LANDOVER, Md. _ After allowing the Washington Redskins to score two early touchdowns Sunday, the Vikings stormed back to take a 20-14 lead before halftime. But they would not score again as their losing streak got extended to four games.
Twice in the fourth quarter of the 26-20 loss did quarterback Sam Bradford and the offense have a chance to go the distances at FedEx Field for a go-ahead score. But Redskins outside linebacker Preston Smith put an end to both Vikings drives.
The Vikings advanced into Redskins territory midway through the fourth quarter but Bradford was picked off by Smith, who deflected the short pass with his right hand then grabbed it out of the air with his left.
They got to Washington 21-yard line inside the final two minutes of regulation, but Bradford got sacked twice, including Smith's win-sealing takedown on fourth down. On that play Smith beat Jeremiah Sirles, who was playing his first snap at left tackle because starter Jake Long was carted off the field with an apparent left leg injury.
The loss knocked the Vikings to second in the NFC North behind the Detroit Lions.
The Redskins scored on their opening drive, with quarterback Kirk Cousins throwing a 4-yard touchdown pass to slot receiver Jamison Crowder with starting linebackers Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr on the sideline after colliding on the previous play.
Both returned to the game for the next Redskins drive. But after playing a pair of snaps, Kendricks, who injured his left hip, headed back to the sideline for good.
The Redskins reached the end zone on their second drive, too, with Cousins taking advantage of busted coverage after a play-action fake to connect downfield with veteran tight end Vernon Davis, who outran Barr for a 38-yard touchdown reception. That put the Vikings in a 14-0 deficit in the first minute of the second quarter.
On Washington's first two drives, Cousins completed nine of his 11 attempts for 125 yards and two touchdowns, giving him a 153.6 passer rating. His next four throws hit the turf, though, and he didn't complete another pass until the third quarter.
The Vikings offense finally pieced together their first scoring drive midway through the second quarter, after Bradford lobbed a pass to wide receiver Stefon Diggs, the Maryland native playing his first pro game in his home state, for a 36-yard gain. On his third carry from the 1-yard line, Matt Asiata finally got over the goal line.
That was the team's first touchdown in the first half of any game since Week 5.
The Vikings then stunningly stole the lead before halftime. They tied it up after Bradford threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph. Then after nose tackle Linval Joseph forced Redskins running back Chris Thompson to fumble in Washington territory, Bradford, who threw for 160 yards in the second quarter on 12-for-15 passing, tossed a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Adam Thielen.
That put the Vikings up 20-14. Then kicker Blair Walsh missed the extra-point try.
The Vikings, in their second game under interim play-caller Pat Shurmur, would not score again after Asiata twice got stuffed on Third and 1 in the third quarter.
The Redskins tied the game at 20 with a pair of field goals in the third quarter. A 50-yarder by Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins gave them the lead back in the fourth. Hopkins hit another with two minutes, 31 seconds left to increase the lead to 26-20.
