Redskins.com:Redskins Win On Gardner's Heroics

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Redskins Win On Gardner's Heroics

11/09/2003

Final Score

Redskins 27

Seahawks 20

The Redskins held on to defeat the Seattle Seahawks 27-20 and end their four-game losing streak in exciting fashion. Fred Smoot intercepted a pass on the Seahawks' final drive to cement the game for the Redskins.

The Redskins took the lead over the Seahawks late in the fourth quarter on a 10-yard touchdown pass to Trung Canidate from wide receiver Rod Gardner. Patrick Ramsey threw a lateral to Gardner behind the line of scrimmage, who took a step back and lofted a high-arching pass to a wide-open Canidate.

The score capped a 11 play, 85-yard drive. Washington was led by the strong running of Rock Cartwright, who took over at tailback and converted a crucial 4th-and-1 play at the Redskins' 29-yard line. After completions to Laveranues Coles and Rod Gardner, Cartwright broke free for a 21-yard gain.

Earlier, the Seahawks tied the game on a 48-yard field goal by Josh Brown. The score capped a 10-play, 66-yard drive.

Bruce Smith recorded a sack of Hasselbeck early in the fourth quarter. It was career sack number 197.5 for the future Hall of Famer.

Check back later for a complete game story with photos, statistics, quotes and more.

Third Quarter

John Hall put the Redskins ahead for the first time since early in the first quarter with a 34-yard field goal. The score capped a 7-play, 30-yard drive and included pass completions to Laveranues Coles and Rod Gardner.

At the start of the second half, the Redskins had taken the kickoff and appeared to be on the verge of scoring. Patrick Ramsey completed a 64-yard pass to Laveranues Coles, who was tackled at the Seattle 5-yard line. Two plays later, however, Ramsey was intercepted by linebacker Anthony Simmons.

The defense held and forced the Seahawks to punt from deep within their own territory. The Redskins started the next drive from the 30-yard line and were able to score on Hall's field goal.

Later, Seahawks kicker Josh Brown shorted a 49-yard field goal to maintain the Redskins' narrow lead.

Safety Matt Bowen suffered a mild concussion in the third quarter and is not expected to return to the game.

Second Quarter

Rod Gardner caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Ramsey as the end of the first half, helping the Redskins come back from an early deficit and tie the game.

Gardner beat cornerback Shawn Springs across the middle of the end zone and made the catch with the defender draped over him, capping the 7-play, 66-yard drive. Earlier, Laveranues Coles made a leaping 31-yard catch to put the Redskins in position to score.

Earlier, Coles caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Ramsey. Coles made another leaping catch in the back of the end zone for the score. The touchdown culminated an 11-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 6:24 off the game clock. Gardner had two first-down receptions on the drive, compiling 17 yards in all.

The Redskins dodged a bullet on the drive when a Ramsey pass was intercepted by Damien Robinson and returned for an apparent touchdown. But Robinson fumbled just before he crossed the end zone and Laveranues Coles recovered. The Redskins had the ball once again, this time at the 20 yard line.

Later in the drive, Shawn Springs intercepted another Ramsey pass, but defensive pass interference was called on Springs to give the ball back to the Redskins.

First Quarter

The Seattle Seahawks jumped ahead of the Redskins 14-3 as the Seahawks scored touchdowns on the both of their offensive drives in the quarter. Matt Hasselbeck threw a touchdown pass to Bobby Engram from five yards out to complete a 5-play, 43-yard drive.

The score was set up by a 15-yard low-blocking penalty by David Terrell on the kickoff and a 37-yard reception by the Seahawks' Koren Robinson, who beat Champ Bailey.

After the Redskins were forced into a 3-and-out, Hasselbeck engineered a 14-play, 90-yard drive culinated by a 1-yard run up the middle by Shaun Alexander.

On the opening kickoff, the Seahawks' kickoff returner Maurice Morris fumbled and David Terrell recovered at Seattle's 18-yard line. The Redskins were able to advance the ball to the 2-yard line, but had to settle for a 20-yard field goal by John Hall. Pre-Game

The Redskins listed the following players as inactive for the game against Seattle: running backs Ladell Betts, Sultan McCullough and Chad Morton, center Larry Moore,defensive tackle Jermaine Haley, tight end Byron Chamberlain and cornerback Rashad Bauman.

Lennie Friedman started at center in place of Moore and Lional Dalton had the start at defensive tackle in place of Haley. In addition, Regan Upshaw started in place of Bruce Smith at right defensive end.

The Seahawks listed the following players as inactive: linebackers Solomon Bates and Trace White, center Dennis Norman, tackle Wayne Hunter, and defensive linemen Anton Polepoi, Norman Hand and Rocky Bernard.