Final
Redskins edge Dolphins in overtime
Sep 10, 2007 - 4:15 AM By Tim Hipps PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer LANDOVER, Maryland Ticker) -- Antwaan Randle El had a career receiving day and Shaun Suisham kicked three field goals to lead the Washington Redskins to a 16-13 overtime victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.After winning the overtime coin toss, the Redskins drove 58 yards in 10 plays, capped by Suisham's 39-yard kick with 9:24 remaining in the extra period.
The loss spoiled the NFL coaching debut of Cam Cameron, who replaced Nick Saban in Miami.
Although running backs Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts and tight end Chris Cooley were Washington's workhorses on the winning drive, Portis credited Randle El for saving the Redskins earlier in the day.
"He had a great performance receiving," Portis said of Randle El, who finished with a career-high 162 yards on five receptions and also had a key block on Portis' 19-yard TD run that gave the Redskins a 10-7 lead early in the third quarter.
Randle El's 35-yard reception from Jason Campbell ignited a 13-play, 67-yard drive that led to Suisham's first field goal, a 31-yarder for a 3-0 lead with 12:14 remaining in the second quarter.
Early in the third quarter, Campbell connected with Randle El for 49 yards to the Dolphins' 24-yard-line. Two plays later, Randle El's block sprang Portis for the Redskins' only touchdown of the game.
"On that touchdown, he was probably the key block," Portis said. "He kept his man outside and I got the opportunity to cut."
Early in the fourth quarter, Randle El's 15-yard punt return sparked a nine-play, 39-yard march, capped by Suisham's 44-yard field goal that gave Washington a 13-10 lead with 5:30 remaining.
Randle El also made an eight-yard grab on 3rd-and-2 to keep the drive alive.
Three plays after Jay Feely's 36-yard field goal tied the game, 13-13, Randle El made perhaps his biggest play of the day. This time, he turned defender and batted down Campbell's errant throw that was headed into the waiting hands of Dolphins cornerback Michael Lehan, who faced nothing but 40 yards of wide-open field between himself and the end zone.
On the final play of regulation from Washington's 43, Campbell attempted a "Hail Mary" pass to James Thrash in the end zone. Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor batted the ball back onto the playing field and Randle El hauled it in and was knocked out of bounds at the 3 as time expired.
"He's a heck of a football player," said Cameron, who was the only college coach to offer Randle El a scholarship to play quarterback at Indiana. "And what is he? A receiver? A punt returner? I don't know, but he's a football player."
During his tenure at Indiana, Cameron was responsible for the creative utilization of Randle El, one of the most versatile athletes in college football history.
Randle El finished his career as the NCAA Division I-A rushing leader among quarterbacks and was the only player in major college football history to both rush for 40 touchdowns and pass for 40 touchdowns in a career.
Other than losing three yards on an end-around play, about the only thing Randle El did wrong Sunday was leave the Redskins' locker room before talking with reporters.
"Randle El came through and stepped up for us today," said Campbell, who completed 12-of-21 passes for 222 yards with two interceptions. "We were trying to give our guys an opportunity to catch some deep balls and open up their defense. Randle El did a good job of getting open down the sideline."
Portis, who was limited to eight games last season because of hand and shoulder injuries, rushed for 98 yards on 17 carries. Betts added 59 yards, also on 17 attempts.
Portis isn't concerned about critics who doubted him for sitting out the exhibition season.
"It doesn't shut them up," he said. "We're 1-0 going into Philadelphia next week. We don't need anybody to jump on our bandwagon or say that the Redskins are the greatest team all of a sudden.
"Continue to leave us at the bottom of the barrel and doubt us, and let me and my teammates stick together and have the determination to come through to you all, and we'll be better than you all think."
Cameron's gutsy call gave the Dolphins a 7-3 lead on the final play of the first half.
With four seconds remaining, Cameron elected not to attempt a potential game-tying field goal. The gamble paid off when Trent Green completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Justin Peelle.
Washington's defense stymied Miami on 9-of-13 third-down situations and limited the Dolphins to 66 rushing yards.
"Washington had eight men up on the line, especially early, and they had (strong safety LaRon) Landry down in the box," Cameron said. "I bet there won't be a lot of people run on that defense with Landry in the box as the eighth man."
Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown managed only 32 yards on 11 carries. Jesse Chatman added 15 yards on seven carries.
"It just wasn't good enough to get a win," said Green, who completed 24-of-38 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. "We had our opportunities but I thought Washington did a really good job on defense today. They presented us with a lot of problems. We were able to have some drives, and then we hurt ourselves. That's the disappointing thing because I think we had some opportunities as an offense to do more."
The Redskins took a big hit early in the game when right tackle Jon Jansen suffered a broken right ankle. He could be out for the remainder of the season.
"I think it was pretty serious, but we are just going to have to wait and see what the doctor says," Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said.
