Giants Dominate Redskins in 41-7 Victory : NFC: New York scores on every first-half possession except one against an ineffective Washington defense.

Quarterback Phil Simms threw three touchdown passes for the New York Giants in a 41-7 victory Sunday over the Washington Redskins, the worst defeat the Giants have handed the rival Redskins since shutting them out, 53-0, in 1961.

The Giants (4-1) scored on every first-half possession except one, when Simms fell on the ball twice to let time run out.

“Our tackling was really atrocious. Our pass rush was nonexistent and we couldn’t cover anyone,” Redskin Coach Richie Petitbon said. “You never expect to play as bad as what happened out there today.”

Simms completed two early touchdown passes, seven and 22-yarders to tight end Howard Cross, and Lewis Tillman scored another as the Giants jumped to a 27-0 lead on their first four possessions.

“Any time you have that kind of time to throw the ball and the space we had to run in, you know the offensive line had to do a great job,” said Tillman, subbing for the injured Rodney Hampton.

Simms, who completed 14 of 17 passes for 183 yards, and Giant Coach Dan Reeves said they took advantage of a Washington defense that lost three starters to injuries in the last two games.

“We realize the Redskins are banged up and beat up, particularly on defense,” Reeves said. “Still you can’t take anything away from our guys. It’s still early in the season. Anything can happen.”

Simms finished off the Redskins with a 55-yard touchdown pass play to Mike Sherrard with 10:20 remaining, making it 34-7.

Kenyon Rasheed scored New York’s final points with a 23-yard touchdown run with 3:25 remaining.

Sherrard’s catch, plus an earlier 42-yard scoring play on a pass from running back David Meggett, gave the former UCLA star his first two touchdown catches as a Giant after leaving the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent.

The Redskins, with the third-worst defense in the NFL ahead of Denver and Atlanta, helped the Giants’ offense with holding and other penalties on critical third- down plays.

“I’ve been here a lot of times, and I’ve never seen it like that before,” said veteran Giant linebacker Lawrence Taylor. “Washington loses a great coach, they’re 1-4. We gain a great coach, we’re 4-1.”

Washington’s only score was on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Mark Rypien to Tim McGee near the end of the first half.

Rypien, making his first appearance since tearing a ligament in his knee four weeks ago, completed 21 of 35 passes for 220 yards.

The defeat was the worst at home for Washington since the Philadelphia Eagles shut them out, 45-0, in 1948.