PRO FOOTBALL : Redskins Rush Past Winless Bengals, 34-27 : Interconference: Riggs scores three times. Wyche berates reporters for overemphasizing winning.

The Washington Redskins have the best rushing attack in the NFL this season, and they used it effectively Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Gerald Riggs had his best game since 1985, rushing for 61 yards in 10 carries and scoring three touchdowns as the Redskins beat the winless Bengals, 34-27.

The unbeaten Redskins extended their best start since 1985 behind Riggs, who scored two touchdowns on one-yard plays in the first quarter and helped put away the victory with a seven-yard run with 2:02 left in the game.

The only other time Riggs had three touchdowns was against the Rams in 1985. He had six touchdowns last season.

“Three touchdowns--it’s been a long time,” Riggs said. “It’s a matter of teamwork. When this team works together, you can’t stop them.”

The Bengals (0-4) overcame a 17-point deficit in the second half on two touchdowns by Craig Taylor and Jim Breech’s 25-yard field goal that made the score 27-27 in the fourth quarter.

The Redskins then drove 53 yards on six running plays, with Riggs getting the final 29 on three rushes.

“They just outplayed us going into that last drive,” Bengal Coach Sam Wyche said.

“This is a tremendous team. They’re clearly one of the best teams we’ve played in recent years. They’re a powerful team--they don’t have a weak spot.”

By contrast, the Bengals are off to their worst start since 1984, when they started 0-5 in Wyche’s first year as coach.

After the Bengals fell to 0-3 last week, Wyche said that winning is overemphasized in the NFL. He said the Bengals wouldn’t worry about their start because there’s “golf to be played and tennis to be served up.”

When the Bengals fell behind Sunday, several tennis balls flew from the stands.

Wyche was far less calm during the game Sunday, going on the field to berate officials and to exchange words with the Redskins’ Charles Mann after a late hit on quarterback Boomer Esiason, who completed 18 of 37 passes for 212 yards.

Wyche wouldn’t discuss his exchange with Mann, but he again lectured reporters about the emphasis on winning.

“You guys make this so much bigger than life that the whole economy revolves around whether the team wins or not,” Wyche said. “It’s not life or death.

“They should go out and play golf. There’s tennis to be served out there. If you miss a putt, you tee it up again. If your serve doesn’t go in, you can tee it up again. The same way with a football game. Don’t come out here and because your team loses, you’re so depressed it ruins your day.”

Earnest Byner gained 75 yards in 18 carries and Mark Rypien completed 15 of 23 passes for 217 yards for the Redskins, who scored 21 points in the second quarter.

Brian Mitchell’s 66-yard punt return put the Redskins ahead, 24-10, at halftime. It was his second scoring punt return of the season. Chip Lohmiller added a 26-yard field goal early in the third quarter.

After that, the Redskins committed two turnovers, giving the Bengals a chance.

The Bengals went 90 yards in nine plays when they got the ball after Lohmiller’s field goal, with Taylor scoring from one yard. Esiason’s 21-yard pass to Rodney Holman set up the touchdown.