Redskins.com recaps Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium:
First Impressions:
#### Revealing Moment:
It was 10-10 early in the fourth quarter. Jason Campbell had just been sacked for a 3-yard loss. On 3rd-and-13, he threw a screen pass to Ladell Betts, who turned up-field. Tampa Bay safety Juran Bolden jarred the ball from Betts' grasp for a turnover at the Redskins' 40-yard line. Two plays later, Bucs' quarterback Bruce Gradkowski tossed a 34-yard touchdown pass to Joey Galloway.
Redskins Player of the Game:
#### Redskins Play of the Game:
The Redskins opened the second half with an impressive drive, moving the ball downfield on passes to Anwtaan Randle El, Ladell Betts and James Thrash. On 3rd-and-goal at the Bucs' 3-yard line, Campbell faked a handoff and rolled right. He waited, and waited, and just as he approached the sideline, rifled a pass across his body to Chris Cooley who was one yard in the end zone. Cooley held on for Campbell's first career touchdown pass.
Redskins Unsung Hero:
#### What Went Wrong
-- Facing the NFL's 31st-ranked rushing offense, the Redskins' run defense yielded 181 rushing yards to the Bucs, including 127 yards on 22 carries by Carnell Williams. While there has been a lot of focus on the Redskins' pass defense, the run defense has allowed 100-plus yards in six consecutive games.
-- Tampa Bay dominated the time of possession, winning by a 36-to-24 margin. As a result, the offense never could establish a consistent rushing attack. Ladell Betts had seven carries for 18 yards and T.J. Duckett had five carries for 26 yards.
-- The Redskins' defense could not get consistent pressure on rookie quarterback Bruce Gradkowski. The defense logged zero sacks and four quarterback hurries in the game.
-- It would have been a storybook beginning: Campbell's first pass, a deep throw to Brandon Lloyd down the left sideline, was on the money, but Lloyd was well-covered by Ronde Barber and could not hold on.
-- Ladell Betts' fumble early in the fourth quarter proved costly. Two plays later, Bruce Gradkowski tossed a 34-yard touchdown pass to Joey Galloway, who got a step on Carlos Rogers at the line of scrimmage.
What Went Right
#### What's Next:
The Redskins return to FedExField for three consecutive home games, starting this Sunday against Carolina. The Panthers are 6-4, tied for first place in the NFC South with the New Orleans Saints and coming off a 15-0 victory over the St. Louis Rams. The Redskins play both Carolina and New Orleans in the four games, so it appears thaty Washington will have a say in the NFC South race.
Stats Geek:
How did Jason Campbell fare in terms of other Redskins' quarterbacks making their first NFL start? He's somewhere in the middle. Stan Humphries probably had the greatest performance, completing 20-of-25 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-10 win over the Phoenix Cardinals in 1990. The worst may have been Heath Shuler, who was 11-of-30 for 96 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a 34-7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in 1994.
#### Quote:
"I feel like I did some good things. But I also feel I wish I could have a couple throws back. They possibly were the keys to the game and keeping us in it, keeping us ahead of them. But you know that's part of the learning process. You've got to keep your head up high, you've got to keep working, and let the guys around you understand that you'll do whatever it takes for us to get out of the hole and get on a winning streak." -- Jason Campbell
Lasting Impressions:
At 3-7, postseason hopes are dim, so it's best to focus on the future. Jason Campbell certainly impressed in managing what Joe Gibbs called a conservative game plan. That's enough to offer hope in a season that has been disappointing, to say the least. The playbook will continue to expand for Campbell, and it'll be interesting to watch his development and how NFL defenses adjust to his style of play.
