Redskins Hand Cardinals 11th Straight Loss at RFK

Mark Rypien threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes as the Redskins registered a 30-28 comeback victory over Phoenix Sunday, extending the Cardinals’ losing streak at RFK Stadium to 11 games.

The game wasn’t decided until the final play, when Phoenix running back Vai Sikahema was tackled at the Washington 41 after taking a lateral from quarterback Gary Hogeboom.

The Cardinals recovered an onside kick after scoring with 14 second left.

The Redskins took a 23-21 lead when Rypien, on third and four from the 12, threw a pass to Art Monk in the back of the end zone with 7:47 left to play.

Washington safety Barry Wilburn intercepted Hogeboom’s pass with 5:51 left and the Redskins drove 63 yards in nine plays, culminating with Rypien’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Gary Clark with 1:54 remaining.

Hogeboom threw his third touchdown pass to J.T. Smith with 14 seconds left, but the Cardinals didn’t have enough time after recovering the onside kick.

Washington (3-2) won its third straight game and snapped a five-game home losing streak, its longest such string in 25 years.

Rypien completed 23 of 42 passes for 333 yards to help the Redskins pull within a game of the New York Giants in the NFC East. Ernest Byner ran for 102 yards in 14 carries and caught five passes for 71 yards.

For Phoenix, which lost its third straight, Hogeboom completed 20 of 35 passes for 296 yards.

The Cardinals, who have been battered by injuries all season, lost two more players in the second quarter. Wide receiver Roy Green fractured his collarbone and right tackle Shawn Knight injured his right shoulder.