Bizarre fake FG helps Redskins top reeling Broncos

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Jim Zorn's Washington Redskins seemingly were delivering a tutorial on how NOT to set up a trick play on fourth-and-20 at the opponent's 35:

Send out your field-goal unit; have your kicker and a blocking tight end start to go in motion, tipping off that you're running a fake; realize you only have 10 players out there; call timeout. Then, to cap things off, stick with the trick play after the timeout, even though everyone in the stadium probably knows what you're up to.

Well, apparently, everyone but the reeling Denver Broncos realized what was happening. That oddest of fake field goals resulted in a game-changing touchdown Sunday, spurring the Redskins to a 27-17 victory over the Broncos that ended Washington's four-game losing streak.

"It's something we've never seen," said Denver rookie coach Josh McDaniels, whose team has been outscored by an average of 28-11 during a three-game slide that dropped it from 6-0 to 6-3. "We've got to stay on our toes, and we'll learn from it."

The Broncos had other problems, not least of which was quarterback Kyle Orton's injured left ankle, which kept him out after halftime. So Denver went from Orton's 134.7 passer rating (11 of 18 for 193 yards, with scoring passes of 40 and 75 yards to Brandon Marshall) to backup Chris Simms' 7.5 passer rating (3 of 13 for 13 yards and an interception that led to Washington's go-ahead touchdown).

Then again, Redskins punter Hunter Smith outdid both of them with a 158.3 rating. That's because it was Smith, the holder on field goals and extra points, who threw a 35-yard TD pass to wide-open fullback Mike Sellers on the key — and unusual — play, tying the game at 14 in the second quarter.

It counted as a major boost for the Redskins (3-6), who will take points — and good vibes — anyway they can these days.

"We've had a desert experience — very arid, if you will — for the last few weeks," Zorn said, "so to be able to come out with a win, you almost don't know how to feel."

Consider: The Redskins hadn't scored more than 17 points in any game this season, a barrier finally eclipsed when Ladell Betts scored from the 1 with under 3 minutes left, part of his 114-yard day in place of Clinton Portis (concussion).

And they never had won a game by more than eight points in Zorn's 1½ seasons.

"The way we play as a team these days, with these close games, you really need momentum-builders and things like that," Smith said. "I thought it was the right call."

Naturally.

So did Zorn and special teams coach Danny Smith, who was able to joke afterward: "If it didn't work, you all would want me fired."

After the initial play call, the Redskins saw they were a man short. During the timeout, Danny Smith recounted, there was no hesitation on his part about going right back to that play. Zorn, for his part, explained, "That's where I really had to soul-search: 'Do I keep it on?'"

He did, even though the Broncos had a head's up that something unusual was afoot. So tight end Todd Yoder again split out and went in motion, placekicker Shaun Suisham jogged away from his usual spot, and Hunter Smith took a direct snap. He had time to roll out and heave a throw across the field to Sellers.

"They were setting up something — we knew it," Broncos defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday said. "They came back, and I think they may have even yelled out on their sideline, 'Let's just punt it. Let's just punt it.' And I guess we just bought into it, because we didn't lock in on the play and what was going on. It seems like it took forever to unfold."

Redskins fans let out as loud a roar as they have all season.

"They definitely got the momentum," Holliday said, "and, from there on, it seems like we never got the momentum back."

Three weeks ago, the Broncos had a 3½-game lead over the San Diego Chargers in the AFC West. Now those two teams are tied atop the division heading into their meeting next Sunday.

"Crisis? No. Tough spot? Absolutely," safety Brian Dawkins said. "There's not going to be too many teams that's going to have a straight shot and not go through some adversity. ... You can't sit there and dwell."