Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 15, 1993 TAG: 9311150132
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. LENGTH: Medium
But even though the outcome of Giants-Redskins II was considerably closer than in October, Sunday's 20-6 loss left no doubt about which team was superior.
"We were beaten by a better team," said coach Richie Petitbon, his team 2-7 with one of those seven a 41-7 mangling by New York on Oct. 10. "We needed this game today. It was real big."
So it was for the Giants (6-3), who were seeking to snap a two-game losing and touchdown-less streak. In beating the Redskins for the ninth time in the past 12 meetings, they let them know who was boss from the opening kickoff.
Actually, from the first snap.
Washington's Lamont Hollinquest blasted Dave Meggett on the kickoff, forcing a fumble. The Giants' Chris Calloway prevented a turnover, falling on the ball at the 20.
That would be as close to the New York end zone as the Redskins would get until the fourth quarter.
The Giants then shoved the ball 80 yards in 12 plays for a touchdown. They pounded both ends with running backs Lewis Tillman and Rodney Hampton, giving them the ball on 10 of the dozen snaps.
That would be the norm for the day. New York attempted just 16 passes, its season-low total.
Although the opening drive was impressive - New York averaged 4.5 yards a rush - the Redskins argued the Giants were helped by a questionable penalty. On third-and-goal from the 1-yard-line, end Jason Buck dropped into pass coverage, became briefly entangled with tight end Derek Brown, then released Brown and raised his arms to celebrate when he saw Phil Simms' pass fall incomplete.
But Buck was flagged for holding. Given a first down from the half-yard line, Hampton scored, the first time in their last seven trips inside an opponents' 20 the Giants scored six.
"I did exactly what we're taught to do," Buck said. "I forced the guy inside, and I shot my hands in there [his chest], because we're allowed to use our hands and I can't let him block me unchallenged.
"It would have been great to hold them to three points. That was a big call in the game, especially that early."
The Washington offense attempted to match the Giants, moving to the New York 32. But on third-and-four, Mark Rypien's pass for Tim McGee was thrown into double-coverage, over McGee's head and directly to safety Greg Jackson at the 13.
It was the first of several mistakes Rypien would make in another performance he and Petitbon called "average." He also fumbled when pasted from the blind side by linebacker Corey Miller. In addition to six tackles and a forced-fumble, Miller also had a sack and batted down a Rypien pass at the line of scrimmage.
"It sounds like a broken record, but we were our own worst enemies again," said Rypien, who completed 22 of 49 passes for 239 yards. "They played a real good first half, we thought we could come back in the second half and we had our chances. But we couldn't get it done."
Said Petitbon, "He did some good things, some bad. Obviously, you'd like to see him get it in the end zone."
Likewise, Jackson had a productive day for the Giants' defense, which held an opponent without a touchdown for the first time in nearly two years. In the third quarter, with Washington trying to cut into an 11-point deficit, Jackson banged into spinning running back Reggie Brooks, forcing a fumble that Mike Fox recovered. That led to a 43-yard field goal by David Treadwell.
"We got back to our old style, where we just attacked and kept attacking people," Jackson said. "We played to our potential and played the way we normally played."
Washington entered New York territory five times during the second half, but never finished things in a manner that made the game more competitive.
Chip Lohmiller barely missed a 52-yard field-goal attempt, then hit from 27 and 33 yards. The Redskins punted and lost the ball on downs the other two times.
"I think we're beyond frustration right now," Petitbon said. "Six points just ain't enough."
Keywords:
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by CNB