You can reach Rich Tandler by email at WarpathInsiders@comcast.net
The Redskins had a chance to take complete control of the game
in the second quarter. Antwaan Randle El reeled off one of the more exciting
12-yard punt returns you’ll ever see as he took the ball near the left
sideline, cut across the field getting a good block from Sean Taylor and a
smashing one from Carlos Rogers, and set the Redskins up at their own 49.
The return and, especially, the blocks seemed to ignite the
crowd and the team. A few plays later Brunell threw a short pass to Ladell Betts who had nobody close to him except for Derrick Dockery, who had pulled to
be Betts’ escort but had nobody to block. That was good for 25 yards. Clinton Portis scooted around left end to score on the next play. The Redskins led
10-6, FedEx Field was rocking and Al Saunders’ offense was rolling.
On the next play from scrimmage the pass rush got to Brad Johnson for one of the few times all night. Demetric Evans got the sack and
stripped the ball, but it bounced right to the feet of Minnesota center Matt Birk, who pounced on it. A Redskins recovery there would have set Washington up
in Viking territory with a chance to put the game away.
Even having missed that chance, Minnesota went three and out
and the Redskins got the ball back at their own 25. Portis made one of his best
runs of the day with a seven-yard burst up the middle and it was second and
three, a perfect offensive down and distance.
But then Saunders, who supposedly doesn’t call the same play
twice in a month, went back to the bubble screen to Moss for the third time. It
was once too often as Moss was tackled for a one-yard loss. Brunell couldn’t
find anyone open on third down and the Redskins punted.
After another Viking three and out the Redskins had one more
shot at putting a dagger into its opponent. Another nice Randle El punt return
put the Redskins in business at the Minnesota 43. Brunell hooked up with Moss
and Washington was in business at the Minnesota 6 at the 2:00 warning.
But Brunell got tripped up on an excellent play by the
Vikings’ interior line and he put the ball on the ground. Portis recovered, but
that moved the ball back to the nine. After throwing the ball away on second
down, Brunell found Moss in the back of the end zone. Moss had the pass in his
hands but a nasty hit by Darren Sharper jarred it loose. Another Hall field
goal ensued.
Not only did that drive not result in a killer touchdown, it
burned just 1:16 off of the clock. The Vikings got a 44-yard return on the
kickoff. A five-yard penalty gave them one first down and a pass over the
middle that Jermaine Wiggins wrestled away from Lemar Marshall netted another
15 yards. That was all the Vikings needed to get into Ryan Longwell’s field
goal range.
They were able to stay in field goal range because of what
was clearly the worst call—or non-call—of the game. On second down Johnson
launched one down the right sideline to Williamson. The ball was overthrown and
Mike Rumph had a bead on it. Williamson turned his back to the ball and
committed blantant offensive interference by running into Rumph. The official
recognized the interference but he didn’t throw the flag, indicating that the
ball was uncatchable even though it landed right where Rumph was standing
before Williamson ran into him.
Longwell booted the field goal as time expired in the half.
Instead of outscoring the Vikings 14-0 or 17-0 during a second quarter where a
lot had gone their way, Washington managed just a 10-3 margin. That Longwell
field goal was the beginning of the end for the Redskins as the Vikings
outscored them 13-3 over the final 30 minutes of play, counting that score at
the end of the half.
Rich Tandler is the
author of The Redskins From A to Z, Volume 1: The Games. This unique book
has an account of every game the Redskins played from when the moved to
Washington for the 1937 season through 2001. For details and ordering
information go to http://www.RedskinsGames.com
