NFL Recap (NY Giants-Washington)
Posted: Sun November 1, 1998 at 7:10 p.m. EST
WASHINGTON 21, NY GIANTS 14
RALJON, Maryland (Ticker) -- Despite missing their most prominent
offensive and defensive players, the Washington Redskins
finally got their first win as seldom-used running backs Stephen Davis and Skip Hicks scored
touchdowns in a 21-14 victory over the New York Giants.
Davis, who entered the game with just eight carries for 25 yards,
caught five passes for 65 yards, including a 12-yard TD pass from Trent Green that gave
Washington (1-7) a 14-7 lead 4:23 into the second quarter.
"I just wanted to get an opportunity and today I got that opportunity
and made the most of it," said Davis.
Hicks, Washington's second-round pick, had career highs of 15 carries
and 65 yards. Starting running back Terry Allen gained 46 yards
on 13 carries but left after aggravating a strained calf muscle in the
second quarter.
"It felt really good to finally get in the end zone and to contribute
to the team," said Hicks, who entered the game with just five carries for
four yards. "We had fun out there and when you have fun you're going to
win."
Green was 21-of-31 for 225 yards as he was named starter by coach Norv
Turner, who switched quarterbacks for the third time this season. Green
replaced an injured Gus
Frerotte and threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns in Washington's
season-opening 31-24 loss to the Giants. He started five straight games
before Turner went back to Frerotte two weeks ago in a 41-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
"There's nothing like winning a football game, that's exactly why
we're in this. Defensively we had an excellent effort," Turner said.
Off to their worst start in 37 years, the Redskins were playing
without leading wide receiver Michael Westbrook and
All-Pro defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield.
Westbrook was fined an undisclosed amount of cash and placed on the
inactive list by Turner after missing a team meeting on Saturday. The 6-3,
220-pound Westbrook, who has 28 receptions for 538 yards, was fined $50,000
in training camp last season for an assault on Davis.
Stubblefield, who has been disappointing after signing six-year, $36
million contract, is expected to miss at least two more weeks after
undergoing knee surgery.
Danny Kanell,
coming off a career-best 259-yard, three-touchdown performance in a 34-7
win over Arizona two weeks ago, was just 17-of-32 for 151 yards and a TD.
During the hiatus, he underwent surgery to remove a benign tumor from his
chest.
New York (3-5) dropped to 8-3-1 in its last 12 games against
Washington and fell to 9-2-1 against NFC East foes under coach Jim Fassel.
Defensive end Michael
Strahan, who leads the Giants with eight sacks, left the game in the
second quarter with back spasms.
"At 3-4 we should always have a sense of urgency," said New York
defensive end Keith
Hamilton. "Coach Fassel warned us and it's unfortunate that we didn't
meet the same fire that they had."
The Giants equaled their loss total from last season, when they won
the division with a 10-5-1 mark.
The Redskins dominated the first half with a 183-92 yardage edge but
held just a 14-7 lead at halftime. Washington's offense stumbled in the
fourth quarter, getting held to minus-2 yards, but punter Matt Turk kept the Giants
pinned deep in their own territory. Turk put New York on its 7 and 1 on
consecutive punts and averaged 43.5 yards for 10 boots.
"It did feel like I was out there a lot more than I usually am," Turk
said. "That's a lot of punts. It's good for me, I can get into a rhythm the
more I punt."
Green's one-yard run on a naked bootleg gave the Redskins a 7-0 lead
with 1:55 left in the first quarter. Green was 4-of-4 on the drive and
accounted for all but two of the 58 yards. But the Giants tied the game,
7-7, as David Patten
went 90 yards for his first career kickoff return for a TD.
Washington answered with an 11-play, 69-yard drive capped by Davis'
first touchdown of the season. Green was nearly perfect on the drive,
completing 6-of-7 for 53 yards.
The Redskins' final TD drive came on their first possession of the
third quarter. Hicks ran four yards off left tackle to make it 21-7 just
under five minutes into the period. Hicks carried five times on the drive,
gaining 50 yards.
New York closed to 21-14 when Ike Hilliard outjumped
cornerback Darrell Green
and caught an 11-yard pass from Kanell with 65 seconds left in the period.
"They made some plays and got more breaks than we did," Hilliard said.
"You have to come to play every week. We have to play more consistent."
Both teams were offensively inept in the final period, combining for
seven punts. The Redskins got a 19-yard punt return from Brian Mitchell that put
them on the Giants 42. But after a 10-yard run by Hicks, Washington bogged
down. On the next three plays, Hicks was held for no gain and lost five
yards and Green was sacked to force another punt.
© 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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