Redskins Lose In Overtime, 23-20
By Gary Fitzgerald
Redskins.com
August 14, 2004
John Kasay connected on a 52-yard field goal to give the Carolina Panthers a 23-20 overtime win over the Redskins Saturday night in the home preseason opener at FedExField.
On the Redskins' second drive of overtime, Tim Hasselbeck's downfield toss to Chrisey was intercepted by the Panthers' William Hampton, giving Carolina the ball on the Redskins' 42-yard line.
The Redskins' defense stopped Carolina on the next three plays, setting up a fourth and inches at the 34-yard line. Kasay came in and ended the game with kick than split the uprights.
Fourth Quarter
The Redskins and Panthers were tied at 20-20 and heading into overtime in Saturday night's preseason opener at FedExField.
After the Redskins had tied the game at 17 on a Sultan McCullough touchdown run, both teams exchanged field goals late in the fourth quarter. Ola Kimrin, who nailed the game-winner in last week's preseason win over Denver, hit from 34 yards out to give the Redskins a 20-17 edge.
Washington stopped Carolina on the ensuing drive and the game seemed to be in the Redskins' hands. But Tim Hasselbeck's pass to Sean Dillard was picked off by Eddie Jackson at the Redskins' 35-yard line, giving the Panthers new life.
After a 16-yard pass from quarterback Rod Rutherford to running back Joey Harris, the Redskins defense stiffened, holding the Panthers to a game-tying 37-yard field goal by John Kasay.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, the Redskins had tied the game thanks to some nifty running by backup tailbacks Rock Cartwright and McCullough. First it was Cartwright who broke free for a 34-yard scamper to the Panthers' 14-yard line. One play later, Sultan McCullough burst through the line of scrimmage for a 14-yard touchdown run.
Third Quarter
The Redskins and Panthers exchanged touchdowns on deep passes in the third quarter, with the Panthers scoring twice in taking a 17-10 at the end of the third quarter in Saturday night's preseason contest at FedExField.
Backup quarterback Chris Weinke connected on a pair of touchdowns to wide receiver Keary Colbert to put the Panthers ahead. The second touchdown, a 68-yard pass, put the Panthers ahead after the Redskins had just tied the game. Colbert got a step on safety Ifeanyi Ohalete and was wide open.
Moments earlier, the Redskins tied the game on Mark Brunell's 61-yard touchdown pass to Darnerien McCants. The lanky receiver, known for his tendency to catch red-zone touchdowns, had a step on the cornerback on a deep sideline route. He caught the ball at the 10-yard line and raced into the end zone for the score.
The Panthers scored the first touchdown of the game when Weinke connected with Colbert on a 42-yard touchdown pass. Weinke took advantage of apparent confusion in the Redskins' secondary, leaving Colbert wide open down the left sideline. Colbert leaped into the end zone past cornerback Ralph Brown for the score.
Tight end Fred Baxter had to be helped off the field with an injured right knee. The knee appeared to buckle under him as he was running downfield on a pass route. Also, rookie Mark Wilson suffered a broken nose. Their status will be determined after the game.
Second Quarter
The Redskins and Carolina Panthers were tied at 3-3 at halftime in Saturday night's preseason contest at FedExField.
The Redskins got on the scoreboard thanks to a Todd Franz interception of a Rodney Peete pass at Carolina's 40-yard line. Mark Brunell, who replaced Patrick Ramsey in the second quarter, completed a 24-yard pass to rookie tight end Chris
The drive stalled as Brunell's pass to Brian Kozlowski in the end zone slipped away and the Redskins had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by John Hall.
The second quarter started in frustrating fashion for Ramsey. On the last play of the first quarter, he had completed a 34-yard pass to Laveranues Coles, giving the Redskins the ball at Carolina's 31-yard line. But two plays later, Ramsey threw a high-arching pass to Coles near the goal-line that was intercepted by cornerback Dante Wesley.
The Panthers' second-quarter drives started at the 4-, 10- and 19-yard lines. They were unable to get anything going offensively, as the Redskins' defense clamped down. Fred Smoot made tackles on two consecutive plays to keep the Panthers pinned down deep in their territory. He led the defense with four tackles at halftime. Cornelius Griffin was second with three tackles.
Ramsey was 4-of-11 for 62 yards in just over a quarter of action. Brunell took over for Ramsey early in the second quarter and was 2-of-6 for 38 yards. Coles led the Redskins' wide receivers with three catches for 55 yards.
Redskins running backs Clinton Portis and Rock Cartwright struggled to find running room against Carolina's front four. Combined, they rushed for 20 yards on nine carries.
First Quarter
The Redskins' offense struggled in the first quarter. Patrick Ramsey, getting the start as Joe Gibbs alternates his quarterbacks in the preseason, was 1-of-5 for five yards. The only first down the Redskins managed to record was on an illegal contact infraction by Panthers' rookie cornerback Chris Gamble.
Ramsey and center Lennie Friedman also fumbled the snap twice, but the Redskins were able to recover both times. Ramsey was also sacked once by Panthers' defensive lineman Julius Peppers, who was going up against new right tackle Kenyatta Jones.
Carolina's score was set up after a somewhat bizarre call that ultimately gave the Panthers great field position. The Redskins found themselves buried deep in their own territory after a punt inadvertently hit the back judge on the 1-yard line.
The Redskins' offense was unable to move the ball and Kevin Stemke punted from his own end zone. Steve Smith's 19-yard return gave the Panthers the ball at the Redskins' 30-yard line. Eight plays later, John Kasay gave Carolina the early lead with a 19-yard field goal.
Most of the offensive and defensive starters for both teams were still in the game as the first quarter ended.
Pre-Game
Joe Gibbs makes his coaching debut at FedExField for the first time since he returned to the team in January. At game time, it has stopped raining, but weather forecasts call for rain throughout the evening as remnants of Hurricane Charley pass by the Washington, D.C., region.
Punter Tom Tupa will miss the game due to a muscle strain in his back. He suffered the injury during practice on Thursday and Kevin Stemke will serve as the punter during the game.
Players expected to miss the game due to injury include linebacker Mike Barrow (tendonitis in left knee), cornerback Rashad Bauman (hamstring injury), defensive lineman Phillip Daniels (abdominal injury), wide receiver Cliff Russell (hamstring), running back Ladell Betts (hamstring) and center Ben Nowland (sprained knee).
Offensive lineman Brandon Winey, who has missed most of training camp with a sprained ankle, has been deemed healthy, but he will sit out the game since he wasn't been able to practice last week.
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