LANDOVER, Md. — Staring at a fifth consecutive loss, the Washington Redskins turned to third-string quarterback Colt McCoy in the third quarter and rallied for a 19-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans on a game-winning, 22-yard field goal as time expired.

On the final make-or-break possession in the fourth quarter, a pass interference penalty on Titans cornerback Jason McCourty on wide receiver DeSean Jackson put the Redskins in position for Kai Forbath’s 22-yard game-winning kick.

“It’s been two years,” said McCoy, who hadn’t played significant snaps since Dec. 23, 2012, when he was with Cleveland. “I don’t want to get emotional, but … I’m thankful still have the opportunity to still be able to play.”

Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt said Jackson “is a good football player …and unfortunately we got a penalty. We didn’t make enough plays at the end. (We could have) run more time off the clock (on our last possession which consumed just 2:18).”

With Tennessee trailing 16-10 in the fourth quarter, Whisenhunt went for it on fourth-and-1 at his own 45-yard line. Fullback Jackie Battle picked up the first down and two plays later, wide receiver Derek Hagan beat Washington cornerback E.J. Biggers for a 38-yard touchdown from quarterback Charlie Whitehurst with 5:46 remaining.

Both teams are now 2-5.

Redskins first-year coach Jay Gruden benched Kirk Cousins in favor of McCoy at halftime after the usual backup quarterback lost a fumble and threw an interception during the first half.

“We talk about accountability, ball security, that was a standard pass play that we’ve run for a long, long time and he threw it right to (linebacker Wesley Woodyard) unfortunately and I decided to go with Colt in the second half,” explained Gruden, who said normal starter Robert Griffin III could return a week from Monday at Dallas after being sidelined since the first quarter of Week 2 with a dislocated left ankle.

Cousins’ turnovers gave him 11 — nine interceptions, two fumbles — in five-plus games.

What the Redskins said:

“I was [literally] telling myself this is a PAT. I do this every day in practice.” – Kicker Kai Forbath, on his thoughts before he booted the game-winning 22-yard field goal with no time left, his first such kick during his three NFL seasons.

What the Titans said:

“There’s always going to be some plays I definitely would like to redo, but you have step up in the moment and make those plays.” — cornerback Jason McCourty, whose 22-yard penalty for interfering with Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson set up Washington’s game-winning field goal.

What we learned about the Redskins:

1. They own the AFC South at home. Washington has beaten Jacksonville and Tennessee at FedEx Field and lost its other five games, 13 in a row dating back to November 2013. Too bad the Redskins are done playing teams from that division at home until 2018.

2. Their running game, one of the NFL’s best the past two seasons, continues to struggle even though Pro Bowl back Alfred Morris, fullback Darrel Young and all but one of last year’s starting linemen are back. Morris gained just 54 yards on 18 carries after producing just 70 yards on 26 carries the previous two games.

–DE Stephen Bowen, who suffered a major injury to his right knee in Week 11 of last season, was activated off the physically unable to perform list on Saturday and played about 10 plays against the Titans with no ill effects.

–LB Brian Orakpo departed with a right pectoral injury during the fourth quarter. The three-time Pro Bowl linebacker, who’ll be re-evaluated on Monday, missed the final 14 games of 2012 with a torn pec.

–QB Colt McCoy’s first pass of the year on Sunday went for a touchdown. It’s much like QB Kirk Cousins, whose first pass of the season also went for a touchdown.

–Former QB Mark Rypien, the Super Bowl XVI MVP, was inducted into the Redskins’ Ring of Fame. Hall of Famers Charley Taylor and Ken Houston were among those alumni in attendance.

What we learned about the Titans:

1. They can’t sit on a late lead. Coach Ken Whisenhunt called three straight runs after a penalty on the first snap of their final series forced them into first-and-20 at their own 23-yard line with 4:57 remaining and a 17-16 edge.

2. They don’t have a strong enough running game to carry an offense quarterbacked by journeyman backup Charlie Whitehurst. Bishop Sankey and Co. came in averaging 4.7 yards per carry but managed just a 3.8-yard average on 26 carries against Washington.

–QB Jake Locker, who missed his second straight game with a thumb injury, is expected to return to face Houston next Sunday, according to coach Ken Whisenhunt.

–WR Derek Hagan’s touchdown was just the seventh of his eight-year career.

–QB Charlie Whitehurst fell to 1-2 as a starter this season, 2-5 in a career that dates to 2006.

–S Michael Griffin was chosen for the Pro Bowl in 2008 and 2010, but he’s no longer effective in coverage, having been the prime culprit on Kirk Cousins’ 50-yard pass to Niles Paul and the back end help on Colt McCoy’s toss to Pierre Garcon, which turned into a 70-yard touchdown.