Redskins, Still in Hunt, Defeat Cardinals, 29-10

The Washington Redskins are making a late-season run at the playoffs, while the lack of a rushing attack has killed the Phoenix Cardinals’ chances.

Gerald Riggs and Earnest Byner each had one-yard scoring runs, and rookie cornerback A.J. Johnson returned a third-quarter interception 59 yards for his first NFL touchdown as Washington beat Phoenix, 29-10, Sunday to keep its wild-card playoff hopes alive.

“We’re not out of it by any means,” Coach Joe Gibbs said after his Redskins improved their record to 7-6, two games behind the NFC East-leading New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles. “There are still three games left. Anything can happen.”

Phoenix (5-8) lost its third straight game and second under interim head coach Hank Kuhlmann. The Cardinals will have to win their last three games to avoid a fifth-straight losing season.

Washington held Phoenix to a season-low 29 yards rushing on 16 carries, their fifth game in a row under 100 yards and ninth game this year. The Cardinals were held to 263 yards in offense.

The Redskins took a 10-0 lead on Chip Lohmiller’s 29-yard field goal with 5:34 remaining in the first quarter and Byner’s one-yard run at 3:31 into the second quarter.

Phoenix tied the game, 10-10, on Al Del Greco’s 27-yard field goal with 7:03 remaining in the second quarter and Earl Ferrell’s one-yard touchdown run with 1:24 left in the half.

But Washington took the second-half kickoff and drove 61 yards in 11 plays, with Riggs’ touchdown putting the Redskins ahead to stay at 17-10.

Redskin quarterback Mark Rypien, who missed the first half’s final minute after spraining his left knee on a sack, completed 16 of 22 passes for 153 yards. Doug Williams replaced Rypien and completed two of five passes for 22 yards and threw one interception.

Byner rushed for 86 yards in 20 carries while Riggs had 39 in 12.

Phoenix quarterback Gary Hogeboom completed eight passes in 11 attempts for 131 yards before dislocating the index finger on his throwing hand eight minutes before halftime.

Tupa took over and was 10 of 18 for 124 yards and two interceptions--the other by Wayne Davis in the Redskin end zone with 1:04 remaining in the third quarter.

Chip Lohmiller kicked a 24-yard field goal with 1:38 left in the game, and Tupa was called for intentionally grounding the ball out of the end zone for a safety with 53 seconds remaining.