandon Weeden took over for Houston after the game's opening drive and led back-to-back touchdown drives 鈥?including a 12-play, 68-yard drive during his first series that was capped by a 6-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Jordan Akins.

Weeden hooked up with Akins for a 14-yard touchdown on the next drive and finished 9 of 11 for 97 yards with two touchdowns after starting out with two incompletions.

Mahomes' backup, Chad Henne, was responsible for the lone Chiefs touchdown 鈥?a 24-yard pass over the top to Demarcus Robinson late in the second quarter.

"I want to come out and show the coaches I can make plays, so it was pretty good," Robinson said. "We had a double move called, so I gave him a little hesitation about 5 yards off the line and it was a great ball."

Robinson finished with three catches for a game-high 48 yards, while Henne finished 8 of 14 for 91 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Several notable players were absent for both teams.

Chiefs safety Eric Berry (Achilles' heel) didn't dress for the game. Backup Eric Murray got the start instead alongside rookie safety Armani Watts, who replaced injured starter Daniel Sorenson (knee).

"When they came and told me (I was starting), I was just ready [url=http://www.bengalscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-sam-hubbard-jersey]Cheap Sam Hubbard Jersey[/url] ," said Watts, a rookie fourth-round pick from Texas A&M. "That's what you've got to be as the next man up."

Kansas City also was without both starting inside linebackers 鈥?Anthony Hitchens, a free-agent acquisition from the Cowboys, and Reggie Ragland.

Houston had its share of absences as well 鈥?including linebacker Whitney Mercilus (soft tissue injury), who didn't make the trip.

Linebackers Benardrick McKinney and Jadeveon Clowney, defensive end J.J. Watt, safety Tyrann Mathieu and cornerback Johnathan Joseph also didn't play along with starting wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller.

NATIONAL ANTHEM

There were no protests from players on either team 鈥?though a few Chiefs, in particular, stood well off the sideline near the benches 鈥?during the national anthem. It didn't appear that any players went to the locker room for the anthem.

INJURIES

Texans LB Kennan Gilchrist did not return after absorbing a helmet-to-helmet blow late in the fourth quarter.

Coach Andy Reid said the Chiefs had three injuries 鈥?C Jimmy Murray (left knee), RB Kerwynn Williams (head), and G Ethan Cooper (left shoulder).

NEXT UP

The Chiefs (0-1) return to action Friday, Aug. 17, at the Atlanta Falcons.

The Texans (1-0) host the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, Aug. 18.

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