After a fumble at their own 4-yard line on their second play from scrimmage, the St. Louis Rams seemed certain to sink to 0-5 . But the Rams’ defense forced the Washington Redskins offense into its first three turnovers of the season, and Josh Brown kicked a 49-yard field goal on the last play Sunday to give the two-touchdown underdogs a 19-17 victory.
The Redskins, guilty of playing down to the opposition after two big NFC East road wins, appeared set to win their fifth straight game when Clinton Portis’ 2-yard run with 3:47 left gave Washington a 17-16 lead. St. Louis, however, had enough time to mount a comeback. Reinstalled starter Marc Bulger hit Donnie Avery down the right sideline for a 43-yard gain on third-and-13 to move into field-goal territory.
Washington (4-2) was playing as a huge favorite for the first time under coach Jim Zorn, and it showed. Portis said the Redskins overlooked the Rams, who were supposed to be the first of three easy wins in the soft part of the schedule.
The Redskins entered the game as the only team in NFL history to open a season with no offensive turnovers through its first five games, but that bit of good fortune ended with three lost fumbles in four possessions.
The Rams were able to convert only one into a score, but it was the type of weird play that can give a struggling team the lift it needs.
With the Redskins in scoring position near the end of the first half, a pass tipped at the line of scrimmage ended up in the hands of offensive lineman Pete Kendall. Tinoisamoa knocked the ball away from Kendall, and Oshiomogho Atogwe picked it up and ran 75 yards for the touchdown that gave the Rams a 10-7 lead — and momentum that carried into the second half.
Steven Jackson had 111 total yards, but his fumble on the first possession gave the Redskins an early touchdown. Bulger went 15-for-26 for 136 yards and had two potential interceptions dropped. The Rams, whose offense is run by former Redskins assistant Al Saunders, were outgained 368-200.
Portis ran 21 times for 129 yards, his third straight 100-yard game.
Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.