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LANDOVER, Maryland (Ticker) -- Stephen Davis became a 1,000-yard rusher with a career-high 183-yard performance and the Washington Redskins moved into sole possesion of first place in the NFC East with a 23-13 win over the New York Giants. While Davis sliced through the NFL's fifth-ranked run defense, the maligned Redskins' defense forced five turnovers. Washington entered the game last in the NFL in total defense and had allowed more points than all but two teams. But today, the Redskins had three interceptions, forced two fumbles, recorded four sacks and held the Giants to just one touchdown. "Our defensive guys competed," said Redskins coach Norv Turner. "These are guys who can compete and guys who want to win and they got it done." The Redskins (6-4) snapped a modest two-game losing streak and moved a game ahead of the Giants (5-5) and Dallas Cowboys (5-5) in the NFC East. Dallas fell at Arizona, 13-9. "It doesn't mean a thing until January 3," Turner said of his club's first-place standing. Davis, who had 33 carries, registered his fifth 100-yard game of the season and became the NFC's first 1,000-yard rusher with 1,034 yards. Rookie Edgerrin James of the Indianapolis Colts leads the AFC with 1,006 yards. "I knew if I had the opportunity I could do it," Davis said. "I knew if coach gave me the opportunity I could take advantage of it." Brett Conway kicked three field goals, but also missed three for the Redskins. Giants quarterback Kent Graham suffered a concussion in the second quarter and was replaced by Kerry Collins. Graham completed just 3-of-10 passes for 36 yards with two interceptions. Collins was 13-of-21 for 221 yards, but was intercepted once and fumbled twice. Ike Hilliard had four receptions for 101 yards. "I thought we came in with the right attitude," said Giants coach Jim Fassel. "There were just way too many self-inflicted wounds and I'm not taking anything away from Washington. It was a hard-fought game, but we had too many self-inflicted wounds and you can't have those kind of turnovers in a game." Defensive end Marco Coleman returned a fumble by Collins 42 yards for a touchdown. Defensive end Kenard Lang also recovered a fumble by Collins in the fourth quarter and cornerback Darrell Green, safety Sam Shade and linebacker Derek Smith had interceptions for the Redskins. Washington's Brad Johnson, who passed for three touchdowns in a 50-21 rout of the Giants in Week Two, completed 17-of-29 passes for 158 yards with an interception. A one-yard scoring run by Davis and a pair of field goals by Conway staked the Redskins to a 13-6 lead. The Giants had a 3rd-and-5 at the Washington 49 when the Redskins defense came up with a big play. As Collins faded back to pass, Redskins defensive end Ndukwe Kalu knocked the ball away from the quarterback and Coleman caught it in the air and raced untouched 42 yards for a touchdown nine seconds into the fourth quarter, opening a 20-6 lead for the Redskins. "Kalu got a good rush on the quarterback and knocked the ball up in the air," Coleman said. "I was just at the right place at the right time." "He (Coleman) jammed me and took me out of the route," said Giants running back Tiki Barber. "The ball was supposed to come to me. Kerry got pressure on the backside, he ended up fumbling and the play went into the end zone." New York responded with a nine-play, 71-yard drive which resulted in a one-yard TD run by fullback Charles Way with 10:26 left in the fourth quarter. Collins completed 4-of-7 for 64 yards in the drive, including two passes to David Patten for 35 yards. The Redskins drove 58 yards to the Giants 10 on the ensuing possession. Davis rushed three times for 34 yards and Johnson hit fullback Larry Centers with an 18-yard pass to key the drive. However, after the drive stalled at the New York 10, Conway missed a 27-yard field goal wide right with 6:07 left. After the Giants took over, Barber broke off a 17-yard run up the middle and Collins connected with Patten on a 16-yard play. Three plays later, Collins hit Barber with a 16-yard pass to the Washington 27. However, on the next play, Collins fumbled the snap and Lang recovered for Washington at the 39 with 4:05 remaining. The Redskins consumed 3:44 and drove to the New York 19 to set up a game-clinching 37-yard field goal by Conway with 21 seconds remaining. "It's frustrating because we're able to execute and then we go out there and shoot ourselves in the foot," Barber said. "We are beating ourselves week in and week out. We don't have any continuity out there They made the plays and we didn't. That's what it boiled down to." Davis' league-leading 15th touchdown came midway through the first quarter. The highlight in the eight-play, 55-yard drive was a 22-yard pass interference by Giants cornerback Phillippi Sparks at the New York 1. The Giants' defense set up their first points when safety Percy Ellsworth intercepted a pass by Johnson and returned it 26 yards to the Washington 30. Four plays later, former Redskin Cary Blanchard kicked a 44-yard field goal for the Giants 4:03 into the second quarter. The Redskins responded with a seven-play, 65-yard drive which resulted in a 24-yard field goal by Conway with 7:02 left in the half. The key play was a 49-yard run by Davis to the New York 11. Blanchard kicked a 44-yard field goal on the final play of the half to cap a seven-play, 71-yard drive. Collins hit Hilliard with a 46-yard pass to key the drive. Conway kicked a 21-yard field with 1:14 left in the third quarter to give Washington a 13-6 lead.
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