News

Redskins continue solid start by ruining Eagles' home opener

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Clinton Portis ran for a touchdown in the fourth quarter and Washington's defense turned away the Eagles inside the 10- yard line in the closing minutes, as the Redskins beat Philadelphia, 20-12.

Jason Campbell completed 16-of-29 passes for 209 yards with a touchdown and was picked off once for the Redskins (2-0), who squeaked out a 16-13 overtime home win over Miami in the first week. They beat the Eagles for just the third time in the last 12 meetings.

Portis ran for 69 yards and Santana Moss had six catches for 89 yards for the Redskins.

"For me, it was kind of last week. It was just hard-fought, everybody in all three areas," Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said. "We just kept swinging. It wasn't pretty at times, but we just kept staying after it. I was proud of our guys."

Donovan McNabb, playing his first meaningful game at Lincoln Financial Field since last November 19, when he tore his right ACL, connected on 28-of-46 passes for 240 yards.

The Eagles (0-2), who were coming off a 16-13 defeat at Green Bay, have lost their opening two games of the season for the first time since 2003. The Eagles went 12-4 that year, losing to Carolina in the NFC Championship game.

"There is a positive light in this situation of knowing we've been through it not once, twice, maybe more than three or four times," McNabb said. "You can't live in the past. It's the present time."

David Akers kicked four field goals and Brian Westbrook ran 17 times for 96 yards, while catching eight balls for 66 more for Philadelphia, which has scored one touchdown this season.

"You score nothing but field goals in this league you're going to come up short," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "We're off by just a hair. Whether the plays were drawing up for them, or the execution, we've all got to do a little better job. Once we do that, good things are going to happen."

McNabb drove the Eagles from their 20 to the Redskins nine, converting a 4th-and-5 on a leaping grab by Reggie Brown to move the ball 19 yards to the Washington 25. Then came a 12-yard pass to tight end Matt Schobel. However, McNabb misfired on a pass to the right side to a wide open Kevin Curtis just outside the goal line on 3rd-and-6 from the nine. Curtis then nearly caught a McNabb pass at the first-down marker, but safety LaRon Landry, Washington's first-round draft pick this year, knocked the ball away with 1:05 left.

"We were trying to take a shot at the end zone, knowing that they were either going to maximum blitz or play soft," Reid said. "So we had a seam down the field, and we had a shallow crossing route. Donovan did what he was supposed to do there. He didn't have anything down the seam, so he made the underneath throw. We just have to make the grab and hold onto it and get ourselves a first down."

Washington then ran out the clock, as the Eagles were out of timeouts.

"It's a great win. It gives us an opportunity to see where we're at as a team," Campbell said. "Any time you can win a division game on the road, and in a tough environment, it's definitely a plus for us."

McNabb drove the Eagles to the Washington eight, but Akers settled for a 26- yard field goal with 1:15 to go in the third quarter, pulling the Eagles within 13-9.

On the ensuing drive, Portis ran to the left side and broke an arm tackle of Trent Cole, and dove into the end zone for the six-yard score with 12:02 to go. Campbell threw 28 yards to Ladell Betts on the first play of the march, and he also converted a pair of third downs, the last being an 18-yard connection to tight end Todd Yoder, the play prior to Portis' run.

Eagles cornerback Brian Dawkins suffered a neck stinger while tackling Yoder and was forced out of the game.

The Eagles then marched to the Washington four before Akers kicked a 22-yard field goal with 6:30 remaining. McNabb converted a 4th-and-4 along the way with a 14-yard pass to Jason Avant, moving the ball to the Washington 23.

Campbell had a golden opportunity to effectively end the game, but he overthrew a wide open Moss in the middle of the field with 5:37 left, and Washington punted.

The Redskins had the only points of the first quarter, a 35-yard field goal by Shaun Suisham on the final play. Campbell broke through with a 48-yard pass to Moss on the right side of the field to the Philadelphia 23. Cornerback William James, who was replacing an injured Lito Sheppard, was beaten on the coverage. The Redskins were unable to get another first down on the drive.

Westbrook became the workhorse on the ensuing possession, with back-to-back runs totaling 42 yards, moving the ball to the Washington 13. However, the march stalled and Akers kicked a 24-yard field goal with 10:45 left in the half.

The Eagles took advantage of a turnover to go ahead 6-3. James stepped in front of Antwaan Randle El for an interception, giving the Eagles the ball at the Washington 39, but McNabb was only able to move his team to the 22 before Akers split the uprights from 39 yards away with 7:05 on the clock.

Both teams were forced to punt one more time before Washington went ahead 10-6 on Campbell's 16-yard touchdown pass to Chris Cooley with nine seconds left in the half. It capped a 73-yard drive, which saw a 20-yard scramble by Campbell and a 17-yard pass to Randle El to the one. The Redskins then moved backward with three penalties, but also caught a break as the Eagles called timeout when Suisham was sent on to try a field goal. Gibbs changed his mind and Cooley caught the ball on the left side of the end zone, beating Dawkins and Joselio Hanson in coverage.

"I thought it was a huge drive going into halftime," Campbell said. "We're off to a great start. We have to continue to keep pushing."

In the third, the Redskins nearly had a turnover deep in Eagles territory, as Avant fumbled after making a reception, but Philadelphia won the challenge as replays showed Avant was down. Nevertheless, the Redskins scored after an Eagles punt, as Suisham kicked a 37-yard field goal, moving the lead to 13-6 with 5:47 remaining in the quarter.

"We need to find a way to bring the offense together, bring the defense together, and everybody needs to click at the same time," Eagles linebacker Takeo Spikes said. "That is the only way you are going to win a football game each week."

About 724Sports.com

724Sports.com is an online gambling site with sports betting, online poker, online casino and horse racebook. At our online sportsbook you can bet on NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, Football, Soccer, Golf, Tennis, Baseball and Horse Racing.