Riggins Puts Redskins Back in the Running, 24-3

At their best, the Washington Redskins don’t just beat you, they run you over.

John Riggins ran for 114 yards and scored three touchdowns Sunday as the Redskins continued to round into form in a 24-3 rout of the Detroit Lions.

With his effort--his second straight 100-yard game, both victories by the Redskins (3-3)--Riggins became only the second player in NFL history to rush for more than 100 career touchdowns.

His second score, a 21-yard run, gave him 100 career touchdowns.

“The line really did a great job on that play and I think the secret to that play is giving them a chance to throw their blocks,” Riggins said. “I think in the past I’ve rushed them a little bit.”

Only Hall of Fame member Jim Brown exceeds Riggins’ 101 rushing touchdowns with 106.

Riggins’ third score tied Lenny Moore for second place in overall touchdowns scored with 113. Brown leads with 126.

Riggins reminded Washington Coach Joe Gibbs of the way he carried the Redskins to consecutive Super Bowl appearances after the 1982 and 1983 seasons.

“I think John was ready for the tag, you know to come out, and we said there was nobody to tag because George (Rogers) got hurt,” Gibbs said. “So he stayed in and did a heck of a job.”

The Redskins have won 21 straight games in which they’ve gotten a 100-yard rushing performance. In Riggins’ 24 100-yard games as a Redskin, Washington is 22-2, 13-0 at RFK Stadium.

He has 34 100-yard games in his career. Riggins carried the ball 21 times against Detroit.

It was Washington’s 11th straight victory against the Lions and 14th consecutive win at home.

Washington quarterback Joe Theismann had his best game of the season, completing 18 of 25 pass attempts for 153 yards. Art Monk caught eight passes for 73 yards.

Detroit’s Eddie Murray kicked a 33-yard field goal and Mark Moseley’s 24-yard field goal matched it in the first quarter.

The Redskins turned two Detroit turnovers, a fumble by tight end David Lewis and an interception of an Eric Hipple pass, into touchdown runs by Riggins in the second quarter for a 17-3 lead.