- NFL
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH
--- --- --- ---
MIAMI 0 7 3 3
WASHINGTON 0 3 7 3
OT TOTAL
--- -----
MIAMI 0 13
WASHINGTON 3 16 FINAL IN OVERTIME
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: NONE
2ND QUARTER: WAS - FG, SHAUN SUISHAM 31 YD, 2:46. Driv
Sep 9 4:18 PM - NFL
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH
--- --- --- ---
MIAMI 0 7 3 3
WASHINGTON 0 3 7 3
OT TOTAL
--- -----
MIAMI 0 13
WASHINGTON 3 16 FINAL IN OVERTIME
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: NONE
2ND QUARTER: WAS - FG, SHAUN SUISHAM 31 YD, 2:46. Driv
Dolphins vs. CommandersSep 9 4:18 PM - NFL
END, 4TH QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MIAMI 0 7 3 3 13
WASHINGTON 0 3 7 3 13 GOING INTO OVERTIME
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: NONE
2ND QUARTER: WAS - FG, SHAUN SUISHAM 31 YD, 2:46. Drive:
13 plays, 71 yards in 6:42. Key
plays: Campbell 35-yard pass to
Randle El on 3rd-and-3 to Miami 38;
Campbell 1-yard
Sep 9 3:59 PM - NFL
MIAMI 13
WASHINGTON 13 1:50 LEFT, 4TH QTR
WAS BALL ON WAS 29 YD LINE
1ST AND 10
Dolphins vs. CommandersSep 9 3:50 PM - NFL
FG WAS
SHAUN SUISHAM 44 YD
MIAMI 10
WASHINGTON 13 5:30 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Dolphins vs. CommandersSep 9 3:35 PM - NFL
END, 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MIAMI 0 7 3 10
WASHINGTON 0 3 7 10 END, 3RD QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: NONE
2ND QUARTER: WAS - FG, SHAUN SUISHAM 31 YD, 2:46. Drive:
13 plays, 71 yards in 6:42. Key
plays: Campbell 35-yard pass to
Randle El on 3rd-and-3 to Miami 38;
Campbell 1-yard run on
Sep 9 3:12 PM - NFL
FG MIA
JAY FEELY 20 YD
MIAMI 10
WASHINGTON 10 3:37 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Dolphins vs. CommandersSep 9 3:04 PM - NFL
TD WAS
CLINTON PORTIS 19 YD RUN
(SHAUN SUISHAM KICK)
MIAMI 7
WASHINGTON 10 11:47 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Dolphins vs. CommandersSep 9 2:43 PM
TD MIA JUSTIN PEELLE 1 YD PASS FROM TRENT GREEN (JAY FEELY KICK)
Dolphins vs. CommandersSep 9 2:31 PM
TD MIA JUSTIN PEELLE 1 YD PASS FROM TRENT GREEN (JAY FEELY KICK)
Dolphins vs. CommandersSep 9 2:31 PM
TD MIA JUSTIN PEELLE 1 YD PASS FROM TRENT GREEN (JAY FEELY KICK)
Dolphins vs. CommandersSep 9 2:31 PM- CORRECTION
NFL TD MIA
JUSTIN PEELLE 1 YD PASS FROM TRENT GREEN
(JAY FEELY KICK)
MIAMI 7
WASHINGTON 3 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 9 2:31 PM - CORRECTION
NFL TD MIA
JUSTIN PEELLE 1 YD PASS FROM TRENT GREEN
(JAY FEELY KICK)
MIAMI 7
WASHINGTON 3 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Dolphins vs. CommandersSep 9 2:31 PM - NFL
FG WAS
SHAUN SUISHAM 31 YD
MIAMI 0
WASHINGTON 3 12:14 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Dolphins vs. CommandersSep 9 1:47 PM - NFL
END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MIAMI 0 0
WASHINGTON 0 0 END, 1ST QTR
Sep 9 1:36 PM
Related News
- Commanders Hire Dan Quinn as Head Coach Feb 1
- Commanders Reportedly Hire Former Warriors GM Bob Myers Jan 8
- Bills Fans Expected to Outnumber Dolphins Fans in Miami Jan 4
- Dolphins vs. Ravens odds Week 17: Miami opens as underdog on the road Dec 26
- Washington Commanders Vs. New York Jets - Studs and Duds Dec 26
- The Good, Bad & Ugly from the Miami Dolphins Week 16 win over the Dallas Cowboys Dec 26
- Daily Slop - 26 Dec 23: Everybody’s talking quarterbacks in Washington right now Dec 26
- Dolphins playoff seed scenarios - The Splash Zone 12/26/23 Dec 26
- All aTwitter: 26 December 2023 - Commanders currently hold the #3 overall pick in the 2024 draft (with two games left in the regular season) Dec 26
- Baltimore Ravens @ San Francisco 49ers Live Thread & Game Information Dec 25
- New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles Live Thread & Game Information Dec 25
- Christmas Day NFL odds: Week 16 Monday triple header winners picks Dec 25