Thursday, December 11, 2008

'Skins need OT heroics to defeat Lions and stay perfect

Washington (10-0) looked to extend their winning streak as they visited Detroit (3-7) who were looking to snap their seven game losing streak and avenge their earlier 38-17 loss in Washington. Detroit won the toss and the Lions marched ten plays into Washinton territory to set up a Jason Hanson (1-2 fgs, 2-3 xps) 44 yard feld goal. After Washington went three and out, Detroit began another drive at the Washington 37 following a Mel Gray (2-23 pr, 3-75 kor)15 yard punt return. The Lions didn't stop for a field goal this time, rolling the 37 yards in four plays ending with a Barry Sanders (23-115, 2 tds) 9 yard run. Washington replied wit a 9 play 80 yard drive ending with a 12 yard pass from Mark Rypien (33-45, 350, 4 tds) to Art Monk )8-95, 1 td) closing out the first quarter down 10-7. Detroit opened the second quarter with a 73 yard drive to the Washington 14, but Jason Hanson's field goal sliced wide left. ; After an exchange of punts, Washington drove 41 yards with Rypien hitting Gary Clark (7-98, 2tds) from 5 yards out with 1:05 remaining in the half. Washington went into the locker room with a 14-10 lead. After receiving the second half kick, Rypien moved the Skins into position for a Chip Lohmiller field goal and a 7 point lead. The Lions refused to quit and came right back down the field mixing play action passes with runs to Barry. Dave Krieg finished the drive with a 17 yard pass t Rodney Holman. Hanson mised the extra point and Detroit still trailed by 1. However, three plays later, Rypien was sacked, coughed up the ball and Robert Porcher fell on it for the Lions. Two plays later, Sanders scampered in from 14 yards out and Detroit was ahead 23-17. Washington came back with a 15 play 80 yard drive ending with another 5 yard touchdown pass to Gary Clark. And Washington took a 1 point lead. With 4:27 left on the cloc k Detroit started from their own 20. Mixing passes and runs, Detroit moved down the field until Kreig (16-28, 293, 2 tds, 1 int) found Herman Moore (6-136, 1 td) on a short slant from the 35 that Moore took to the house. A two point conversion toss to Aubrey Mathews (1-8) was good and Detroit held a 31-24 lead with 1:42 left on the clock. Washington then began from its 18. Rypien put on a clinic, completing seven passes in a row, including one tipped ball to lineman Jeff Bostic to give the 'Skins a first and goal at the Detroit 2 on third and goal, Rypien found Rickey Sanders (5-41, 1 td) in the back on the end zone. After briefy debating going for two, the Redskins kicked the extra point and the game went into overtime. Washington won the toss and elected to receive, but could not manage a first down and punted the ball to the Detroit 20. After an incomplete pass to Mathews, Krieg tossed a pass to tight nd Ron Hall. Reserve linebacker Kurt Gouveia broke on the ball, stepped in front of Hall and stopped running 26 yards later as he crossed the goal line for a Washington 37-31 win. after the game, Redskin coach Tom Davis said, "I don't like throwing the ball that much but with Ricky Ervins on the sideline nursing a groin injury, our running game was extremely hampered. Ernie (rb Ernest Byner 21-73) handled the extra carries well and Gerald Riggs (3-8) performed well as a decoy, he didn't fumble."

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