Redskins Wake Up, Beat Cardinals, 27-10

The Washington Redskins awakened from an early season coma Monday night.

Joe Theismann threw for two touchdowns and the Redskins received a record performance from running backs John Riggins and George Rogers to beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 27-10.

The Redskins, losers of three of their first four games, dominated St. Louis (3-2) in every phase.

Rogers ran for 104 yards in 25 carries, and Riggins added 103 yards in 17 carries. It was the first time two Redskin runners rushed for 100 yards in the same game and the first 100-yard rushing performance this season for a Redskin.

“We needed this,” Washington Coach Joe Gibbs said. “We played as good as we can play. That was the old stadium and the old fire. And that’s the way we’ve played here for the last five years. And if we play anything less than that we lose.”

St. Louis Coach Jim Hanifan said: “Despite all the talk, we didn’t think the Redskins were finished (for the season). We knew they could still play--and now we know for sure.”

The Redskins intercepted St. Louis quarterback Neil Lomax four times and backup Scott Brunner once. St. Louis had six turnovers.

Lomax left in the fourth quarter with a pinched nerve in his left shoulder. He completed 18 of 33 passes for 216 yards.

“If you put the emotion of this football team on a scale of 1 to 10, we were 11,” Theismann said. “I hope this sets the tone of what we can do. At least it takes some of the heat off.”

Washington struck early for a 10-0 lead. The Redskins drove 49 yards in seven plays for a touchdown on their first possession. Theismann faked to Riggins on a fourth and one at the Cardinal 14 and ran a bootleg right for a 7-0 lead 4:12 into the game.

Roy Green’s fumble at the Cardinals’ 42 led to a 33-yard field goal by Mark Moseley with 6:04 left in the quarter.

Neil O’Donoghue kicked a 22-yard field goal 2:11 into the second quarter, but the Redskins scored on Theismann’s 10-yard pass to rookie Gary Clark for a 17-3 lead with 7:25 left in the half.

Mosely added a 29-yard field goal early in the second half, but the Cardinals got back to within striking distance on Ottis Anderson’s 10-yard run with 3:11 gone in the final quarter.

The Redskins wrapped up the scoring when Theismann connected with Didier on an eight-yard touchdown with 2:28 remaining.