Special teams sink the ‘Skins

Posted by Mike Florio on December 12, 2010, 4:16 PM EDT

After Graham Gano missed two chip-shot field goals in the first half, Redskins fans understandably were nervous when a late touchdown pass from quarterback Donovan McNabb to receiver Santana Moss pulled the ‘Skins to within one point, with nine seconds to play.

Eschewing an opportunity to go for two and the win, coach Mike Shanahan sent Gano back to the field.

The good news?  Gano didn’t miss.

The bad news?  He didn’t get a chance.

The snap squirted through the hands of punter Hunter Smith like a greased gourd.  Game over.

For a while, it appeared that the league lucked out with the Redskins winning.  The play-by-play at NFL.com initially revealed that, the Redskins got a fifth down from the Tampa Bay six yard line, 20 years after Colorado received five downs to beat Missouri.

The play-by-play on NFL.com has since been changed to show that what was believed to be second-down and one from the Tampa two was actually first and goal.  So when it appeared to be fifth down for the Redskins, it actually was fourth down.

Either way, it doesn’t matter, thanks to Hunter Smith’s popcorn hands.

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19 responses to “Special teams sink the ‘Skins”

  1. How did everyone miss the first down? I saw it. It’s almost as if no one was paying attention. Everyone on the field saw it.

    Here’s an idea. Cut the Kicker, and Punter(also serves as holder) and start the second string offense next game for at least one series…just to prove a point. And PLEASE give Donovan a copy of the rule book so he can learn…you know…the RULES.

  4. I see danny smith out partying all the time too locally…i think he should probably spend more time with the special teams. better yet…maybe he could hook up and fat al for some cold ones…LMAO…joke of an org.

    HAIL SUCKAS!!!!

    WATCH A REAL TEAM TONIGHT HOMEYS!!!

  5. I watched and rewatched this game a few times. On the first down pass that was completed inside of the 3 yard line, the first down marker was marked at the 3 yard line while the ball was snapped at the 12. The TV yellow line was 10 yards from the snap of the ball, but the official had the first down marker incorrectly placed. Go back and watch the game and where the ball was marker on that 1st down play from the 12!

    End result is the same (except if you are betting on the game – TB was favored by 3). But this was close to being a major mistake by the officials…

  6. JWALDROPJR…..U R AN IDIOT….FACE IT. YOUR TEAM HAS WON GAMES ALL YR LONG WITH ALL THE CALLS SO STOP YOUR WHINING…U NEED A BINKY?

    LMAO….

  7. I don’t think it was clear the play around the 3 was a first down. The refs never marked it as such (they play in question appeared short of the first down) The announcers were confused too. I think the officials blew this one. Good thing the extra point was botched.

  8. boysroll says:
    Dec 12, 2010 4:35 PM
    I see danny smith out partying all the time too locally…i think he should probably spend more time with the special teams. better yet…maybe he could hook up and fat al for some cold ones…LMAO…joke of an org.

    HAIL SUCKAS!!!!

    WATCH A REAL TEAM TONIGHT HOMEYS!!!

    ————————————————-

    haha yeah man cowboys are having a year to remember moron

  9. This was a major mistake and the NFL dodged a bullet! jwaldropjr is exactly right. I don’t think anybody should have to watch that ugly game again, but at least go back and watch that first down catch. It’s clearly 1st and 10 from the 12 and the receiver is spotted down at the three. Should’ve been 2nd and 1 like the TV broadcast and NFL.com broadcast showed. The worst part is that Washington took a timeout after that play and the officials had plenty of time to realize their mistake and still blew it! If you’re a believer, then maybe you could make a point that the football gods knew the touchdown came on 5th down and greased the ball before the extra point. Either way, it was a blown call that the officials got away with, and should at least be reprimanded for, if not fired.

  10. I’m happy that Tampa won, but they had no business winning that game. Washington completely pee’d down their leg and continually let this team stay in it. Clock management and special teams were horrible today.

  11. HEY SNCCOACH….TAMPA GAVE AWAY A 1/2 YD TD FOR 7 PTS….2 MISSED FG IS 6 PTS…DO THE MATH..U STILL LOSE BY 1…SAME OLD COULDA WOULDA SHOULDA 4SKINS BASE TRYING TO JUSTIFY A LEGIT LOSS…

    HAIL SUCKAS!!!

  13. boysroll / (aka Dumb*ss) – Not sure how you construed my comments as being a fan of the Skins or the Bucs. It appears from your screen name that we are both fans of the same team, but I’m not out bragging about them.
    I was only pointing out that the officials made a mistake. Cool it dude…

  14. did you see that midget with joe gibbs. looks like good-bye shanarat and welcome back gibbs. listen to all the excuses now from the deadskins. i love it.

  15. How did everyone miss the first down? I saw it. It’s almost as if no one was paying attention. Everyone on the field saw it.
    —

    How can a 9 yard play be a first down? If you saw the yellow line you could clearly see he was a yard short. No one thought it was called a first down because it was nowhere near a first down.

  16. I watched the game too, live and local. The league messed up, the TV guys were wondering quite loudly what was going on, the first down the NFL says happened never happened, WATCH THE FILM…. Anyone who watched the game saw Donovan McNabb’s look of shock, then a smile, when they got an extra down.

    As far as the extra point, the snapper could’ve snapped the ball a bit lower but the holder shoulda grabbed it. Although admittedly it was cold and rainy, so easier said than done

  17. Bucs did what we’ve done all year….. hang around and steal the victory from the jaws of defeat.

    Freeman, Blount, Williams, Benn…..we’re building sumthin nice here. Stay tuned.

  19. The play-by-play on NFL.com has since been changed to show that what was believed to be second-down and one from the Tampa two was actually first and goal. So when it appeared to be fifth down for the Redskins, it actually was fourth down.

    See photos of back to back plays:

    The NFL covered up the officials blunder. Photos show the sideline marker set at the 3, not the 2 prior to awarding a first down. On Fox’s “2nd & 1” the ball is at the 2 & 1/2 yard line before the snap. If the NFL Gamebook show first & goal from the 1, it’s another NFL “Cover up the official’s goof”.

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