I thought they did as I watched the end of this game! This is the play by play log on cbssports.com which has been modified since I first saw it. The pass to Armstrong was shown as a 9 yd gain and with the next play being shown as 2nd and 1.

3-1-TB21 (1:15) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short left to S.Moss to TB 12 for 9 yards (B.Ruud).
1-10-TB12 (:49) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short right to A.Armstrong to TB 2 for 10 yards (C.Lynch).
1-2-TB2 (:32) D.McNabb pass incomplete short right to R.Williams.
2-2-TB2 (:28) R.Torain right end ran ob at TB 6 for -4 yards (T.Crowder).
4-4-TB6 (:18) D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to F.Davis.
4-6-TB6 (:13) D.McNabb pass short middle to S.Moss for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
G.Gano extra point is Aborted, Center-N.Sundberg, Holder-H.Smith.

The botched extra point to that would have tied the games saved a big controversy and embarrassment for the officials.

No, it was right.
In your listing there, there is no 3rd down from the Tampa 6. The incomplete pass to F. Davis was 3rd and goal.
During the broadcast, they made that clear at the end and noted that the line marker was wrong, but the officials knew the down.
The pass to Armstrong was a 1st down, according to the officials.

The announcers were saying it was over after the 4th down play. Then the Redskins ran another play and they never uttered another peep about it.

Anyone have access to a replay to see if that 9+ yd pass from the 12 yd line really did pick up enough for the first down?

From the TB Bucs website (if there was a 5th down, they would say so).
http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-1/Snap-Decision-Bucs-Survive-Wet-Wild-One-in-Washington/aca52364-431a-4f16-87a9-33f21f324c83

The game, which was played almost entirely in a driving rain, ended in confusion. Many observers believed Moss’ touchdown came on a fifth down after TE Fred Davis dropped a pass in the back of the end zone the play before. In fact, the Redskins had earned a first down at the two-yard line four plays earlier, as Anthony Armstrong’s catch was ruled a 10-yard play after originally being marked just short of the sticks. The down markers on the field were correct throughout the sequence, however, so it’s likely the players on both sides had an accurate take on the situation.

And in the Washington Post article, no reference to a 5th down.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/12/AR2010121202328.html

Leading me to conclude, there was no fifth down, the refs knew what was going on and it was just the announcers and scoreboard that was confused.


Still, the bigger news is the botched snap during the extra point. What a fail by the Skins.

I just saw the replay of the pass from the 12 yd line on 1st down. It was either down by contact a half yard shy of the 1st down, or not down by contact and a TD. The officials marked the ball well shy of the distance needed for the first down, but must have awarded a not deserved first down, then the Redskins scored on the 4th down after that. The botched EP saved a lot more embarrassment. So the refs were correct on the field for what they apparently judged which was obviously a wrong judgement, and the announcers and scoreboard were wrong compared to the ruling on the field but coonsistent with what should have been the correct ruling.

Let's call it a very gracious spot then, which routinely happens in football games.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/FOX-announcers-believed-Redskins-scored-on-a-fit?urn=nfl-294884

ptown_trojans_1;598194 wrote:Let's call it a very gracious spot then, which routinely happens in football games.

It wasn't a gracious spot! the spot was pretty much correct, it was a half yard short of what was needed for a 1st down.

Gotta laugh at the Fox crew thinking they would be right over everyone on the field. "There is gonna be some confusion now"...nope dumbasses, everyone on the field obviously knew, it was only you.