Third down was the number one problem for the Redskins' offense during Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Except for one clutch drive.
Not coincidentally, it was the Redskins' best drive of the game.
It was key in setting up the Redskins' 20-17 overtime win over the Jaguars on Sunday at EverBank Field.
With the game tied at 10-10 late in the third quarter, the offense started at the 32-yard line.
Running back Ryan Torain broke loose on a 17-yard run behind left tackle to move the ball to midfield.
Two plays later, it was 3rd-and-11. To that point, the Redskins were 0-for-7 on third downs.
Quarterback Rex Grossman, who had an up-and-down day, fired a pass to wide receiver Santana Moss across the middle for a 12-yard pickup.
A few plays later, the offense faced a 3rd-and-3 at the Jaguars' 33-yard line.
Again, Grossman connected with Moss across the middle for 14 yards and another first down.
On 1st-and-goal at the 9-yard line, Grossman threw to tight end Chris Cooley across the middle. Cooley appeared to stretch across the goal for the score, but he was ruled down at the 1-yard line.
Two plays later, it was 4th-and-goal at the 1.
Head coach Mike Shanahan opted to go for the touchdown instead of a field goal and a 3-point lead.
Torain took the handoff and dove over the goal line for the go-ahead touchdown.
The 14-play, 68-yard drive had consumed nearly eight minutes on the clock.
The offense struck early in Jacksonville, getting off to a fast start.
After Brandon Banks' 32-yard return on the opening kickoff was improved by a 15-yard face mask penalty, Grossman threw to Cooley for a 10-yard pickup to the Jaguars' 34-yard line.
The play set up the first score of the game, Graham Gano's 48-yard field goal to give the Redskins an early 3-0 lead.
On the ensuing drive, cornerback Carlos Rogers picked off Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard and returned the ball to Jaguars' 18-yard line.
The turnover set up a 1-yard touchdown pass from Grossman to tight end Fred Davis, giving the Redskins a 10-0 lead.
Grossman finished the game with 19-of-39 pass completions for 182 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His QB rating was 60.0.
Moss was his top target in the game -- he hauled in five catches for 85 yards. Cooley had several dropped passes in the first half but he rebounded in the second half to post five catches for 48 yards.
