In the first quarter after a weak punt, the Redskins took over at the San Diego 43-yard line. John Hall made a 38-yard field goal less than three minutes later for a 3-0 lead. Those were the only points of the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Chargers scored on LaDainian Tomlinson's one-yard run. The Redskins answered on a 22-yard pass from Mark Brunell to Santana Moss.

The Redskins gave Rock Cartwright his first carry late in the quarter, and the rarely used running back responded by racing up the middle for a 13-yard touchdown that gave Washington a 10-point lead. For the second time in the game, the Redskins benefited from a missed field goal by Nate Kaeding -- this one from 46 yards early in the quarter.

San Diego's Kaeding finally made a field goal (from 48 yards) less than a minute into the quarter, spurring another comeback by a visiting team at FedEx Field. The Chargers scored again to tie the game when Tomlinson broke a 32-yard run with 3 minutes 29 seconds left. Hall missed a 52-yard field goal with less than a minute left, allowing the Chargers to force overtime.

The Chargers wasted no time after winning the coin toss, completing a 24-yard pass to tight end Antonio Gates before Tomlinson sprinted 41 yards for a touchdown. It was the third touchdown of the game for Tomlinson, who finished with 184 yards rushing on 25 carries. The versatile running back also caught six passes for 29 yards.