A Change of Pace for Redskins

The Washington Redskins were 0-7, and the open-date week had been a disaster. Seemingly buried under adversity, they rose behind a young group of unlikely heroes and wiped away some of the humiliation.

The Redskins forced the New York Giants to punt on 11 of 13 possessions, while Trent Green, Stephen Davis and Skip Hicks--all reserves at the start of the season--did the rest in Washington’s 21-14 victory on Sunday.

“It’s a start,” receiver Leslie Shepherd said. “There’s no need to go out and celebrate like we’ve won the Super Bowl. But when you’re 0-7, the emotions are going to take over because it just feels good to win--for a change.”

The Redskins (1-7) won without 1997 defensive player of the year Dana Stubblefield, Marc Boutte and Stephen Alexander--all injured during the open date. Gus Frerotte and Michael Westbrook were benched--with both expressing their displeasure with Coach Norv Turner. In addition, Terry Allen aggravated a leg injury in the first half.

Hicks, in place of Allen, carried five times for 50 yards, including a four-yard touchdown run in the opening drive of the second half to give the Redskins a 21-7 lead. Davis, forced to play fullback after a season-ending injury to Larry Bowie four weeks ago, caught five passes for 65 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.

Green, who became the starting quarterback for the second time this season after Frerotte’s dismal game against the Minnesota Vikings before the open date, was 21 for 31 for 225 yards. He scored the Redskins’ first touchdown on a one-yard bootleg.

The Giants (3-5) were two for 14 on third-down conversions and punted on their first eight possessions.