Reskins Beat Bills, 37-24, in Super Bowl

The Washington Redskins hogged the spotlight and continued the National pastime in Super Bowl XXVI, rolling over the error-plagued Buffalo Bills, 37-24, Sunday at the Minneapolis Metrodome.

It was the Redskins’ third Super Bowl victory in 10 years and the eighth in a row for the National Football Conference.

And it could have been worse.

Quarterback Mark Rypien had a big game for Washington, throwing for two touchdowns, and Gerald Riggs ran for two scores.

But the Bills had a big part in their own undoing. Buffalo, which lost the Super Bowl last year to the New York Giants, 20-19, when Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard field goal in the final seconds, made mistake after mistake.

The tone was set early for Buffalo when tailback Thurman Thomas, the most valuable player in the National Football League, had to sit out the first two plays when he couldn’t find his helmet.

The Redskins had a chance to take a two-touchdown lead in the first quarter, but the game was scoreless after 15 minutes. Washington had apparently scored on a two-yard pass from Rypien to Art Monk, but the call was reversed on replay, the first time a reversal has taken away a touchdown in the Super Bowl.

Washington then botched a 19-yard field goal attempt when Jeff Rutledge couldn’t handle the snap.

The Bills quickly handed the Redskins another chance. Jim Kelly’s pass was was tipped by Darrell Green and intercepted by Brad Edwards, who returned it to the Buffalo 12.

Three plays later, the Redskins gave it up again when Rypien’s pass bounced off the helmet of guard Mark Schlereth and Kirby Jackson intercepted at the 11.

Then came the second quarter.

Four years ago, in Washington’s last trip to the Super Bowl, the Redskins scored 35 points in the second quarter en route to a 42-10 victory over the Denver Broncos.

This time they scored fewer than half of that--but it was enough for a 17-0 lead.

Chip Lohmiller’s 34-yard field goal finished a seven-play, 65-yard drive to make it 3-0 at 1:58 of the second period. A 42-yard Rypien-to-Ricky Sanders play keyed the drive.

The Bills, who did not move past midfield until three minutes remained in the half, punted after three plays, and Washington went 51 yards in five plays, most of them from a no-huddle offense. Gary Clark had a 16-yard reception in the drive Earnest Byner capped with a 10-yard scoring reception from Rypien.

Two plays later, Kelly’s long pass was far short of James Lofton, and Green intercepted at the Redskins’ 45. Clark beat Nate Odomes for 34 yards, Ricky Ervins ran for 14, then Riggs dived into the end zone from the 1, making it 17-0.

The Bills kept making mistakes. Tight end Keith McKeller dropped what would have been a big gain and wide receiver Don Beebe dropped another ball on the goal line.

Buffalo got a last chance with 1:16 to go in the half. From the Washington 41, Kelly hit McKeller for 21 yards. But a sack cost the Bills eight yards and, when Edwards climbed on Andre Reed’s back to break up a pass and no interference was called, Reed was given a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for slamming his helmet to the ground. That took the Bills out of field goal range.

It didn’t take long for the Redskins to increase the lead in the second half. Linebacker Kurt Gouveia intercepted Kelly on the first play of the third quarter and returned it to the Buffalo 2-yard line. Riggs took it from there, cruising into the end zone to give Washington a 24-0 lead.

Kelly, now four scores down, finally got the Buffalo offense going. He moved the Bills to the Washington 4, but the Redskins got tough on defense and Norwood kicked a 21-yard field goal, making it 24-3.

No team has ever been shut out in the Super Bowl.

The Bills closed to within 24-10, helped by a 29-yard pass interference call on Martin Mayhew against James Lofton. On third down from the 1, Thomas scored.

But the Redskins were not to be denied. Rypien led a well-executed drive and made a perfect pass to Clark for a 30-yard touchdown, giving Washington a 31-10 lead with 1:24 left in the third quarter.

Washington wasn’t going to sit back and let Kelly move the ball again. The Redskins came after the Buffalo quarterback and sacked him, forcing a fumble. Washington recovered on the Buffalo 15, and Lohmiller’s 25-yard field goal made it 34-10. He added a 39-yarder to make it 37-10.

Kelly was taking a beating, but he kept getting up, although he was knocked out for one play. He got the Bills in the end zone again with 5:59 left on a two-yard pass to Pete Metzelaars and Buffalo recovered the onside kick. A couple of runs by Kenneth Davis set up a four-yard touchdown pass to Beebe, making it 37-24.