Redskins Insider

Washington Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham entered Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys a perfect 12-for-12 on field-goal attempts this year. But after the Redskins' difficult 7-6 loss, Suisham spent time answering questions about his first two misses -- either of which could have won the game for the Redskins.

"I feel awful," Suisham said. "The guys worked so hard today. You got a tight game like that, and you miss a couple field goals, it's very frustrating and disappointing."

The first miss came well within Suisham's range, a 39-yarder at the end of the first half which Suisham hooked wide left. The play, though, came after a great deal of confusion in which the officiating crew took an inordinate amount of time to review whether Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell had thrown an incompletion before he stepped out of bounds on the prior play. The officials also seemed befuddled about whether they would then assess the Redskins a delay-of-game penalty.

After a delay of perhaps 10 minutes, Washington got the ball at the 21 yard line with 15 seconds left -- and Suisham missed for the first time this season.

"That's no excuse to miss a kick," Suisham said. "It's different, yes, but it's certainly no reason to miss."

Redskins secondary coach Jerry Gray, who reportedly is among at least four candidates being considered for the University of Memphis head coaching position, declined to comment on whether he plans to pursue the position.

"We'll talk about that later," Gray said after the game.

Larry Porter, LSU running backs coach, reportedly is the front-runner for the job.

Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth missed his first game since signing a $100 million free agent contract during the offseason. Haynesworth suffered an ankle sprain in last week's win over Denver and wasn't able to practice in the days leading up to Sunday's game at Dallas.

Haynesworth has missed at least one game because of either injury or suspension every season since his rookie year in 2002. Kedric Golston started in Haynesworth's place. After making 12 starts last year, Sunday marked Golston's second start of the season. Fourteen Redskins took part in at least one tackle on Sunday. Golston was not one of them.

"It was good to start, come out here and just not let my teammates down," Golston said. "I have a lot of respect for London Fletcher and the guys on this team and my D-line coach and Coach [Greg] Blache. I know they can trust me, I know that's the way they feel about me."

Without Haynesworth clogging the middle, the Redskins struggled to put as much pressure on Dallas quarterback Tony Romo. After posting at least three sacks in each of the past six games, the Redskins sacked Romo just once.

Dallas actually had more success on the ground, posting 153 yards on 33 carries.

The Redskins have likely lost a third offensive linemen for the season. Chad Rinehart, who started four games for the Redskins at right guard this year, suffered a broken fibula in Sunday's 7-6 loss to Dallas.

"We'll have a better assessment," Coach Jim Zorn said after the game, "but it is fractured."

Rinehart was taken off the field on a cart in the third quarter, his right leg protected by an air cast and a close-up of his frustrated face broadcast above on the Cowboys' 11,500 square-foot video screen.

The team's second-round pick in 2008 out of Northern Iowa, Rinehart has had an up-and-down season. After starting in Weeks 3 and 4, he was benched and didn't start again until the Denver game.

"He didn't go in the corner, pout or suck his thumb when he got benched," offensive line coach Joe Bugel said last Friday. "He just worked harder at it. It's paying dividends for us right now."

Ladell Betts has a torn MCL and Chad Rinehart has a broken fibula, according to Coach Jim Zorn. Betts will have an MRI tomorrow.

"It is bleak," Zorn said. "Being 3-7 is bleak." Said secondary coach Jerry Gray: "I think if you hold any team in the NFL to seven, you should win the game."

Zorn added that Clinton Portis will be out next week, although he's not yet a candidate for the injured-reserve list, Rick Maese reported via Twitter. Offensive coordinator Sherman Smith said that the team will need to pick up a running back for next week and he mentioned Marcus Mason as a possibility. He's available and familiar with the Redskins' offense.

The Dallas Cowboys struggled on offense all day - and were at risk of being shut out for the first time in the history of the storied rivalry. But Tony Romo & Co. came up with a late score to sneak by the Redskins 7-6 Sunday at Cowboys Stadium.

Washington kicker Shaun Suisham was perfect on field-goal attempts entering Sunday's game, but his misses in Dallas proved costly.

Suisham missed a 50-yard field goal attempt with 7 minutes, 6 seconds remaining in the game. The kick, which sailed wide right, would've made it a two-possession game for the Redskins.

The Cowboys took over possession on their own 40-yard line, and Tony Romo needed nine plays and 4 minutes, 20 seconds to drive downfield. Romo hit Patrick Crayton for a 10-yard touchdown for their first score of the game. With the extra point, Dallas took the slim lead. Romo was 5-of-6 passing for 65 yards on the game-winning drive.

The Redskins had a final chance, but an illegal wedge penalty on the ensuing kickoff pinned Washington back on its own 8-yard line. But on first-and-10 from the 33, quarterback Jason Campbell threw an interception to Dallas linebacker Anthony Spencer to end the Redskins' final chance.

Campbell turned in one of his best performances of the season, going 24-of-36 passing for 256 yards. He had no touchdowns and one interception. Romo finished the game 15-of-27 passing for 158 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Another quarter, another injury - possibly major - for the Redskins. Right guard Chad Rinehart injured his right ankle on the Redskins' first possession of the quarter, and was taken off the field on a cart. A Dallas defensive lineman rolled up on the back of Rinehart's leg, and the second-year guard collapsed.

Rinehart was replaced by rookie Edwin Williams, an undrafted free agent out of the University of Maryland who went to DeMatha. Williams is now seeing his first action in a regular-season NFL game. He becomes the Redskins' 12th offensive lineman to see action this season.

But the story of the game - in which the Redskins had a 6-0 lead after three quarters -- continues to be Washington's defense. Or, perhaps more accurately, Dallas's inept offense. The Cowboys ended the quarter with seven offensive possessions. The results: punt, fumble lost, punt, punt, missed field goal, punt, punt. Quarterback Tony Romo has been miserable, completing just 7 of 16 passes for 75 yards and missing receivers who appear to be open. Dallas has also gotten away from the running game that helped it move the ball effectively early in the game.

Redskins right guard Chad Rinehart injured his right ankle on the Redskins' first possession of the third quarter, and was taken off the field on a cart. He will not return.

Rinehart, who inherited the starting job after an injury to veteran Mike Williams, was replaced by rookie Edwin Williams, an undrafted free agent out of the University of Maryland who went to DeMatha.

Williams is now seeing his first action in a regular-season NFL game. He becomes the Redskins' 12th offensive lineman to see action this season. His insertion into the lineup might be an indication of how far Will Montgomery, who initially beat out Rinehart for the starting job when veteran Randy Thomas was lost for the season, has fallen out of favor. In addition, Williams, who has missed time with an ankle injury, is active for this game.

The first half came down to a single field goal for the Redskins and more than a few unhappy fans for the Cowboys. Even without defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth clogging the middle, Washington managed to hold Dallas scoreless in the opening half, and built a 3-0 lead on the leg of kicker Shaun Suisham.

The Redskins, though, botched an excellent scoring opportunity in the closing seconds of the half. Quarterback Jason Campbell looked good running their two-minute offense, starting on their own 36-yard line with 1 minute, 12 seconds to play. Five pass plays later - 44 yards on four completions - the Redskins were on Dallas' 20.

But on the ensuing play, Campbell appeared to run out of bounds - a Cowboys' sack - and the Redskins were then called for a delay-of-game penalty on third-and-6 from the 25-yard line. As the Redskins prepared for a 48-yard field goal attempt, officials reviewed the Campbell sack and decided he released the ball before going out of bounds. The delay-of-game penalty was also negated, and Suisham lined up a 39-yard attempt. His kick, though, sailed wide left - his first miss of the season.