Williams Saves Game, Season for Redskins

With the season running out on the Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins, Doug Williams turned back the clock.

Williams, injured in the final seconds of the first half, returned in the final 6 minutes to throw a touchdown pass and set up Chip Lohmiller’s 44-yard field with 1 second left that gave the Redskins a 20-19 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

“What this proves to us is that we are capable of getting into the playoffs,” said Williams, who took over at quarterback in the playoffs last season and led the Redskins to the Super Bowl championship.

“We felt all along that we had the opportunity to win, but we were just killing ourselves. We had an intercepted pass in the end zone, and an interception that allowed them to get points. A lot of people thought that we’d be down but we’re not going to give up.”

Washington (7-7) retained a slim mathematical chance to make the playoffs.

Philadelphia (8-6), which was knocked out of a tie with the New York Giants for the NFC East lead, had a 19-7 lead late in the third quarter when Lohmiller started the Redskins’ rally with a 37-yard field goal.

“We had opportunities but didn’t take advantage of them,” Eagle Coach Buddy Ryan said. “We should have put the game on ice but we didn’t.”

Williams, with 5 pass completions, led a 7-play, 40-yard drive capped by his 2-yard touchdown pass to Terry Orr, making it 19-17 with 5:50 remaining.

After the Eagles stalled, the Redskins took over at their 9-yard line with 3:57 left. Williams completed 8 passes in a 15-play drive that moved Washington to the Eagles’ 26 and set up Lohmiller.

“When I hit it, it felt good,” Lohmiller said. “I knew it was going straight. I just had to hope the wind didn’t pull it.”

Williams had 18 completions in 30 attempts for 206 yards.

Keith Byars ran for a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass for the Eagles, who won their previous 5 games. Byars gained 65 yards in 12 carries and caught 6 passes for 62 yards.

The Eagles’ Luis Zendejas missed the first extra point of his NFL career in the second quarter after making 38 straight.

Zendejas’ 40-yard field goal gave Philadelphia a 3-0 lead with 8:22 left in the first quarter. Mark Rypien’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Sanders minutes later put Washington ahead, 7-3.

Philadelphia regained the lead with with 8:55 left in the second quarter when Byars scored from 3 yards out.

The Eagles increased the lead to 16-7 with 1:11 left in the half on Cunningham’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Byars.

Zendejas kicked a 19-yard field goal early in the third quarter to make it 19-7.