Redskins rally from 10 down; Campbell throws 2 3rd-quarter TDs in 16-13 win over Buccaneers

Redskins rally from 10 down to beat Bucs 16-13

LANDOVER, Md. — The Washington Redskins were booed off the field again, down 10 points at halftime to a winless team. In the third quarter, they found some of the energy, life and momentum missing all season.

Jason Campbell made up for a pair of first-half interceptions with two second-half touchdowns, and the Redskins scored on three straight possessions for the first time this season Sunday in a 16-13 win over Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Washington staved off the sky-is-falling talk in the nation’s capital for at least one more week.

Losing 10-0 after a first half in which fan discontent rose to a new level, the Redskins (2-2) started their rally when DeAngelo Hall intercepted a pass from second-year quarterback Josh Johnson, making his first NFL start. Washington converted the turnover into a field goal, but Campbell hit Chris Cooley for a 17-yard touchdown and Santana Moss for a 59-yard score on the next two series.

Aqib Talib’s third interception of the game led to a field goal to cut the lead to 16-13 with 4:25 to play. Tampa Bay got the ball back after a punt, but Clifton Smith fumbled deep in his territory to end the Buccaneers’ final chance.

Campbell completed 12 of 22 passes for 170 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions for the Redskins, who were in near-meltdown mode after ending the Detroit Lions’ 19-game skid last week. Clinton Portis ran for 98 yards on 25 carries.

Johnson went 13 for 22 for 106 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also ran seven times for 41 yards in his starting debut for the Buccaneers (0-4), who are still seeking rookie coach Raheem Morris’ first NFL victory.

The Buccaneers had only five first downs and 86 yards total offense in last week’s 24-0 loss to the New York Giants, leading to the benching of Byron Leftwich. They hadn’t scored in the first quarter or kicked a successful field goal all season. They were allowing more than 30 points per game.

It took all of 2 minutes for them to take the lead on the Redskins. Tim Crowder stripped Campbell on Washington’s third play, and Gaines Adams recovered. Johnson’s first pass was a perfect 8-yard out pattern to Antonio Bryant that made the score 7-0.

The Buccaneers could have had a bigger lead, but Mike Nugent hit the right upright from 49 yards and was wide right from 48 in the first half. After an 0-for-4 start to the season, he finally made his first field goal, a 37-yarder on the final play of the half.

Hall’s interception and 22-yard return to Tampa Bay’s 41 got the Redskins going. The offense didn’t do much with the good field position, but advanced enough for Shaun Suisham’s 42-yard field goal.

On their next possession, the Redskins drove 69 yards in 10 plays, with Campbell hitting 5 of 6 passes for 49 yards. He found tight end Cooley over the middle for the touchdown, but Ronde Barber blocked the extra point to keep Tampa Bay ahead by a point.

On the next drive, Campbell needed only one play to find the end zone, hitting Moss in stride down the right sideline over a beaten Talib for the 59-yarder.