Friesz Gets Comfortable, Redskins Pound Saints : NFC: His four touchdown passes, plus two key returns by Brian Mitchell, lead Washington to a 38-24 victory.

John Friesz played like a guy who plans on sticking around.

Supposed to baby sit Washington’s quarterback job until top draft pick Heath Shuler is ready to take over, Friesz threw four touchdown passes Sunday as the Redskins defeated the New Orleans Saints, 38-24.

Brian Mitchell scored on a 74-yard punt return and set up another touchdown with an 86-yard kickoff return, helping rookie head Coach Norv Turner earn his first victory.

Friesz completed 15 of 22 passes for 194 yards. His performance kept Shuler on the bench.

“I think I played well today,” said Friesz, who had never thrown even three touchdown passes in a game during his five-year career.

Friesz threw two touchdown passes to Henry Ellard, and one each to Cedric Smith and Desmond Howard.

“We didn’t have a drop throughout the game,” Friesz said. “I really didn’t get hit much. And we had great success running the ball, which made the passing game open up that much more.”

Mitchell also helped open up things. He returned two punts for 87 yards and three kickoffs for 138 yards. He also rushed for 27 yards on seven carries.

A Saint punt in the first quarter went out of bounds on the Washington 31, but New Orleans (0-2) was penalized five yards and forced to punt again. Mitchell caught it on the 26 and ran through the Saints’ coverage for the touchdown.

Friesz’s one-yard pass to Ellard was set up after a punt by the Redskins hit Saints cornerback Tyrone Legette and was recovered by Lamont Hollinquest at the 14.

In the second half, Mitchell caught Morten Andersen’s kickoff one-yard deep in the end zone and ran it back to the New Orleans’ 15. Six plays later, Friesz connected with Smith on a one-yard touchdown for a 21-3 lead.

Friesz went to Ellard again in the third quarter for a 41-yard touchdown.

Saint quarterback Jim Everett, who was under pressure most of the day, completed 31 of 46 passes for 376 yards and two touchdowns.