The ball popped loose from the arms of New York Jets running back Cedric Houston, and Redskins safety Reed Doughty was there to pounce on it. Except the ball bounced away, and the Jets recovered. Doughty stomped his foot in frustration.
On the next play, Jets' quarterback Kellen Clemens, scrambling right, found rangy wide receiver Reggie Newhouse in the back of the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown pass.
The score gave the Jets a commanding, fourth-quarter lead in a game the Redskins would go on to lose 27-14 at FedExField.
It's only preseason, of course, but for the second week in a row the Redskins' offense struggled to produce yards and points. It's fair to say that the new offense implemented by associate head coach-offense Al Saunders remains a work in progress.
Working out the kinks is what preseason is for. But don't tell that to head coach Joe Gibbs.
"I'm real concerned," Gibbs said. "I'm concerned about the team. You have to play well as a team. And we're not."
Added quarterback Mark Brunell: "We did not make the plays that we wanted to make. We wanted to progress from the first preseason game to the next. In some ways we did, and in some ways we did not. We need more consistency on offense."
Some positives? The Redskins' first-team defense again impressed again, stopping the Jets on their first three drives. Wide receiver Antwaan Randle El logged 28-yard and 14-yard receptions. Quarterback Jason Campbell showcased a strong arm on several throws.
Two injuries will bear watching this week: defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin sustained a sprained right knee in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game. Griffin was able to jog off the field on his own, but he did not return to the game. Also, tight end Robert Johnson suffered an ankle injury in the second half.
Former Redskins quarterback Patrick Ramsey started the game for the Jets. On the first play from scrimmage, Ramsey dropped back to pass and was quickly swarmed by the defense. Marcus Washington and Kenny Wright converged on Ramsey. It was Wright who was credited with the sack.
The Redskins' defense was able to pressure Ramsey every time he dropped back to pass. Midway through the first quarter, safety Adam Archuleta came in on a safety blitz to sack Ramsey and force the Jets out of field goal range.
It was the Jets who scored first, taking advantage of the defensive pressure. The Jets ran a wide receiver reverse, with Brad Smith running around right end to avoid a blitzing Redskins defender. He followed a block and broke into open field for a 61-yard touchdown run.
The Redskins' first-team offense, guided by Brunell, struggled in three offensive series. Brunell quickly developed a rapport with Randle El, completing a 28-yard pass and a 14-yard pass for first downs. Overall, Brunell completed 3-of-6 passes for 45 yards.
Campbell took over at quarterback early in the second quarter. It was an inauspicious beginning. On his second pass, his deep throw to James Thrash was intercepted by cornerback David Barrett.
Campbell was impressive on his second opportunity, however. He guided the Redskins on a 6-play, 72-yard drive that included a 15-yard pass to David Patten and a 20-yard pass to Thrash at the 1-yard line.
Rock Cartwright plowed across a block by center Mike Pucillo for a 1-yard touchdown run.
The Redskins' special teams unit subsequently yielded an 87-yard kickoff return touchdown by Leon Washington, giving the Jets the lead back at 14-7.
With the Redskins' second-team defense in the game, the Jets scored again late in the first half, on a 32-yard field goal by Mike Nugent.
In the second half, the focus for head coach Joe Gibbs shifted to backups and young players hoping to make the roster.
Campbell finished the game completing 6-of-13 passes for 83 yards. Wide receiver Jimmy Farris led the offense with five catches for 65 yards. Cartwright finished with six carries for 20 yards. Running back Nehemiah Broughton logged six carries for 16 yards, but fumbled once.
On defense, the three newcomers last week--linebacker Jeff Posey and defensive backs Antuan Edwards and Julian Battle--saw significant action. Linebacker Khary Campbell led the defense with six tackles.
After Newhouse scored for the Jets to make it 27-7, the Redskins began to mount a comeback behind quarterback Todd Collins.
After a shaky performance last week against Cincinnati, Collins was sharp, completing 12-of-18 passes for 114 yards.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Collins connected with rookie tight end Buck Ortega on a 30-yard touchdown pass. Ortega was wide open across the middle of the field after Jets linebacker Anthony Schlegel fell down.
Collins's night, like the Redskins, ended in frustration when his fourth down pass to Farris fell incomplete.
Said tight end Mike Sellers: "Yes, it was a reality check. Everyone knows how successful the season went last year. We need to come with the same energy and focus every snap."
As expected, defensive end Phillip Daniels (back), offensive lineman Jim Molinaro (knee), running back Clinton Portis (shoulder) and cornerbacks Ade Jimoh (sternum) did and Shawn Springs (abdomen) not play in Saturday's preseason game against the Jets.
Wide receiver Brandon Lloyd also did not play in the game as he rested a hamstring injury he suffered last week in practice.
Several young players also sat out the game: defensive back Curry Burns (hamstring), wide receivers Ataveus Cash (hamstring) and Richard Smith (ankle) and linebacker Kevin Simon (abdomen).
