A Kick to the Gut

As a tribute to Taylor, the Redskins played with only 10 players on defense on the Bills' first play from scrimmage. Gregg Williams, the Redskins' assistant head coach-defense, made the decision Saturday. "It was pretty much a unanimous choice from the defensive staff and the defensive players," Williams said. "We got out there and got to our business after that."

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Bills running back Fred Jackson gained 22 yards on a sweep left, but the Redskins played well defensively throughout the game. Buffalo's only points in the first half came on a safety when linebacker Angelo Crowell tackled Campbell in the end zone. But the lead should have been bigger, players said.

"We had a lot of chances to score in the first half, a lot of opportunities to make the end of the game different, and we didn't take advantage of them," left tackle Chris Samuels said. "There were so many more blocks we could have made, so many more catches and throws we could have made. If we do that, everything at the end really doesn't matter."

Running back Clinton Portis scored the only touchdown on a three-yard run with 5 minutes 39 seconds left in the third quarter. The Redskins went ahead 16-5 and appeared to be in a good position despite their problems offensively, which included Campbell committing two more turnovers on a fumble and an interception (he has 13 turnovers in his last six games) and Portis rushing for only 50 yards on 25 carries.

But the Bills kept going behind rookie quarterback Trent Edwards, who was making his fifth start after being named early last week to replace J.P. Losman. Edwards didn't have any turnovers and completed 22 of 36 passes, outgaining Campbell in passing yards, 257 to 216. Meanwhile, Lindell kicked field goals of 38, 43, 24 and 33 yards as the Bills wouldn't go away.

"We weren't able to get the ball in the end zone, but we were moving the ball most of the second half," Buffalo wide receiver Josh Reed said. "We knew that we just had to go out there and fight until there was no time left on the clock."

Edwards began the game-winning drive with a five-yard completion to Jackson (16 carries, 82 yards). Edwards teamed with wide receiver Roscoe Parrish on a 10-yard pass and then found the seam in the Redskins' two-deep zone, dropping the ball in behind the linebackers and in front of the safeties for a 30-yard gain to Reed, putting the ball at the Washington 33-yard line. Edwards then spiked the ball to stop the clock with eight seconds to go.

"It's what we call a 'dig route,' " Fletcher said of the pass to Reed. "He caught a deep 'dig.' The quarterback made a play. Their offense probably made three plays today. The third one was the biggest. Obviously, it put them in field goal range."

Gibbs called the Redskins' second timeout just before Lindell's kick from 51 yards. Then Gibbs asked an official for help.

"I asked, 'Can I call a second timeout?' " Gibbs said. "On the sideline there, I felt like he said, 'Yes,' but that was me. I'm not laying it on him."

Gibbs said the official, whom he did not identify, turned to him and asked, 'Hey, when do you want to call it?' I said, 'Right now,' because they were getting ready to approach the ball. That certainly was my decision. I told the team it was a huge decision on my part. . . . I should know the rule. I can't blame that on somebody else. I got to blame that on myself. Hey, it was heated down there. Things are going back and forth."

The Bills appreciated the help, Lindell said.

"It kind of surprised me," he said. "You know that's 15 yards."