Redskins battered by Rams

Despite two fourth-quarter scoring drives, the Washington Redskins got exactly what they deserved on Sunday - their first loss since opening night.

The Redskins almost erased a three-turnover game with Clinton Portis’ touchdown run with 3:47 remaining but the previously winless St. Louis Rams used a 43-yard pass to Donnie Avery to set up Josh Brown’s 49-yard field goal as time expired, stunning the Redskins 19-17.

The Redskins were almost handed the game when Rams offensive lineman Richie Incognito was penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct with 35 seconds remaining.

But Brown drilled the field goal to give St. Louis its first victory of the season.

Washington was never in sync offensively until the final period and the defense allowed Steven Jackson too many big first-down runs.

The huge play on the Rams’ winning drive was the pass to Avery, who fought through Leigh Torrence’s coverage to make the catch.

Down nine points entering the fourth quarter, the Redskins rallied with a 38-yard Suisham field goal and Portis’ 2-yard score.

The winning drive was set up by two 29-yard plays - a Portis run to the left side to the Rams 40 and a Jason Campbell pass to Antwaan Randle El (on third-and-14) to the St. Louis 2.

Things started fine for the Redskins. On St. Louis’ second play from scrimmage, Marcus Washington forced Jackson to fumble. LaRon Landry recovered at the Rams 3-yard line for his first regular season takeaway (22 games).

One play later, Portis followed a lead block by Mike Sellers for the touchdown and a quick 7-0 lead.

St. Louis answered with a 51-yard Josh Brown field goal late in the first quarter.

The Redskins’ offense stalled in the first half, going punt, fumble, fumble, punt and fumble on its final five after the touchdown.

Chris Cooley’s fumble was the Redskins’ first offensive turnover of the year on their 445th snap. St. Louis punted after the first two takeaways so the Rams defense took things into their own hands on the final turnover.

Late in the first half, with the Redskins at the Rams 16 and in field goal position, Campbell’s pass was batted. Left guard Pete Kendall caught the deflection and fumbled. Rams safety Oshiomogho Atogwe returned the football 75 yards for the go-ahead score nine seconds before halftime.

The third quarter started no better for the Redskins.

As teams have done consistently done this year, they scored against the Redskins on the second half’s opening possession.

St. Louis moved 51 yards on 12 plays to make it 13-7 on Brown’s 25-yard field goal.

The Redskins’ offense continued to be stuck in neutral. They started punt, punt and saw the deficit swell to 16-7 on Brown’s 44-yardr field goal with 25 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Redskins finally showed signs of life early in the fourth quarter. A 23-yard pass to Randle El and a 12-yard Ladell Betts run set up Suisham’s 38-yard field goal with 10:39 remaining.