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Bengals beat reeling Redskins 20-13
2008-12-14
CINCINNATI - Doesn't take a genius to figure out the Washington Redskins are in a mess of trouble. The Redskins lost for the fifth time in six games Sunday, unable to keep up with one of the NFL's lowliest teams. Ryan Fitzpatrick ran for a touchdown and threw for another, leading the Cincinnati Bengals to a 20-13 victory that ended Washington's week of grousing. And, pretty much, its playoff chances, too. The main intrigue was how the Redskins (7-7) would react to injuries that decimated their offensive line and grumbling by running back Clinton Portis that rippled through the locker room. They held a players-only meeting at midweek after Portis derisively called coach Jim Zorn a "genius" for benching him the previous week. The Bengals (2-11-1) put the finishing touch on Washington's week of acrimony and attrition. An offensive line missing both tackles with injuries couldn't open holes for Portis, who found little room to run and finished with 77 yards and a dropped pass late in the game. Washington fell behind 17-0 against a team that considers it a big day when it gets a touchdown. Fitzpatrick shocked the Redskins' hardscrabble defense by reviving an offense that hadn't reached the end zone in 12 quarters. His 79-yard screen pass to Cedric Benson gave the Bengals their longest play of the season and set up one of the scores. Down 17-0 before they managed even one first down, the Redskins had a chance to overcome their horrific start. Jason Campbell got the offense going by throwing the ball instead of handing it to Portis. Campbell threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss -- the receiver was penalized for shining his shoes in celebration -- and set up a field goal that cut it to 17-10 at halftime. A shirttail hold and a timely swipe prevented the Redskins from pulling even in the third quarter. On third-and-goal from a foot away, fullback Mike Sellers' surge was stopped shy of the goal line, with safety Kyries Hebert tugging on his shirt tail to keep him out. Sellers stretched the ball toward the goal line and linebacker Corey Mays snatched it out of his hands, leaving the Redskins behind. The Bengals appeared to put the final touches on a victory when Shayne Graham kicked a 45-yard field goal with 2:20 left. But for the Bengals, nothing comes easy. Rock Cartwright returned the kickoff 87 yards to the 13. From there, Portis ran for no gain, Campbell threw one away, and Portis dropped a third-down screen pass that hit him in the hands. Shaun Suisham kicked a 36-yard field goal with 1:43 to go, but his onside kick sailed out of bounds, giving Cincinnati a chance to finish it off.
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