NFL Recap (Denver-Washington)
Posted: Sun September 27, 1998 at 7:06 p.m. EDT
DENVER 38, WASHINGTON 16
RALJON, Maryland (Ticker) -- Even the absence of John Elway could not help
the winless Washington
Redskins.
Bubby Brister
started for an injured Elway and passed for two touchdowns and Terrell Davis rushed for
119 yards, including a 42-yard score, to lead the unbeaten Denver Broncos to a 38-16
rout of the Redskins.
"It feels good playing with a team like this," said Brister. "It's the
first time in my career I have ever had this kind of talent on a team."
It marked the first time the Broncos won a game without Elway as their
starting quarterback in nine years. Ironically, the Broncos were 0-7
without Elway since they beat the Redskins, 14-10, in Washington on
November 20th, 1989.
Elway was expected to start today, but experienced soreness in his
hamstring during warmups and decided to sit out the game. But the Broncos'
high-powered offense did not skip a beat with Brister at the helm and the
defense also contributed when cornerback Darrien Gordon returned an
interception 55 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.
Brister played a mistake-free game, completing 16-of-24 passes for 180
yards. He hit Ed
McCaffrey with a 19-yard touchdown in the first quarter and connected
with fullback Howard
Griffith on a 14-yard scoring play in the third quarter. McCaffrey
finished with four catches for 74 yards.
Davis, who carried 21 times, recorded his third straight 100-yard game
and raised his league-leading total to 489 yards. Denver rushed for 185
yards against the Redskins, who spent $57 million in the offseason for
defensive tackles Dana
Stubblefield and Dan
Wilkinson to help their run defense. The two combined for just six
tackles.
Denver (4-0) again is off to a quick start under coach Mike Shanahan.
Last year, the Broncos won their first six games en route to Super Bowl
XXXII.
"We have a lot of confidence, but we know it's one game at a time,"
said McCaffrey. "We've only played four, but we have to keep the same
approach."
The Redskins are off to their first 0-4 start since 1981, when they
opened with five losses in Joe Gibbs' first year as coach. Washington is
0-7 against AFC West teams under fifth-year coach Norv Turner.
The key to Washington's dreadful start has been a turnover ratio of
minus-11, including three today. Trent Green was
intercepted twice and lost a fumble. He completed 19-of-31 passes for 252
yards, including a 75-yard touchdown to Michael Westbrook in the
fourth quarter.
"We're just not getting it done, we've got to get better," said
Redskins coach Norv Turner. "If we continue to make these same errors, we
will continue to have the same results."
Terry Allen rushed
for 86 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries for the Redskins.
The Broncos scored on their first two possessions. Brister's
touchdown to McCaffrey 6:15 into the game capped a seven-play, 81-yard
drive, highlighted by a 37-yard gain by receiver Rod Smith on an
end-around.
The second scoring drive went 47 yards in 10 plays and resulted in a
37-yard field goal by Jason
Elam 1:25 into the second quarter.
"I was pleased we were able to get two scoring drives on the first two
possessions," said Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. "That set the tempo of the
game right there."
On Washington's ensuing possession, Green had a pass to the left
sideline intercepted by Gordon, who stepped in front of intended receiver
Leslie Shepherd and
raced 55 yards for a touchdown to give Washington a 17-0 lead.
The Redskins then put together an eight-play, 79-yard scoring drive,
capped by Allen's five-yard touchdown run midway through the quarter. Green
connected with tight end Stephen Alexander on
passes of 18 and 25 yards to key the drive.
Davis broke off a 42-yard touchdown 1:25 into the second half to
increase Denver's lead to 24-7.
"I was running that play a few times before and I ran it outside,"
said Davis. "That play I gambled and came back inside and it worked. That
seemed to take the wind out of their sails."
The Broncos then put together a seven-play, 79-yard scoring drive
which resulted in Brister's scoring pass to Griffith. The big play was a
41-yard completion from Brister to McCaffrey.
Cary Blanchard,
the Redskins' third kicker in as many weeks, booted a 37-yard field goal
late in the third quarter, but missed a 44-yarder in the first half.
Denver's last scoring drive came after rookie safety Eric Brown recovered a
fumble by Green at the Washington 24. Five plays later, Derek Loville scored on a
one-yard run with 8:18 left in the fourth quarter.
© 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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