The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Joseph White / Associated Press
Posted: 5 minutes ago

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) - On the first series, Joe Gibbs called a clever play that sprung Clinton Portis 64 yards for a touchdown. After that, the Hall of Fame coach's first victory in nearly 12 years was all about defense.

Portis ran for 149 yards Sunday, and turnovers set up two of three field goals by John Hall to give the Washington Redskins a 16-10 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to welcome Gibbs back to the NFL.
Gibbs led the Redskins to three Super Bowl titles in his first stint with the team from 1981-92, and it appeared the old magic was still there when his team dominated the first half. But Washington's offense began to sputter, and it took Hall's 30-yard field goal with 8:55 to break a 10-10 tie. Hall added a 34-yard field goal with 16 seconds to play.

Gibbs was expressionless throughout most of the game, but he pointed to the crowd and gave a thumbs-up sign before heading into the tunnel after the final whistle. It was his 125th regular season career win and the 500th regular season victory in Redskins franchise history.

Gibbs concentrates mostly on his offense, and he's left the defense in the hands of ex-Buffalo head coach Gregg Williams. Williams' aggressive packages kept the Bucs off-balance, holding them without a touchdown for the game and without a first down until midway through the second quarter.

Blitzing safety Matt Bowen stripped quarterback Brad Johnson of the ball to set up a field goal in the second quarter, and linebacker Antonio Pierce's fourth-quarter interception led to the go-ahead field goal. Tampa Bay's last realistic chance to win was thwarted by back-to-back sacks, the first one by Renaldo Wynn and Ron Warner, and the second one by Bowen.

Tampa Bay's first score, a 47-yard field goal by Martin Gramatica in the second quarter, was set up by Frank Murphy's 54-yard kickoff return. The Bucs tied the game at 10 on Ronde Barber's 9-yard fumble return in the third quarter.

Washington's lone touchdown was a thing of beauty from Gibbs' bag of tricks. On the third play from scrimmage, the offense faced a first-and-15 following a delay of game penalty. Gibbs stacked two receivers and tight end Walter Rasby on the right side. Rasby went left at the snap of the ball, and Portis took one step to the left after getting the handoff.

The Bucs fell for it. The line and linebackers followed Rasby, while Portis cut back into a gaping hole to his right. His speed easily carried him 64 yards untouched for a touchdown in his first carry since the trade that brought him from the Denver Broncos for cornerback Champ Bailey.

Tampa Bay's touchdown wasn't nearly as pretty. On second-and-7 at Washington's 14, Mark Brunell stumbled receiving the snap and fell to one knee as he stretched to hand off to Portis. Portis never controlled the ball, and it popped high into the air and was grabbed by Barber, who ran for the score.

Tampa Bay lost receiver Joey Galloway to a groin strain in the second quarter.