<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>During pregame warmups yesterday, <font color="#0c4790">Washington Redskins</font> tailback <font color="#0c4790">Clinton Portis</font> was a vortex of emotion, adrenaline pumping, his mind racing. He said he spent the first half of the season-opening game against <font color="#0c4790">Miami</font> in that overheated state, treating each handoff as an opportunity to declare himself back from an injury-marred 2006, always in a sprint.</p> Washington's offense sputtered for much of an error-filled game, with <font color="#0c4790">quarterback Jason Campbell</font>'s play varying by the series and the Redskins and the Miami Dolphins lamenting a litany of missed opportunities on a hot, sunny day. Neither squad could manage more than a four-point lead and both were desperate for a victory after slumping last year, but as fatigue mounted it was Portis, his tailback mate <font color="#0c4790">Ladell Betts</font>, and a makeshift offensive line that carried the Redskins to a 16-13 overtime win before 90,163 at <font color="#0c4790">FedEx Field</font>. The dominant power running game -- a defining characteristic of victories during the second <font color="#0c4790">Joe Gibbs</font> era -- had returned, and, after missing nearly all preseason because of knee tendinitis, Portis was in top form as well.</p><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="238" align="right" id="content_column"><tbody><tr><td width="10"></td><td width="228"> <div><span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 11px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #cc0000; font-family: arial,sans-serif"><span class="contentType">Gallery</span></span><font face="Arial" color="#0c4790">An Auspicious Beginning</font><font face="Arial" color="#333333">Shaun Suisham drills a 39-yard field goal 5 minutes, 36 seconds into overtime Sunday as the Redskins open their 2007 slate with a 16-13 victory over the Miami Dolphins at FedEx Field.</div></font></span></div><div><span><font face="Arial" color="#333333"></font></span></div><div><span></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> The Redskins persevered despite losing right tackle <font color="#0c4790">Jon Jansen</font> to a fractured dislocation of his right ankle early in the second quarter -- an injury that could be season-ending. Undrafted rookie <font color="#0c4790">Stephon Heyer</font> (<font color="#0c4790">Maryland</font>) stepped in and the line simply outmuscled Miami's fourth-ranked defense in the fourth quarter and overtime.</p> Washington's defense -- ranked 31st last year -- took on the characteristics of its 2004-2005 heyday, eliminating the Dolphins' rushing attack (66 yards on 20 carries), thriving on third down (Miami converted 4 of 13 chances) and limiting Miami to 273 yards overall. (The Redskins surrendered 356 per game in 2006).</p> Washington's winning formula rarely changes: stout defense and inspired running. Portis, who set a franchise rushing mark in 2005, watched Betts prosper last year and has bristled at suggestions he may be in decline. After a pedestrian start yesterday, he and Betts led a 191-yard rushing attack against a run-hostile opponent. Although, they had only 76 yards on 20 carries through three quarters (3.8-yard average), they had 81 yards on 14 rushes the rest of the way (a 5.8-yard average). They set up <font color="#0c4790">Shaun Suisham</font>'s 44-yard field goal for a brief fourth-quarter lead, and Suisham's 39-yard game winner less than six minutes into overtime.</p> </p><address>Link</address><address></address><address></address><address></address><address></address>
