Redskins finding new ways to lose games

For once, the Redskins offense showed up.

For once, Jason Campbell played well.

For once, the play-calling was perfect.

But the Redskins found yet another way to lose a game. In perhaps the Redskins most painful loss of the year, it was the kicking game and turnovers which burned the Skins late.

Points:

• I continue to be incredibly unhappy with the Redskins red-zone offense. It's almost like the Skins coaches are afraid to make a mistake. It's the same with the way the Redskins play with a lead. They have a lead and seem to not to want to make a mistake.
• You can't win too often in the NFL when you play scared.
• Shaun Suisham, for as well as he's played for the most part this year, the guy just can't make a field goal when it really matters. He failed against the Cowboys two weeks ago, and he failed today. His miss from 23 yards sealed the Redskins' loss.
• Laron Landry had a mixed game. He had several very good tackles up near the line of scrimmage. He's a natural strong safety, and he plays like it. But he got burned deep twice in coverage.
• I thought Jason Campbell played very well for most of the afternoon. It also helps that the Saints' defense is missing a few defensive backs. He threw for a career-high 367 yards, but his interception on a potentially game-winning drive was perhaps the worst possible thing that could have happened.
• I thought Devin Thomas had a terrific game - the best of his young career. He needs to do this every game, and the Redskins need to get him the ball and allow him to consistently have that success. It was also another good game for Fred Davis. I'm not sure how the Redskins will handle the tight end position when Chris Cooley comes back next year. Davis is a starter and potentially a Pro Bowl player. Cooley is already a Pro Bowler.

Question

How the heck did the Saints get the ball back in OT after Sellers' fumbled?

Sellers did fumble - not going to argue that - but the play was called dead. So Sellers stops even going for the ball. The Saints player - McAlister? - stops as well and picks up the ball about four seconds after the play was called dead. So the refs blew the whistle and Sellers stops going for the ball and the refs give the ball to the Saints? Maybe I'm wrong about this one, but I call that ridiculous.

Definitely a tough loss to swallow. The Redskins should have won this game. There were many plays in there - the punt where the ball hit Kevin Barnes and the Saints recovered; the strip after the INT that was returned for a Saints TD - that should have doomed the Redskins.

But the Redskins did play well today. They played well enough to win. I guess that's something.