Campbell Gives Atlanta a Winning Edge, 21-20

Quarterback Scott Campbell didn’t even figure to make the Atlanta Falcons roster when training camp began.

But he stuck it out and finally got his chance Sunday, passing for 271 and 2 touchdowns as the Falcons upset the Washington Redskins, 21-20.

“Funny things can happen,” Campbell said, alluding to making the roster when the Falcons were unable to sign No. 1 draft choice Chris Miller.

Campbell got his start after Dave Archer failed to generate any offense in last week’s season-opening 48-10 loss to the Buccaneers at Tampa Bay.

“We were embarrassed last week, so we wanted to play better today,” Campbell said. “It may be the most fun I ever had in a football game. It’s a most gratifying thing for me.”

Campbell was making only the third start of his five-year National Football League career and his first since 1985 for Pittsburgh.

“After we went through what we did last week, this makes this victory even better,” Atlanta Coach Marion Campbell said. “Scott Campbell gave us the spark we were looking for. It did not surprise me what Scott did. He’s come through for us in a big way.”

Campbell, who completed 17 of 34 passes, threw a 19-yard scoring pass to Floyd Dixon in the first quarter and came back with a 23-yarder to Stacy Bailey in the third.

The Falcons clinched the win on Gerald Riggs’ 4-yard touchdown run with 6:47 remaining. Riggs finished with 120 yards in 23 carries.

The victory margin came as a result of a botched extra-point try after the Redskins’ second touchdown, a bouncing snap by Jeff Bostic that couldn’t be handled by holder Eric Yarber.

Doug Williams, the seven-year veteran who was pressed into service last week when Redskin starter Jay Schroeder was sidelined with a shoulder injury, completed 18 of 30 passes for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns.