Hall#039;s last-second kick lifts Redskins over Jets

Published 12:00 am Friday, September 5, 2003

LANDOVER, Md. -- John Hall gave the JetSkins just what they wanted Thursday night.

Hall kicked a 33-yard field goal with 5 seconds to play, giving the Washington Redskins a 16-13 victory over the New York Jets in the NFL's season opener.

Hall, one of four Jets free agents signed by the Redskins in the offseason, also made kicks of 50 and 22 yards as each of the so-called JetSkins did his part in a grudge match created by an offseason player tug-of-war.

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Patrick Ramsey, not the most nimble quarterback in the world, set up the winning score with a 24-yard scramble to New York's 31-yard line. Ladell Betts carried three times for 17 yards to wind down the clock for Hall's attempt.

Laveranues Coles made sure his old team noticed him, dancing and scowling his way for 106 yards receiving on five catches -- all in the first half. Chad Morton was solid in his debut as the Redskins' return man, and guard Randy Thomas' blocking paved the way for an attack that went surprisingly conservative in the second half.

Ramsey completed 17 of 23 passes for 185 yards, but only 29 yards came after halftime. He also turned over the ball twice in the second half, setting up two Jets field goals that tied the game.

Vinny Testaverde, returning to the starting job after a preseason wrist injury to Chad Pennington, completed 15 of 24 passes for 105 yards for New York.

Of the four ex-Jets, Coles was the only one to voice any real animosity toward his former team during training camp. He danced for the New York sideline after one catch and jawed a few feet from the bench after another. But he wasn't heard from again after halftime.

The game, the NFL's second annual Thursday night opener, was preceded by a three-hour concert on the Washington Mall featuring Britney Spears, Aerosmith, Mary J. Blige and Aretha Franklin. Hundreds of thousands attended the bash, which was also paid tribute to U.S. troops coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan.