Skins.com:Redskins Lose A Close One To Carolina, 20-17

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Redskins Lose A Close One To Carolina, 20-17

11/16/2003

Panthers running back Stephen Davis scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with just under a minute to play in the game to give the Panthers a 20-17 win over the Redskins on Sunday. Quarterback Jake Delhomme completed a 25-yard pass to Stephen Davis and a 30-yard pass to Steve Smith to put Carolina in position to win the nailbiter. One play later, Davis pushed across the goal line.

Washington's record fell to 4-6 on the season.

The Redskins had one final chance. With the ball at the Redskins' 27-yard line, Patrick Ramsey was unable to complete a pass on four chances.

For the game, Ramsey was 16-of-35 for 150 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Before Davis scored to cement the game for the Panthers, the Redskins took their first lead of the game on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Ramsey to Patrick Johnson. On the previous play, Panthers' cornerback Reggie White was called for pass interference on a deep sideline pass to Darnerien McCants.

The score capped a 3-play, 59-yard drive that was initially set up by a 28-yard kickoff return by Chad Morton.

Moments earlier, John Kasay had put the Carolina Panthers back ahead 13-10 after the Redskins had tied the game on an acrobatic touchdown pass by Darnerien McCants. The score capped a 9-play, 72-yard drive.

Earlier, McCants made a leaping 4-yard touchdown catch in the right corner of the end zone to tie the game. The score capped an impressive 12-play, 56-yard drive.

On third and goal from the 4-yard line, Ramsey lofted a high-arching pass over the coverage. McCants leaped up with both hands, caught the pass and managed to get both feet in before falling out of bounds.

The drive included strong running by Rock Cartwright and several clutch catches by Laveranues Coles.

Later, the Redskins forced a fumble after a catch by the Panthers' Muhsin Muhammad. Matt Bowen leveled a hard hit on Muhammad, knocking the ball loose as he was tackled at Carolina's 48-yard line. Champ Bailey recovered the fumble.

But the Redskins were unable to drive downfield as Trung Canidate fumbled a pitch from Patrick Ramsey. He was able to recover for a 10-yard loss, but the offense was unable to get a first down on the drive.

Third Quarter

The Panthers forged back ahead of the Reskins on the first possession of the second half. Jake Delhomme led the Redskins on a 7-play, 55-yard drive after Rod Smart returned the kickoff 39 yards.

Delhomme scored on a 1-yard run on a key fourth down play. With the defense keying on Stephen Davis, Delhomme rolled left and scooted into the corner of the end zone, wrapping up a 7-play, 55-yard drive to open the second half.

The only other scoring opportunity of the half for either team came midway through the third quarter. Ramsey's arm was hit as he threw a pass in the flat and the ball landed in defensive tackle Shane Burton's hands near midfield. Carolina was unable to score, as John Kasay missed a 54-yard field goal.

Second Quarter

As time expired in the first half, Panthers kicker John Kasay missed a 47-yard field goal, preserving the 3-3 score. It was Kasay's first miss of the season.

Throughout the first half, the Redskins and Panthers had a tight defensive battle. The Redskins had several scoring opportunities thanks to three turnovers forced by the defense, but they came away with only three points.

Washington had one first down in the entire half. Patrick Ramsey struggled, going 5-of-12 for 41 yards, and missed a wide open Rod Gardner in the end zone during one second-quarter series. Trung Canidate rushed for 18 yards on nine carries.

Late in the first half, the Redskins got on the scoreboard when John Hall kicked a 23-yard field goal to tie the game in the second quarter.

The drive was set up by an interception by Matt Bowen, who caught a deflected pass and ran down the left sideline for 44 yards, following a block by Bruce Smith.

With the ball at Carolina's 39-yard line, Patrick Ramsey completed a 23-yard pass to Rock Cartwright, giving the Redskins a first and goal. But the drive was thwarted as a quarterback draw was stopped at the five-yard line on third down.

Earlier in the second quarter, the Panthers took the first lead of the game with a 25-yard field goal by John Kasay in a game dominated by defense. The 11-play, 69-yard drive was thwarted by tackles by Bruce Smith on first down and Lional Dalton on second down. A pass by Jake Delhomme fell incomplete on third down.

Patrick Ramsey has been sacked twice and pressured several times by the Panthers' defense. Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins recorded two sacks in the second quarter, ending two Redskins drives.

First Quarter

The Redskins and Panthers were scoreless at the end of the first quarter. Washington had several opportunities to score, thanks to two Carolina turnovers, but were turned away twice.

On the Panthers' first offensive play, Ifeanyi Ohalete forced a Stephen Davis fumble and recovered it to give the ball to the Redskins. Laveranues Coles drew a pass interference penalty on Terry Cousins on the next play, giving the Redskins the ball at Carolina's 5-yard line.

Two plays later from the 2-yard line, Rock Cartwright dove toward the goal line, but Brentsen Buckner knocked the ball from his arms. The Panthers recovered the fumble in the end zone.

On the Panthers' next drive, Fred Smoot intercepted a Jake Delhomme pass and returned it to Carolina's 19-yard line. On a key third-down play, Patrick Ramsey was sacked on a blitz by Terry Cousins, forcing the Redskins into a field goal attempt.

John Hall's 46-yard field goal was wide left.

Pre-Game

The Redskins listed the following players as inactive for the game: safety Andre Lott, running backs Sultan McCullough and Ladell Betts, center Larry Moore, cornerback Rashad Bauman, defensive end Jermaine Haley and tight end Byron Chamberlain. Cliff Russell was the team's third quarterback.

Lional Dalton started at left defensive tackle for Haley and Lennie Friedman started at center.

The Panthers listed the following players as inactive: cornerback William Hampton, linebacker Lester Towns, wide receivers Eugene Baker and Walter Young and offensive linemen Doug Brzezinski and Tutan Reyes. Chris Weinke was the third quarterback.

Prior to the game, the Redskins announced the release of offensive lineman Mitch White. The team signed Pita Elisara from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. Elisara backed up Friedman at center in the game.