TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Redskins Stay Alive With Victory

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: December 24, 2007

MINNEAPOLIS - Sean sure would be proud.

Playing the kind of hard-nosed, harder-hitting defense that fallen teammate Sean Taylor was famous for, the Washington Redskins shut down Adrian Peterson and set up two early touchdowns with interceptions to take control of their playoff fate with a 32-21 victory over the sloppy Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night.

Todd Collins was 22-for-29 for 254 yards and two touchdowns and Clinton Portis had 124 total yards, threw a TD pass and ran for another score for the Redskins (8-7), who can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Dallas next week.

Peterson had nowhere to go all night, gaining just 27 yards on nine carries. Tarvaris Jackson's rebound from a disastrous start came too little, too late for the Vikings (8-7), who could have clinched a playoff berth with a win.

For the Vikings, who surged back into postseason contention with a five-game winning streak, the first half could not have been worse in a game they really needed to win.

Things started badly for Jackson, when on second-and-8 at his 39-yard line, he faced strong pressure from two blitzing defenders and sailed his pass over Robert Ferguson's head. Smoot, who spent two miserable seasons with the Vikings before returning to his original team this year, was right behind him for an easy interception. He returned it 47 yards with some nifty moves all the way to the Minnesota 8.

The Redskins handed off to fullback Mike Sellers on a fourth-and-goal plunge at the 1, a play that was initially ruled a touchdown. It was overturned by video review when Vikings coach Brad Childress chucked his red challenge flag, claiming the ball never crossed the plane of the goal line. He was correct.

Washington didn't flinch. On the next play, Kedric Golston and London Fletcher stood up Tony Richardson's fullback dive for a surprise safety and a 2-0 lead.

The Redskins then took the free kick and ran six plays to cover 67 yards, the last a wide-open catch by tight end Chris Cooley between linebacker E.J. Henderson and Pro Bowl safety Darren Sharper to make it 9-0.

Jackson then threw his second interception on a diving catch by Shawn Springs that set up a leaping grab by Santana Moss over rookie Marcus McCauley for a 32-yard score midway through the second quarter.

Antwaan Randle El then caught a 15-yard option pass from Portis to give the Redskins a 22-0 halftime lead.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT