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Redskins Use Field Goal In OT To Down Dolphins

Posted: 8:33 pm EDT September 9, 2007

(Sports Network) - Shaun Suisham drilled a 39-yard field goal just over 5 1/2 minutes into overtime, lifting the Washington Redskins to a 16-13 victory over the Miami Dolphins in the season-opener for both at FedEx Field.

The Redskins won the toss and took the ball to start the extra period. Clinton Portis started the drive with a pair of runs for 20 yards, but Washington soon faced 3rd-and-7. Jason Campbell, though, hit Chris Cooley with a 10-yard pass to keep the drive alive and a nine-yard carry by Portis set up Suisham's winning kick.

Portis finished with 98 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, while Campbell threw for 222 yards on 12-of-21 passing with a pair of interceptions in the victory. Antwaan Randle El caught five of Campbell's passes for a career-high 162 yards.

"I thought our offensive line did an outstanding job of continuing to move their defense," Campbell said. "We much comfortable now moving through the rest of our season."

The Redskins (1-0), coming off a 5-11 mark in 2006, won a season-opener for the fifth time in the last six years. Miami (0-1), coming off a 6-10 season, has lost back-to-back openers and four of its last five lid-lifters.

New Dolphins quarterback Trent Green completed 24-of-38 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown, but Miami had no rushing attack in Cam Cameron's debut as an NFL head coach. Ronnie Brown rushed for just 32 yards on 11 carries and the Dolphins finished with only 66 yards on the ground.

"I thought what Trent brings with leadership and poise, you can see he's unaffected by the environment and that's what experience brings you," Cameron said. "The one thing that he gives you every week is hope, he gives you hope that we can win the game and he's got to bring that out of the team."

The game was tied at 10-10 with just under 12 minutes to play in the fourth quarter when Washington started a go-ahead drive from its own 35. An eight- yard pass from Campbell to Randle El converted 3rd-and-2 to keep the series alive and an 11-yard run by Ladell Betts set up a first down at the Miami 29. Portis then ran for eight yards on a 3rd-and-10 draw play to pull the Redskins close enough for Suisham to connect on a 44-yard field goal with 5:30 left.

Miami then started from its own 20 and soon moved across midfield on a 28-yard pass from Green to Chris Chambers. After a 12-yard run by Brown, Washington's Carlos Rogers was whistled for a questionable pass interference penalty, setting up a first down at the Washington eight.

However, a holding penalty was followed by an intentional grounding call that pushed the ball back to the Washington 28. Two plays later, Jay Feely came on for a 36-yard field goal that tied the game on the first play after the two- minute warning.

Each team had a chance in the final minutes, but punted and Washington still had one last opportunity with 12 seconds to play. After Campbell scrambled to the Washington 43, he threw a desperation pass toward the end zone. Miami defensive end Jason Taylor was at the goal line and batted the pass directly into the hands of Randle El at the six. Taylor, though, stopped Randle El at the three to send the game into overtime.

The Dolphins came up with the game's first turnover on Washington's opening possession, as Renaldo Hill picked off a Campbell pass. The Dolphins, though, were unable to take advantage of the field position at the Washington 39, as a sack and two penalties pushed them back and forced a punt.

After a series of punts, the Redskins were the first to break through with a drive spanning the end of the first quarter and beginning of the second. A 35- yard pass from Campbell to Randle El on 3rd-and-3 put Washington into Miami territory for the first time, but the march stalled at the five when Campbell was sacked by Zach Thomas. Suisham came on to boot a 31-yard field goal for the game's first points.

The Dolphins turned the ball over on their next series, as Jesse Chatman fumbled after a reception. Washington took over at its own 47, but could not take advantage and punted.

Miami finally mounted a serious threat on the final possession of the first half, marching from its own 38 deep into Washington territory. Green and Chambers hooked up on consecutive plays for 23 and 14 yards to key the drive and Cameron soon faced his first big decision as Dolphins coach.

After Chatman was stopped twice inside the Washington five in the final minute, the Dolphins faced third down from the one with just four seconds left. Cameron elected to go for the touchdown and the move paid off when Green found Justin Peelle in the end zone as time expired, giving Miami a 7-3 lead heading to the break.

The Redskins answered on the first series of the second half with a six-play, 78-yard drive for a touchdown. A 49-yard pass from Campbell to Randle El gave Washington a first down at the Miami 24 and Portis did the rest. He ran for five yards on the next play before breaking free around the left end for a 19- yard touchdown run and a 10-7 lead.

A 20-yard field goal by Feely late in the third quarter tied it for the Dolphins.

Campbell went for the end zone from the Miami 40 on the first play of the fourth quarter, but had his pass intercepted by Travis Daniels.

Game Notes

Washington offensive tackle Jon Jansen left the game in the second quarter with a dislocated right ankle...The Redskins had previously played just one season-opening overtime game, a 37-34 win at Philadelphia in 1982...The Dolphins had never played an overtime season-opener and last played an overtime game in 2003...Cameron started his pro coaching career in 1994 with the Redskins, while Green spent four seasons with Washington from 1995-98...Randle El played college ball at Indiana under Cameron...The Dolphins still lead the all-time series, 7-5, including a split of two Super Bowl meetings...The teams also met to open the 1984 season, a 35-17 Miami victory at RFK Stadium.

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