Being on the sidelines for a professional football game is a special event. Experiencing this surreal occasion at FedEx Field, the largest stadium in the National Football League and the home of one of the most storied franchises in league history, well ... that just takes it to another level.
After picking up their first win of the season one week earlier against the pitiful Houston Texans 31-15, the Washington Redskins played host to the Jacksonville Jaguars in a week four match-up, Oct. 1. The game was not short on storylines, as these two defensive-minded teams prepared to face off. The game featured a homecoming of sorts for both starting quarterback - Jags QB Byron Leftwich returned home for the first time since attending H.D. Woodson High School in Washington, D.C., while Redskins QB Mark Brunell played against Jacksonville for the first time after spending nine seasons as a member of the Jaguars. Would Leftwich defeat the team he grew up idolizing or would Brunell get some revenge against the team that discarded him? If there was bad blood between the 36-year-old Brunell and the team he was once the poster child for, it wasn't easily identifiable. In fact, Brunell and Leftwich, the quarterback who stole the lefty's job in Jacksonville, could be seen joking and laughing during warm-ups. And while that was going on, Dennis Haysbert, better known as President David Palmer from 24, or Jonas Blane on The Unit, hung out on the Redskins sideline signing autographs and posing for photos with fans. And people said the Redskins couldn't do any better than celebrity fans Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx after their opening-game visit to FedEx Field? Seeing Haysbert up close and personal changes a person. With the way W. goes about things in the White House these days, it's difficult not to look at the 6'4" tall actor and envision the ideal leader to turn this country around (with the help of Jack Bauer, of course). So forgive a certain HoboTrashcan staff member for walking up and tapping Haysbert on the shoulder while asking, "When are you gonna go ahead and run for president? You've got to be better than what we've got now." He smiled and said, "You no help me now, I say fuck you Jobu - I do it myself." Or maybe he said, "When I do you'll be the first to know." Either way, he earned our vote. With the help of the Washington Redskins cheerleaders, known as the First Ladies of Football, as well as the Redskins Hall of Fame marching band and the always loveable Hogettes, the stadium was rocking by kickoff. The Jaguars won the coin toss, but were unable to do anything on their first drive. Unfortunately for Redskins fans their team didn't start off any better, as Brunell was intercepted on the 'Skins second offensive play after a failed flea flicker attempt was intercepted by Jaguars defensive back Rashean Mathis. Five plays later Jacksonville kicker Josh Scobee kicked a 46-yard fieldgoal to give his team a 3-0 lead just over three minutes into the game.
To his credit, Leftwich, who requested 90 tickets for friends and family for the game, remained unflappable in the pocket throughout the afternoon. The former Marshall University standout marched his team right down the field and punctuated the drive with a 33-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Reggie Williams, making the score 10-7 at the end of the first quarter. After a 44-yard fieldgoal by Redskins kicker John Hall tied the game at 10-10, Leftwich was at it again. In two completions, he marched Jacksonville down the field on a 69-yard drive that featured a 51-yard catch and run by running back Maurice Jones-Drew for a score to put the Jaguars back on top 17-10. The Redskins added another Hall fieldgoal, this one from 37 yards out with 11 seconds left in the half, and the score was 17-13 at intermission. When the 'Skins defense forced the Jaguars to go three and out to start the second half they seemed pretty fired up. As several players danced off the field, assistant head coach - defense Gregg Williams looked to keep them in check. He screamed "Everyone knew it was going to be Hi-Lo. Even that cheerleader over there knew it was going to be Hi-Lo." Leave it to Williams to confuse the hell out of the cute gal and ruin any fun his defense was having in the process. Meanwhile, Portis and Moss each scored second-half touchdowns and the Redskins looked to be in control 27-17 with just over 12 minutes to play in the game, but Leftwich and friends refused to go away quietly. A 21-yard touchdown to Williams, who nearly had his head taken off by safety Sean Taylor as he hauled in the catch pulled Jacksonville back within three points, 27-24. From there both teams traded fieldgoals and the score at the end of regulation was 30-30. If someone was going to walk away with a victory it would have to happen in overtime. The Redskins sent only Moss out for the coin toss before overtime, and he did not disappoint. As soon as the Jaguars player called tails, the flashy receiver said he knew the Redskins were going to get the ball and win the game. "You never call tails," Moss said. "You bet with your head, not your tail." Moss' reasoning aside, the Redskins needed only three plays in overtime to win the game. Brunell dropped back and fired a pass down the visitor's sideline to Moss. The receiver used his head by timing his jump perfectly, hauling in the catch, and then evading Grant and safety Brian Williams as they attempted to knock his head off. Moss' game-winning 68-yard catch marked only the second time in FedEx Field history that the Redskins won in such a dramatic overtime fashion. Both the Redskins offense and defense had reason to celebrate after the game. The defense, while giving up several big plays, did manage to hold the Jaguars offense to only rushed for 33 yards total - with Fred Taylor gaining an anemic 2.3 yards per carry. The defense also forced the Jaguars offense to go two for 13 (15 percent) on third downs, much better than the 45 percent they allowed the first two weeks of the season. Throw in four sacks and Phillip Daniels' first career interception and defensive guru Gregg Williams could sleep easy for a night. And let's not forget the offense, and their 481 yards on this day. When they put up 495 yards of offense a week earlier critics said, "The Texans suck - let's see you do it against Jacksonville." So the Redskins obliged. Moss had three touchdowns and 138 yards in just four catches and Portis was the first player to rush for more than 100 yards against Jacksonville in 13 games. Needless to say there were numerous positives that the Redskins can take and continue to build on. Hall of Fame head coach Joe Gibbs and his team won a thrilling game against one of the premiere teams in the NFL and more importantly, evened their record at 2-2. In a town were football is a religion, the Redskins sent their devout followers home on this Sunday happy and thankful for a gift from above named Moss.
Written by Brian Murphy, October 2006.
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