Brandon Banks was gone. He passed the first wave of defenders, and the crease unfolded in front of him. That’s about the time Perry Riley hit a Minnesota defender in the back, drawing a flag, nullifying a touchdown and leaving the Redskins in a deficit.
It nullified a 77-yard return in the fourth quarter of the Redskins’ 17-13 loss.
“I thought I hit him on his shoulder rather than his back,” said Riley, a rookie. “The call was made. Of course I feel bad about it. … I was thinking positive on the play. It turned out bad on my part. It’s something I will fix. I feel terrible.”
Part of the problem for Riley is that Banks did a good job setting up the Vikings. He caused the defender to hesitate and then turn inside. Banks darted to his left, and then Riley made his ill-fated block.
“It was set up pretty nice, but then the penalty happened,” Banks said. “He was out there working hard just like I was out there working hard. It’s part of the game.”
Special teams coach Danny Smith said Riley’s inexperience showed. After all, he had been called for a similar block earlier in the game. Some players told Riley they thought it was a questionable call. Regardless, coaches and teammates said, once they call it a player has to know it will be called a penalty the next time as well.
“His inexperience shows in a situation like that,” Smith said. “I’m not dissatisfied with him. Obviously you don’t like it, but the kid’s effort is outstanding.”
Banks has now had two returns wiped out by penalties. While some teammates saw the flag, Chris Wilson was on the other side of the field and was ready to line up for the extra point. Then he turned his head toward the bench.
“I look on the sidelines, and I see no one celebrating,” Wilson said.
The Redskins say they had other chances, which is why players harped on numerous other mistakes.
“I don’t think it hit us in the mouth like, ‘I don’t know what we’re going to do now,’?” cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. “Things like that happen.”
