LANDOVER, Md. -- The stadium lights dimmed while Kyle Boller's throw was in mid-air. The pass was incomplete -- just like the game.
With more lightning on the way, officials decided enough was enough. Saturday night's preseason game between the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Redskins was halted with 11:38 remaining in the third quarter, giving the Redskins an abbreviated 13-7 win.
"Football isn't played like this," Washington coach Joe Gibbs said, "going in and out and in and out."
Lightning had already delayed the opening kickoff by more than an hour, and the weather radar was one big multicolored tapestry of dangerous storms when play was stopped for good at 11:05 p.m. Fifty minutes later, the NFL commissioner's office determined the game would not resume.
By then, most of the meaningful football had been played. Both teams sent mostly reserves onto the field in the second half after using their starters for the first.
"You go out there in the second half, and the lights went out and you get the thunder in the background," Baltimore receiver Derrick Mason said. "First things first is safety of the players. A lot of younger guys were eager to play, because of course the cuts are coming and they want to show the coaches what they can do. It was unfortunate in that aspect."
The Redskins backups scored the winning touchdown shortly before the game was called. On the Ravens' first play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Anthony Trucks blitzed and knocked the ball away from Boller just as the quarterback was about to pass. The ball landed in the hands of rookie linebacker Dallas Sartz, who strolled three yards for the touchdown.
Defense dominated the first half, with both offenses maintaining the spirit of the evening with a few false starts of their own. It was hardly surprising given the way the two teams had played in their previous preseason games. The Ravens failed to score a touchdown in last week's loss to the New York Giants, and the Redskins had managed only one TD in a loss to Pittsburgh.
The Ravens starting offense survived a clumsy first quarter -- five 5-yard penalties, including four false starts -- before Steve McNair settled down and led a 13-play, 70-yard touchdown drive. Mason scored on a 6-yard touchdown reception, catching the ball then leaving linebacker Rocky McIntosh flat-footed with a nifty change-of-direction move.
"I am not happy with the start of the game," Baltimore coach Brian Billick said. "We weren't sharp, and those procedure penalties put us in the hole. Lightning, rain, wet field -- those are no excuses. That didn't cause the problems. What we are pleased about is the way we bounced back."
Santana Moss made a nice catch on a 40-yard completion from Todd Collins on the Redskins' first play from scrimmage, then the offense stalled. Washington failed to get another first down until late in the second quarter.
The pass to Moss led to a 45-yard field goal by Shaun Suisham, who also converted from 25 yards on a 15-play, penalty-aided drive just before halftime. An offside call on Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs on fourth-and-1 kept the drive alive, as did a 19-yard pass from Collins to Antwaan Randle El.
Collins was starting in place of Jason Campbell, out with a bruised knee. Collins, competing against Mark Brunell for the No. 2 quarterback job, finished 8-for-15 for 88 yards. Washington's running game struggled for the third straight week, gaining only 32 yards on 13 rushes.
"We eliminated the sacks," Redskins guard Randy Thomas said. "Now we've got to get the running game going."
McNair went 14-for-19 for 98 yards. Mason had five catches for 31 yards.
The first sign of trouble from Mother Nature came at 7:20 p.m. when stadium officials ordered fans to head for the covered concourses with lightning visible in the distance. Heavy rain started falling soon afterward, the lights flickered several times, and the first of several cracks of thunder reverberated throughout the stadium just before the scheduled 8 p.m. kickoff.
Fans returned to their seats at 8:50, and Suisham finally teed up the ball and started the game at 9:11. Most of the first half was played in light rain.
The Redskins played without six projected starters: Campbell, running back Clinton Portis (knee tendinitis), left tackle Chris Samuels (sprained knee), linebacker Marcus Washington (dislocated elbow), cornerback Shawn Springs (precautionary rest) and left guard Pete Kendall, who arrived only two days earlier in a trade with the New York Jets.
Those not in uniform for the Ravens included cornerback Samari Rolle (sprained ankle), receiver Mark Clayton (sprained ankle), and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (swollen knee). Defensive tackle Trevor Pryce left the game early with back spasms. Safety Ed Reed (bruised thigh) and linebacker Prescott Burgess (concussion) were also injured in the first half.
"It's hard to turn the muscles on and off, on and off, on and off," Redskins cornerback Fred Smoot said. "I'm just happy both teams got out of here with no serious injuries. That's one thing we can't control, is Mother Nature."
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved
