Woody:DOLPHINS 24, SKINS 23

[TK]

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031772275936&path=!sports&s=1045855934844

DOLPHINS 24, SKINS 23

COMPILED BY STAFF WRITER PAUL WOODY

Monday, November 24, 2003

Play of the game

The play that cost the Redskins a final chance to win the game also was a microcosm of their season. It was a breakdown. With just over two minutes left, the Redskins forced the Dolphins to punt from their 18. Since punter Matt Turk had been kicking short, the Redskins appeared to have a chance to get good field position for a for a game-winning field goal. The snap came back low to Turk, but he plucked it off the grass and made his best punt of the night, a high spiral that turned over and forced return man Patrick Johnson to backtrack to try to field it. But the ball bounced off Johnson's chest. Backup wide receiver James McKnight, who had scored the Dolphins' first touchdown on an 80-yard pass play, fell on the ball at the Redskins' 16. Miami then ran out the clock.

Scoring drives

FIRST QUARTER

Miami 7, Washington 0, 13:22 - Things began poorly for the Dolphins, with a holding call on the return backing them up to their 12. Things got better quickly, though. On third and 2 from the 20, quarterback Brian Griese passed to McKnight, a 10-year veteran from Liberty University, on a quick square-out toward the left sideline. Redskins defensive back David Terrell made a diving attempt to knock the pass away, missed and McKnight made the catch at the 25. He turned upfield, got one good block while safety Matt Bowen took a bad angle and could not get into position to make the tackle. McKnight ran untouched into the end zone.

Miami 7, Washington 3, 8:37 - Terrell made amends for his earlier error by intercepting a Griese pass that had been tipped by linebacker LaVar Arrington. Terrell made a 20-yard return to the Miami 8. The Redskins went forward 2 yards, then backward 4 yards before John Hall kicked a 28-yard field goal. Redskins quarterback Patrick Ramsey was shaken up when he was sacked for a 4-yard loss on third down and was on the ground for several minutes while the Redskins' medical staff attended to him.

Miami 7, Washington 6, 2:01 - Tim Hasselbeck took over at quarterback for Ramsey and directed an 11-play, 43-yard drive to the Miami 12. The Redskins were unable to pick up a first down on third and 3, and Hall kicked a 31-yard field goal.

SECOND QUARTER

Washington 13, Miami 7, 12:06 - Hasselbeck completed all four of his passes for 59 of the 61 yards on the touchdown drive. The big play was a 37-yard pass to wide receiver Laveranues Coles, down the middle, for the score.

Washington 20, Miami 7, 1:26 - Hasselbeck directed a 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive. The biggest play was a 20-yard run by backup running back Chad Morton. Trung Canidate began the drive with a 12-yard run and finished it with a 2-yard touchdown run. Hasselbeck passed for 19 yards on the drive and had an 11-yard run off a scramble to move the Redskins to the Miami 5.

Washington 20, Miami 10, :07 - The Dolphins went into their two-minute offense and dinked and dunked their way down the field. They used nine plays and 1:17 to move 48 yards and set up a 51-yard field goal by Olindo Mare.

THIRD QUARTER

Washington 23, Miami 10, :48 - Dolphins return man Kendall Newsom dropped a punt at the Miami 16, and tight end/special-teams player Zeron Flemister recovered for the Redskins. The Redskins used six plays, plus an offside penalty, to move to the Dolphins' 4 but settled for a 22-yard field goal by Hall. The Redskins put themselves in position to drop that punt deep in Miami territory by driving from their 3 to the Miami 41 before being forced to punt.

FOURTH QUARTER

Washington 23, Miami 17, 10:24 -Jay Fiedler came in at quarterback for the Dolphins and led them on a 12-play, 71-yard touchdown drive. Running back Ricky Williams dived into the end zone on a fourth-and-1. The Dolphins were helped greatly when Redskins strong safety Ifeayni Ohalete was called for pass interference in the end zone, putting the ball at the 1. That penalty came on a third-and-15 play from the Redskins' 19.

Miami 24, Washington 23, 4:19 - The Dolphins put together a seven-play, 69-yard drive, getting 52 yards on the ground. Williams had a 17-yard run on the second play to move Miami to its 48. And he finished the drive with a 24-yard touchdown run.

He said it

"I just told everyone to get it in their minds that we were going to win this game," said Dolphins quarterback Jay Fiedler of what he told his teammates when he came into the game in the fourth quarter with the Dolphins trailing 23-10.

Injury report

For the Redskins: Quarterback Patrick Ramsey was shaken up in the first quarter when he was sacked and took a blow to the head. He left the game and did not return, although Redskins officials said Ramsey could have played if necessary. Left tackle Chris Samuels suffered a sprained left knee late in the second quarter and did not return. Backup wide receiver Taylor Jacobs suffered a left knee sprain on kickoff coverage.

Next up

The Redskins (4-7) play at home against New Orleans (5-6) in a 4 p.m. game.

Statistics

Washington ------------------------- 6 14 3 0 - 23

Miami ------------------------- 7 3 0 14 - 24

First Quarter

Mia - McKnight 80 pass from Griese (Mare kick), 13:22.

Was - FG Hall 28, 8:37.

Was - FG Hall 31, 2:01.

Second Quarter

Was - Coles 37 pass from Hasselbeck (Hall kick), 12:06.

Was - Canidate 2 run (Hall kick), 1:24.

Mia - FG Mare 51, :07.

Third Quarter

Was - FG Hall 22, :48.

Fourth Quarter

Mia - R.Williams 1 run (Mare kick), 10:24.

Mia - R.Williams 24 run (Mare kick), 4:19.

A - 73,578.

Was Mia

First downs-------------------------21 16

Total Net yards-------------------------277 317

Rushes-yards-------------------------32-129 32-144

Passing yards-------------------------148 173

Passes-------------------------16-34-1 13-23-2

Sacked-yards lost-------------------------2-9 2-19

Interceptions-yards-------------------------2-21 1-0

Punt returns-yards-------------------------1-0 2-12

Kickoff ret.-yards-------------------------3-77 4-81

Punts-avg.-------------------------4-32.0 4-45.3

Fumbles-lost-------------------------1-1 1-1

Penalties-yards-------------------------5-38 7-45

Time of possession-------------------------34:10 25:50

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - Washington, Canidate 20-69, Morton 8-47, Hasselbeck 2-10, Coles 2-3. Miami, R.Williams 23-107, Minor 3-20, Griese 2-11, Chambers 1-9, Fiedler 3-(minus 3).

PASSING - Washington, Hasselbeck 15-30-1-150, Ramsey 1-4-0-7. Miami, Griese 8-13-2-133, Fiedler 5-10-0-59.

RECEIVING - Washington, Coles 4-62, P.Johnson 4-26, Morton 2-21, Simon 2-16, Canidate 2-12, R.Gardner 1-13, McCants 1-7. Miami, McKnight 3-96, Chambers 3-48, McMichael 3-15, R.Williams 2-10, Thompson 1-16, Gadsden 1-7.

TACKLES : Washington - Trotter 9, Ohalete 7, Bailey 4, Armstead 4, Holsey 4, Arrington 4. Miami - Thomas 10, Knight 9, Seau 7, Marion 5, Taylor 4.

FUMBLE RECOVERIES: Washington - Flemister. Miami - McKnight.

INTERCEPTIONS: Washington - Terrell, Bauman. Miami - Marion.

SACKS: Washington - Wynn 1/2, Smith 1/2, Holsey. Miami - Taylor 2.