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Redskins clip Chargers in overtime

Nov 4, 2013 - 1:13 AM Landover, MD (SportsNetwork.com) - Darrel Young's third touchdown run of the day served as the game-winner, as the Washington fullback surged into the end zone from four yards out on the first possession of overtime to send the Redskins to a 30-24 victory over the San Diego Chargers at FedEx Field.

With the Chargers trailing by three with under a minute remaining in regulation, Danny Woodhead dove toward the right pylon at the end of a 6-yard grab and was awarded a touchdown on the field.

However, video review showed Woodhead was knocked out just short of the goal line, leaving San Diego with 1st-and-goal from the 1-yard line with 21 seconds remaining.

Washington's defense came up with a big stand, stuffing Woodhead for no gain on first down before back-to-back incompletions from Philip Rivers forced San Diego to settle for a 19-yard field goal from Nick Novak that sent the game to overtime.

"We obviously didn't make the plays at the end there to win it, one way or the other," Chargers head coach Mike McCoy said. "We have to find a way to finish games when you have the opportunity like he had there at the end to win it in regulation."

The Redskins received the opening kickoff in the extra session and quickly went to work, as Alfred Morris broke free for 19 yards into San Diego territory before Robert Griffin III converted a 3rd-and-8 with a 12-yard toss to tight end Jordan Reed.

A personal foul penalty at the end of Pierre Garcon's 17-yard grab two plays later moved the Redskins to the 13-yard line before back-to-back Morris runs left Washington with 3rd-and-1 from the 4.

Young then rumbled into the end zone on Washington's next play to give the Redskins (3-5) their second win in three tries.

"Coach (Mike Shanahan) said when we get down there (near the goal line) it's going to be the first run call this week," Young said of getting the ball in crunch time. "I appreciate him trusting me in a situation like that."

Morris finished with 121 yards and a score on 25 carries, while Griffin completed 23-of-32 passes for 291 yards with an interception. Garcon hauled in seven passes for a game-high 172 yards in the triumph.

Rivers racked up 341 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions on 29- of-46 throws for the Chargers (4-4), who had won two straight.

Keenan Allen added eight catches for 128 yards and a touchdown in defeat.

Washington started its first two drives of the game from its own goal line, with the first ending in a blocked Kai Forbath field goal, while the second finished with defensive end Sean Lissemore intercepting Griffin in the end zone.

Defensive tackle Lawrence Guy, who blocked Forbath's 25-yard try, batted a Griffin pass down at the line and the ball bounced off a teammate's back before landing in Lissemore's arms in the end zone for a 7-0 San Diego lead.

Rivers returned the favor on San Diego's next touch, as E.J. Biggers picked off the San Diego quarterback before Morris followed a 26-yard scamper with a 5-yard TD run that made it 7-7 with 5:25 left in the first.

Rivers responded from the miscue with an 11-play, 85-yard march, converting a 3rd-and-10 with a 12-yard hookup to Allen before capping the trek with a 15- yard scoring strike to Eddie Royal for a 14-7 lead just 42 seconds before halftime.

Forbath had a 59-yard field goal blocked in the closing seconds of the half to leave the margin at seven, but Griffin opened the second half with a 9-play, 74-yard march, highlighted by his 38-yard toss to Garcon on 3rd-and-12.

Young capped the march with his first score of the day, a 1-yard plunge that tied the game at 14-14 just over five minutes into the third.

Griffin used his legs to extend Washington's ensuing march, as he scrambled to his left before leaping over a defender at the first-down marker for a 10-yard gain on 3rd-and-9.

Griffin converted another third down with an 11-yard strike to Leonard Hankerson before Young scored from a yard out on the second play of the fourth quarter to give Washington a 21-14 lead.

After an exchange of punts, David Amerson undercut a Rivers pass intended for Allen and picked it off near midfield, setting up Forbath's 47-yard field goal that gave Washington a 24-14 cushion with 6:59 to play.

The Chargers benefited from a controversial call early in their ensuing touch to keep their comeback bid alive, as Woodhead caught a short pass out to the right before being sandwiched between two defenders.

Woodhead lost the ball -- and his helmet -- on the play, but after video review, the referees ruled Woodhead down by contact at the San Diego 30.

Rivers then connected on his next five passes, culminating in a 16-yard TD pass to Allen that made it 24-21 with 4:10 remaining.

San Diego's defense forced a Washington punt on the Redskins' ensuing drive, giving Rivers and the offense the ball with 2:10 left on the clock.

Game Notes

San Diego's last blocked field goal came on Nov. 3, 2002 against the Jets, a span of 175 games, which was the longest active streak in the NFL ... San Diego had its team-record string of consecutive quarters without allowing a touchdown snapped at 12 after giving up a score in the second stanza ... Morris has posted more than 90 yards rushing in three straight games ... Washington finished 12-of-17 on third-down conversions ... The Redskins racked up 209 yards on the ground, compared to just 69 for San Diego.