Redskins Go to 6-0 by Defeating Bears : NFC: Rypien throws two touchdown passes to Monk in 20-7 victory. Interceptions hurt Chicago.

Washington quarterback Mark Rypien saw the past flash in front of his eyes and said, “Oh, oh, here we go again.”

It happened in the first quarter of the Washington Redskins’ 20-7 victory over the Chicago Bears Sunday, when Lemuel Stinson intercepted a long pass to Gary Clark.

It reminded Rypien of last year, when the Bears intercepted five of his passes. The Redskins won that game, 10-9, but no thanks to Rypien.

“I think I redeemed myself,” said Rypien, who threw touchdown passes of 26 and five yards to Art Monk Sunday’s victory, which left the Redskins undefeated after six games.

The Bears fell to 4-2 with their second loss in a row.

Rypien said the wind knocked down the ball that seemed to be a sure touchdown before Stinson took it out of Clark’s outstretched arms.

“When nature takes over, you start to wonder,” Rypien said.

But this time it was interceptions that did the Bears in.

After the Bears cut Washington’s lead to 10-7 late in the third quarter, Jim Harbaugh was victimized twice. The Redskins turned them into 10 points to clinch the victory.

Fred Stokes’ interception of a pass deflected by teammate Monte Coleman set up Rypien’s five-yard pass to Monk with 6:20 to play for a 17-7 lead.

Kurt Gouveia’s interception moments later set up Chip Lohmiller’s second field goal, a 23-yarder.

“We were herky-jerky,” said Coach Joe Gibbs of a Redskins’ attack that was limited to 243 yards, the first time this season the Redskins were held under 300 yards.

“It was hard to run on them and we weren’t very smooth,” Gibbs said. “It was their good defense, and the wind (17 m.p.h.) was a factor. The wind affects the quarterbacks more than anything.”

Early in the game, there were some dropped passes by “The Posse” of Monk, Clark and Ricky Sanders. Gibbs said, “Hey, we’re going to keep going to you guys, so step up.”

They did. Rypien completed 18 of 31 passes for 168 yards, with “The Posse” catching 15 for 151 yards.

“We take a lot of pride in our passing game,” said Monk, the leading receiver with six catches for 69 yards and the two touchdowns.

Chicago Coach Mike Ditka, who had called the game the Bears’ “litmus test,” said: “We’re not very good. We’re not in their category. I don’t know who we can beat. It would have to be some team that scores less than seven points.”