This penalty `an absolute mystery' as Redskins fall to Packers.(Daily Press (Newport News, Va.).)

Byline: Ryan O'Halloran

LANDOVER, Md. _ After he caught the pass in traffic, sliced through two tacklers and sprinted toward the goal line, Clinton Portis catapulted himself 7 yards deep into the end zone, instantly releasing two months of offensive frustration.

Portis' 43-yard play, Redskins quarterback Mark Brunell later said, was the kind of play that could have "launched our season."

But as teammates chased Portis around in celebration with 2:35 remaining and Washington poised to take a one-point lead, a flag was spotted on the far sideline _ a mysterious illegal motion penalty on receiver James Thrash that negated the touchdown.

Al Harris intercepted Brunell on the next play, the Green Bay Packers added an insurance score, and the Redskins locker room was full of "Why us?" queries following their 28-14 loss Sunday at FedEx Field.

Instead of potentially launching the Redskins' season, the non-touchdown and subsequent defeat further buried the team's playoff hopes.

"You go from one extreme to the next," Brunell said of his emotions. "You're just thinking you've made the play to win the game and then they throw the flag. This is a frustrating one. It's one that's going to hurt for a while."