Giants Humiliated as Lowly Redskins Finally Eclipse 20 Points
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LANDOVER, MD. – Stop the game and have a parade. The Washington Redskins finally scored 20 points.
The historic moment occurred with 41 seconds left in the first half of yesterday’s rout of the Giants, when tight end Robert Royal went to the ground to cradle Patrick Ramsey’s 9-yard pass. Royal’s first career touchdown gave the Redskins a 21-0 lead on the way to a 31-7 victory.
The Redskins (4-8) broke a three game losing streak and broke the 20-point barrier for the first time since Joe Gibbs returned as coach, ending their longest such drought since the 1930’s. They scored more points than in their last three games combined, and they hit 30 for the first time since Week 2 of last season.
Derrick Ward’s 92-yard kickoff return in the third quarter was the only score for the Giants (5-7),who have lost five straight and are fading fast from the playoff race. No. 1 overall draft pick Eli Manning fell to 0-3 as a starter, completing 12 of 25 passes for just 113 yards, including a 48-yard pass to Amani Toomer in garbage time. Manning has led just one touchdown drive in three games.
The Giants were as hopeless as the Redskins were efficient. New York had just seven first downs and 145 total yards. Tiki Barber rushed for 38 yards on 15 carries. Jeff Feagles had a punt blocked by Walt Harris, setting up Washington’s third touchdown.
“We knew exactly what the Redskins would do, and we still didn’t stop them,” said coach Tom Coughlin, adding that he will stick with Manning. “We physically got whipped up front on both sides of the ball. … I don’t see anybody who’s not trying at all. I see frustration out there. I don’t think anybody’s more frustrated than I am.”
The defensive line, already missing Michael Strahan and Keith Washington for the season, played without tackle Norman Hand because of a groin injury. Regan Upshaw, signed a few days ago, played with “cheat sheets” taped to his wrist so that he would know the plays. The Giants had a 2-to-1 deficit in time of possession.
“They’d get 7 yards on first down running the ball right down our throat,” defensive end Osi Umenyiora said. “It was just awful. I don’t think it was a breakdown in our scheme. It was just a break down in the way we were playing.”
Washington’s Clinton Portis got the ball early and often yesterday after being marginalized during the team’s three-game losing streak. Portis gained 148 yards on 31 carries, running for one touchdown and scoring another on a shovel pass.
Patrick Ramsey, making his third start since Mark Brunell was benched, completed 19 of 22 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns. The first two scoring drives went 93 and 91 yards against a Giants defensive line missing three-quarters of its opening day starters. The Redskins are 4-0 when Portis runs for 100 yards, 0-8 when he doesn’t.