Redskins.com recaps Monday night's season-opening 19-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at FedExField:
First Impressions:
#### Revealing Moment:
The game was in doubt until the game's final minute, when Mark Brunell spearheaded a late rally. He connected on passes to Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El, setting up a John Hall 48-yard field goal attempt. The kick sailed wide left, and Hall walked to the sideline dejected.
Redskins Play of the Game:
#### Redskins Player of the Game:
Once again, Santana Moss was the sparkplug of the Redskins' offense. When the offense needed a key play, it was Moss who was the go-to guy. Moss finished the game with He three receptions for 69 yards, including a 37-yard reception. He also was effective on the wide receiver laterals, rushing for 28 yards on three carries.
Redskins Unsung Hero:
#### What Went Right
-- Clinton Portis showed some flash-and-dash on his 5-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, breaking past a tackler to race into the end zone for a score. It looked like he felt no ill effects from the shoulder injury that sidelined him during the preseason.
-- Demetric Evans logged a sack and forced fumble of Brad Johnson.
-- Antwaan Randle El showed why he is regarded as a do-it-all player. In his first game as a Redskin, he had two rushes for seven yards, five receptions for 34 yards and three punt returns for 28 yards.
What Went Wrong
#### What's Next:
The Week 1 game is over and it's time to move on. Guess what. It's Dallas Week! The Cowboys are coming off a disappointing 24-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Drew Bledsoe, Terrell Owens and Julius Jones looked unstoppable on their first drive of the game, motoring downfield for an easy touchdown. Then the bottom fell out. Bledsoe tossed three interceptions and the Jaguars shut down the Cowboys' offense.
Stats Geek:
#### Quote:
"This has happened before and I have bounced back. You throw yourself out in the middle of the ring like that, sometimes you get knocked down and you have to get back up. That's what I plan on doing." -- John Hall
Lasting Impressions:
Repeat after me: It's only Week 1. It's only Week 1. Sure, losing to the Vikings at home is disappointing. It may be cliché, but it also has a ring of truth: The football season is a marathon, not a sprint. Unfortunately, the marathon doesn't get any easier for the Redskins. As Joe Gibbs likes to say, the Redskins will be "up against it" in next Sunday night's nationally televised NFC East game against a revenge-minded Dallas team.
