ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, November 18, 1996 TAG: 9611190019
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: PHILADELPHIA
SOURCE: JIM DUCIBELLA LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
Moments after the Washington Redskins claimed sole possession of the NFC East Division lead with a 26-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, coach Norv Turner's game plan included one more call.
It was a phone call to Middleburg, Va., and the home of 84-year-old Jack Kent Cooke, who was released from Georgetown Hospital on Friday after treatment for severe arthritis. With the team cheering in the background, Turner informed the ailing team owner the Redskins had dedicated their eighth - and most important - victory of the season to him and were awarding him a game ball.
``It was a very emotional moment,'' tight end Jamie Asher said. ``Mr. Cooke usually comes out and watches practice every Friday and the players look forward to that. He wasn't able to make it last week because of his condition and we wanted him to know that we'd dedicated this one to him.''
Asher did his share, catching touchdown passes of 12 and 7 yards and working over Philadelphia's outside linebackers and strong safety Brian Dawkins for three other catches en route to his best day as a pro.
But it was two stands by Washington's embattled defense in the final 4:40 that brought Cooke the most comfort. They provided the impetus to knock the Eagles, who had beaten Washington eight consecutive times, into second place in the division and into a tie with Dallas should the Cowboys beat Green Bay tonight.
With the Eagles at their own 17-yard line and needing only a field goal to wipe out a two-point deficit, the Washington defense threw running back Ricky Watters and quarterback Ty Detmer for losses totaling 15 yards.
First, end Rich Owens played a sweep to his side perfectly, stepping into the hole vacated by guard Lester Holmes and dropping Watters for an 8-yard loss.
Then, linebacker Ken Harvey worked a stunt with his tackles, sliding from right end up the middle to drop Detmer for a loss of 7. Two snaps later, Brian Mitchell returned an Eagles punt 23 yards to the Philadelphia 28.
``I think the biggest play of the game today was Ken's sack,'' Owens said. ``That took the wind from their sails.''
Not quite. The Redskins increased their lead to 26-21 on Scott Blanton's fourth field goal of the game, a 33-yarder with 1:20 to play. Without timeouts, Philadelphia started a last-gasp drive from its 28 - and against the same Redskins ``pirate,'' or ``prevent'' defense that Arizona's Boomer Esiason shredded for 522 yards a week earlier.
``I was scared half to death, because we had them right where we wanted them when the drive started,'' said Washington safety Stanley Richard. ``They were at the [28] and they had a long way to go without any timeouts. All we had to do was sit on the ball and let them catch the short ones.
``Next thing I know, we're standing in the end zone and they're throwing into the end zone.''
That's because Detmer, who completed 21 of 33 passes for 251 yards, found Chris T. Jones for 22 yards, then for another 19, on consecutive plays. From the Washington 31, Detmer passed 11 yards to Watters.
Shades of Esiason.
Except that on first down, Detmer's pass was behind Irving Fryar, closely guarded by Darrell Green, and bounced off his hands. On second down, safety Darryl Pounds broke up a pass intended for Mark Seay.
On third down, Detmer passed for Jones, who was triple-covered. Reserve corner Scott Turner slapped it away.
And on fourth down, with 12 seconds to play, Tom Carter broke up Detmer's pass intended for Freddie Solomon at the Washington 5.
``Again, I'm sitting here saying, `We didn't get it in the end zone,''' said Detmer, who was sacked at the Buffalo 5-yard line on the last play of a 24-17 home loss Nov.10. ``I take the blame for both of them. It's the quarterback's job to put it where they can catch it. I didn't.''
As the Eagles drove closer to the game-winning score, Harvey said the emphasis in the huddle was less on strategy and more on emotion.
``We told each other, `We're not going to be the reason we lose this game,''' Harvey said. ``That's what happened against the Cardinals. We were determined it wasn't going to be that way again.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Redskins wide receiver Michael Westbrook can't quiteby CNBcome up with a pass from Gus Frerotte as the Eagles' Bobby Taylor
defends Sunday. color. KEYWORDS: FOOTBALL