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Washington's Devin Thomas keys New York's Corey Webster at arm's length en route to a 29-yard touchdown run.
New York's Kevin Boss hurdles the Redskins' LaRon Landry (30) and Carlos Rogers on a 24-yard reception.
Sliding to avoid Barry Cofield (96). Redskins QB Jason Campbell fires a pass to Santana Moss late in the first half. |
BY ADAM HIMMELSBACH
LANDOVER, Md.--
After one of the most frustrating moments on a most frustrating day, Jason Campbell and Santana Moss shared a brief and rain-soaked assessment on the sideline."Man," Campbell said to Moss. "We can't catch a break."
The Redskins also had trouble catching passes, and they most certainly did not catch the New York Giants on the right day. New York scored a touchdown on its opening drive and never trailed after that, as it rolled to a 23-7 victory at FedEx Field.
It was the seventh-consecutive victory for the Giants, who are the defending Super Bowl champions. It was the third loss in four games for the Redskins, who are having as much success as a bike that has no tires.
"We had a group of errors," Redskins coach Jim Zorn said. "Was it one guy? Nope."
Yesterday's loss eliminated the Redskins (7-5) from contention for the NFC East title, and it dropped them one game behind the Dallas Cowboys and the Atlanta Falcons, who are tied for the conference's second wild card slot.
Running back Clinton Portis, who entered the game as the NFL's leading rusher, was held to 22 yards on 11 carries. Campbell completed 23 of 38 passes for 232 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception.
The Giants overcame the absence of and the distractions caused by their mercurial wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who accidentally shot himself in the leg on Friday night and could face charges of criminal possession of a weapon.
Quarterback Eli Manning was 21 of 34 for a season-high 305 yards and a touchdown. Brandon Jacobs added 21 carries for 71 yards and a score.
"We just outplayed them," Jacobs said. "And we executed better than they were able to."
While that statement might sound overweening, it is true. The Redskins' transgressions came frequently and from all positions.
There was the time Shawn Springs and DeAngelo Hall collided in midair on a pass that would have been a sure interception for one of them, but turned into a folly for two of them.
There was the penalty for having 12 men on the field, and another for an invalid fair catch.
There was the Giants' flawed extra-point, in which the kicker had time to stop in mid-approach, wait, and then kick the ball through the uprights, long after the Redskins should have been able to smother the attempt.
"That kind of set me off," Zorn said afterward. "Then I started whining about everything. Believe me, I was on everybody. I was even on myself."
Prior to the game, the Redskins inducted Sean Taylor into their Ring of Fame, marking the first anniversary of the former Pro Bowl safety's death. Members of Taylor's family and former head coach Joe Gibbs were on the sideline as Portis ran onto the field carrying a No. 21 flag in honor of Taylor. Taylor's No. 21 was also painted at midfield in place of the team logo.
"That's the way you pay tribute to a fallen soldier," Portis said. "I think Sean brought a lot of attention to this organization and did a lot for this organization."
Portis said he saw tears in the eyes of several players, and Zorn said that when Portis ran onto the field carrying that flag, Taylor's fiancee, Jackie Garcia, began to cry.
But when the game began, the Redskins were unable to turn those emotional moments into memorable ones.
Washington received the opening kickoff and punted after three plays. The Giants then marched downfield on a brief and efficient seven-play drive that ended with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Manning to Amani Toomer.
"They had an answer for everything," cornerback Carlos Rogers said. "From their defense to what their offense did on us. They moved the ball up and down the field."
The Giants led 13-0 midway through the second quarter when the Redskins offense found an unlikely spark. On first down from the New York 28-yard line, rookie wide receiver Devin Thomas took a handoff on a reverse and zipped across the goal line.
"When I turned the corner, all I saw was [Campbell as my lead blocker]," Thomas said. "I was like, 'Alright, let me get around him and get into the end zone.'"
The Giants then marched into Redskins territory, but on third down from the 34, Hall intercepted a pass by Manning with 4:10 left in the second quarter.
Washington pushed to midfield, but three consecutive incomplete passes led to a punt. The Redskins had one more a chance to slice into the deficit before halftime, but a 42-yard field goal attempt by Shaun Suisham sailed wide right.
With 8:37 left in the third quarter, Jacobs scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, making it 20-7. And on Washington's ensuing possession, Campbell's first-down pass from the Giants' 43 was intercepted by Aaron Ross.
The Redskins never mounted a threat after that.
N.Y. Giants | 10 | 3 | 7 | 3 | -- | 23 |
Washington | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | -- | 7 |
First Quarter
NYG--Toomer 40 pass from Manning (Carney kick), 9:56.
NYG--FG Carney 31, 2:11.
Second Quarter
NYG--FG Carney 38, 12:01.
Was--D.Thomas 29 run (Suisham kick), 8:31.
Third Quarter
NYG--Jacobs 1 run (Carney kick), 8:33.
Fourth Quarter
NYG--FG Carney 39, 6:26.
A--85,912.
TEAM STATISTICS
NYG | Was |
First downs | 23 | 17 |
Total Net Yards | 404 | 320 |
Rushes-yards | 35-108 | 18-92 |
Passing | 296 | 228 |
Punt Returns | 1-9 | 0-0 |
Kickoff Returns | 2-37 | 5-101 |
Interceptions Ret. | 1-(-2) | 1-4 |
Comp-Att-Int | 21-34-1 | 24-39-1 |
Sacked-Yards Lost | 2-9 | 4-21 |
Punts | 4-39.5 | 6-45.7 |
Fumbles-Lost | 0-0 | 2-1 |
Penalties-Yards | 3-19 | 7-47 |
Time of Possession | 35:44 | 24:16
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INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING--N.Y. Giants, Jacobs 21-71, Ward 10-30, Manning 4-7. Washington, J.Campbell 5-38, D.Thomas 1-29, Portis 11-22, Betts 1-3.
PASSING--N.Y. Giants, Manning 21-34-1-305. Washington, J.Campbell 23-38-1-232, Randle El 1-1-0-17.
RECEIVING--N.Y. Giants, Toomer 5-85, Ward 5-75, Hixon 5-71, Boss 3-45, Smith 2-22, Moss 1-7. Washington, Cooley 6-71, Moss 4-55, Randle El 4-37, Betts 4-22, Yoder 3-25, Sellers 1-20, Portis 1-15, Thrash 1-4.
MISSED FIELD GOALS--Washington, Suisham 42.
Adam Himmelsbach: 540/374-5442
Email: ahimmelsbach@freelancestar.com
