Skins.com:Redskins Fall to Saints, 24-20

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Redskins Fall to Saints, 24-20

11/30/2003

Final

Saints 24

Redskins 20

The Redskins held a fourth-quarter lead for the third week in a row, lost it in the first few minutes of the fourth quarter, then could not mount a comeback as the New Orleans Saints held on to win 24-20 on Sunday at FedExField.

The loss dropped the Redskins to 4-8 on the season.

Tim Hasselbeck had a chance to lead the Redskins to a game-winning touchdown in the final minutes, but after a 21-yard completion to Laveranues Coles, he did not complete another pass in four chances.

Hasselbeck nearly completed a 4-yard downfield pass to Patrick Johnson, but the Saints' Jay Bellamy closed in on Johnson and jarred the ball loose. On fourth down, his downfield pass to Taylor Jacobs was knocked away by Fakhir Brown.

The Redskins and Saints went back and forth with the lead throughout the game. Midway through the fourth quarter, the Saints' Aaron Brooks passed to Boo Williams from 15 yards to give New Orleans a 24-20 lead. The score completed a 6-play, 40-yard drive that began with a 52-yard kickoff return by Keyuo Craver.

Minutes earlier, the Redskins forged ahead of the Saints 20-17 on a 49-yard field goal by John Hall. Laveranues Coles caught a 16-yard pass to help set up the score, as Tim Hasselbeck beat a cornerback blitz.

Third Quarter

The Saints tied the game on a 3-yard touchdown run by Aaron Brooks. It was his second touchdown of the game and culminated a 11-play, 77-yard drive. The Redskins helped the Saints' cause with two penalties: a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty on Regan Upshaw and a 14-yard pass interference call on Champ Bailey. It was Bailey's second pass interference infraction of the game.

Earlier in the second quarter, the Redskins expanded their lead to a touchdown as John Hall connected on a 45-yard field goal midway through the third quarter. The 8-play, 35-yard drive included a key first-down conversion by Rock Cartwright and pass completions from Tim Hasselbeck to Bryan Johnson and Ladell Betts.

Also on the drive, Trung Canidate went over 100 yards rushing for the first time this season.

In the opening minutes of the second half, the Redskins averted disaster after Hasselbeck was forced into a fumble during a quarterback scramble. Saints' defensive end Charles Grant poked the ball out of Hasselbeck's arm and it was recovered by cornerback Ashley Ambrose.

The Saints had the ball at the Redskins' 25-yard line, but the offense went 3-and-out. John Carney's 48-yard field goal was wide left, ending the scoring threat.

Second Quarter

Chad Morton returned a kickoff 94 yards to put the Redskins on top 14-10 late in the first half. Morton raced up the middle of the field, broke two tackles, then stepped out of the grasp of Saints' tackler Tallman Gardner. He turned to the right and outraced the coverage, scoring in the right corner of the end zone.

It was the Redskins' first kickoff return for a touchdown since 1999 when James Thrash returned a kickoff 95 yards against Detroit.

Tim Hasselbeck was impressive in the first half, completing 10-of-21 passes for 118 yards. Trung Canidate had several big runs, including a season-best 38-yarder, and had 85 yards on nine carries in the first half.

Morton's score was preceded by a 25-yard field goal by John Carney that had temporarily gave the Saints a 10-7 lead. The field goal capped a 5-play, 66-yard drive that included a 52-yard run by Deuce McAllister.

McAllister is having a career day. In the first half, he has 122 yards on 14 carries and three receptions for 26 yards.

The Redskins' first touchdown came midway through the second quarter when Rock Cartwright scored from two yards out to tie the game at 7-7. Cartwright took a pitch from Tim Hasselbeck and weaved his way into the right corner of the end zone for the score.

It was an impressive drive for Hasselbeck, who was 5-7 for 66 yards on the drive. He spread the ball around to several receivers, with completions to Rod Gardner, Chad Morton, Laveranues Coles and Ladell Betts. Coles' 21-yard reception put the Redskins inside the Saints' 5-yard line and set up the score.

Cartwright's score capped a 11-play, 76-yard drive that consumed more than five minutes off the game clock.

On the first play of the second quarter, Aaron Brooks scored a touchdown on a 7-yard run to give the Saints an early lead. The score capped a 6-play, 84-yard drive that included a 40-yard pass interference penalty called on Champ Bailey.

Deuce McAllister contributed 25 yards of rushing on the drive. In the first quarter, he had 66 yards on 10 carries and caught two passes for 11 yards.

First Quarter

The Redskins and Saints played to a scoreless first quarter, as both offenses found it difficult to get untracked. On their first drive, the Saints moved downfield to the Redskins' 33-yard line, but Fred Smoot broke up a third-down play. John Carney's 51-yard field goal was short, ending the Saints' scoring opportunity.

On Tim Hasselbeck's first drive of the game, he engineered a solid drive to the Saints' 27-yard line. But a pass in the flat to Trung Canidate was intercepted by the Saints' Fred Thomas ending the drive.

On the Redskins' next drive, Canidate had a 38-yard run, his longest from scrimmage this year. But the drive stalled as a Hasselbeck pass to Laveranues Coles fell incomplete.

Pre-Game

The Redskins and New Orleans Saints got underway at 4:05 p.m. EST, with Tim Hasselbeck starting his first NFL game at quarterback.

Hasselbeck is backed up by rookie Gibran Hamdan. Patrick Ramsey was listed as the team's emergency quarterback, but was unlikely to play.

The Redskins listed the following players as inactive for Sunday's game: left tackle Chris Samuels, safety Andre Lott, center Larry Moore, running back Sultan McCullough, tight end Byron Chamberlain and wide receivers Darnerien McCants and Cliff Russell.

Taylor Jacobs moved into McCants' slot as the team's fourth wide receiver along with Patrick Johnson.

For the Saints, cornerback Dale Carter, running back Lamar Smith, linebacker James Allen, offensive lineman Kendyl Jacox, wide receivers Michael Lewis and Donte Stallworth and defensive tackle Henry Ford were listed as inactive for the game. J.T. O'Sullivan was the team's third quarterback.