THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 16, 1996 TAG: 9609160139
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. LENGTH: 79 lines
The Washington Redskins put an emphatic end to their often-bizarre six-game losing streak against the winless New York Giants Sunday. They ripped their NFC East nemesis 31-10 before a Giants Stadium crowd so thoroughly disgusted with the home team that they accorded them a mock standing ovation just for making a first down.
The Redskins, now 2-1, rushed for 239 yards - 146 of them by Terry Allen. Gus Frerotte passed for 197 yards and his first touchdown of the season - a 30-yard strike to tight end Scott Galbraith on a fake field goal in the second quarter.
On defense, they intercepted four Dave Brown passes - two in the end zone by Tom Carter. And they sacked Brown four times, so frustrating him that by the time Carter nabbed his second throw in the fourth quarter, the former Duke passer was ready to go toe-to-toe with Washington linebacker Marvcus Patton. He ripped his helmet off, bumped Patton with his chest, then tried to slap him across the face.
``Every time I got close to him, I jawed,'' Patton said. ``When Tom got that interception, I screamed at him, `How do you like playing the Redskins now?' I was talking so much that I didn't even hear a word he said.''
Rather, Patton read what Brown had to say about the Redskins in the morning Newark paper. In essence, Brown talked about how the Giants loved to play the Redskins, because no matter how much they were struggling, something always seemed to happen that enabled them to defeat Washington. He talked about how he always had career games against the Redskins, how the NFL schedule-maker couldn't have timed things better than to bring Washington to town against his 0-2 team.
``It's a question of respect,'' said Patton, who had four tackles, an assist and Washington's final interception, which he immediately tossed back to Brown as the beleaguered quarterback trudged back to his bench.
``He's supposed to be smarter than me, but he's the one with the four interceptions.''
Brown said he went after Patton out of frustration.
``I put the ball up hoping for play to be made and they weren't,'' he said. ``I get burned that way. When you're 0-2 and struggling, you try to atone for things. If anything, maybe I tried too hard.''
The only negative in Washington's performance was 12 penalties, totaling 125 yards.
``The first thing I mentioned to the players was that they could play better,'' coach Norv Turner said. ``They almost threw their towels at me.''
The Redskins took a 3-0 lead on Scott Blanton's 36-yard field goal, then forced a punt and embarked on what Turner called the game's critical drive. A holding penalty against Tre Johnson put Washington in a first-and-20 at its 48, but Allen broke two tackles at the line of scrimmage and got 19 back, and squirmed forward on the next snap for the first down.
Two plays later, tight end Jamie Asher split linebacker Cory Miller and Jesse Campbell down the middle and Frerotte hit him for 27 yards to the New York 3. Fullback Marc Logan scored on the next play and the Redskins, two-point favorites, had a 10-point lead.
``What we did on the ground was somewhat of a surprise,'' said Allen, who carried 27 times and averaged 5.4 yards. ``I expected a very physical game, and it was. I didn't think we'd be able to get the running game going the way we did. I thought it would be hit-or-miss.''
For much of the game it was. The Redskins hit. The Giants missed.
``For the second week in a row, we weren't competitive,'' Giants coach Dan Reeves said. ``When you're struggling, you've got to give yourself a chance. You've got to eliminate mistakes. We continue to make them.''
They made a huge one on Galbraith's touchdown catch. The safety or linebacker - Galbraith wasn't sure which - responsible for covering him on the outside of the protection team, left him completely alone as Blanton lined up a 48-yard field goal attempt.
The Redskins had called for the fake in the huddle and Galbraith had nothing but air around him as Frerotte, the holder, rolled right and tossed the ball his way.
``I tried to hold the ball as long as I could to make it look like a kick,'' Frerotte said. ``That was one of those passes where you say, `Oh, God, I hope I don't throw it short.' I just kind of laid it out there and he caught it and ran it in.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color ASSOCIATED PRESS photo
Giants coach Dan Reeves and his coaching staff appear puzzled as the
Redskins dominate play. by CNB