Dwayne Haskins threw the first two touchdown passes of his career last weekend. The next step for the Washington Redskins rookie quarterback is to collect his first win as a starter.
Haskins will make his third consecutive start when the Redskins host the reeling Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Haskins connected with running back Derrius Guice and tight end Jeremy Sprinkle for fourth-quarter scores after Washington fell behind 34-3 to the New York Jets. Haskins, who was picked off once, finished with 214 passing yards in the 34-17 defeat.
The solid finish gives Haskins a little boost as the Redskins (1-9) try to win a home game after dropping their first five this season.
“From this point, it’s just trying to figure out what needs to be corrected and then just executing at a high level every time I get the opportunity,” he said.
Haskins has been handed the starting job for the rest of the season by interim coach Bill Callahan. The Ohio State product passed for just 144 yards in a 24-9 loss at Buffalo earlier this month.
The punchless Redskins have scored 17 or fewer points in each of their past eight games.
“We’ve just got to be accountable,” Haskins said. “We’ve got to look deep inside ourselves and try to figure out what needs to be fixed and make a change.”
The return of Guice gives the offense a little more hope. The rookie second-round draft pick came off injured reserve last week after recovering from a knee injury and rushed for 24 yards on seven attempts to go along with his 45-yard touchdown reception.
Rookie receiver Terry McLaurin caught a 41-yard pass from Haskins, but veteran Adrian Peterson was held to 25 rushing yards after gaining 108 on the ground at Buffalo.
“They have three really good young players, but I really wouldn’t forget about Adrian Peterson,” Lions coach Matt Patricia said. “You see those guys that have that longevity, that sort of ability to keep going. It’s so impressive from a coaching standpoint. I would say that he’s so dangerous for us right now.”
Patricia expects to see Haskins roll out more often to buy time.
“They’re learning his skill set and what he does well, so probably more of the read-option type plays so they can get him out into space, a little bit more movement plays,” he said. “He’s a really good athlete. He’s one of those quarterbacks that’s not going to extend the play to run, he’s definitely going to try to extend the play to throw the ball. He’s got a huge arm.”
The Lions’ big-armed quarterback is on the sidelines. Matthew Stafford has missed the past two games due to a back injury, and he is unlikely to play on Sunday.
“We’re still in the same ballpark week by week as far as that goes,” Patricia said.
Detroit (3-6-1) has lost three straight and six of its past seven. Stafford’s backup, Jeff Driskel, passed for 209 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 51 yards and a score in a 35-27 loss to the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday.
Rookie running back Bo Scarbrough played well in his NFL debut, gaining 55 yards on 14 carries and scoring a touchdown.
However, Detroit’s defense has been a big disappointment. The Lions are allowing 27.2 points per game, which ranks 27th in the league.
The Lions will be facing an offense that has produced the fewest points (12.5 per game), but Haskins is optimistic that will improve.
“As a person who really prides himself on positive energy, I know that if I bring my best game to practice every day, to meetings and to the game, eventually things will change, things will turn around,” he said. “Right now, we’re losing, but I don’t plan on losing for long.”