Vikings Do the Expected

After taking a bye week to bask in their big victory at Green Bay, the unbeaten Minnesota Vikings were supposed to clobber the winless Washington Redskins.

That’s exactly what they did.

Randall Cunningham threw two touchdown passes and Leroy Hoard ran for two touchdowns as the Vikings scored 41 consecutive points for a 41-7 victory, continuing their best start since 1975.

Throw in a dominating defensive performance that included five sacks, and Minnesota (6-0) showed even more about its character than it did by beating the Packers two Mondays ago.

“I don’t think there’s any question about it,” said Robert Smith, who ran for 103 yards and a touchdown. “It’s easy to get up for a game like Monday night against Green Bay at Lambeau Field. But can you get up against a team that hasn’t won a game all year? We showed we can do it, but this test is over. It’s time for a new one.”

That will be this week’s trip to Detroit. The hapless Redskins (0-7), who are closing in on the franchise-worst 0-9 start of 1961, have an open date.

And the timing couldn’t be better.

Redskin Coach Norv Turner, in danger of losing his job, called Sunday’s performance by the team inept. Cornerback Darrell Green, one of only a few of players Turner singled out for their consistency, agreed.

“It brought tears to my eyes on the sidelines,” Green said. “ I don’t know why. I’ve lost before.”

Washington quarterback Gus Frerotte did not have a good game as he completed 10 of 26 passes for 117 yards with one interception.

Cunningham, who has 12 touchdown passes and no interceptions in four-plus games in relief of injured starter Brad Johnson, completed 20 of 34 passes for 259 yards.