Redskins Manage to Get Helping Hand

Even the team with the most prolific offense in the NFL will take a little charity from the other side.

Not to mention a bunch of help from its defense.

The Washington Redskins, helped by crucial penalties by the New York Jets and a defense that had six sacks, won, 27-20, Sunday. The Redskins (2-1) got three touchdown runs for the second consecutive game from NFL scoring leader Stephen Davis and three sacks by Kenard Lang.

Plus all that help from the injury-ravaged Jets, who have gone from AFC title game participants last season to 0-3.

“I’d like to say this is a statement game for us,” said Washington quarterback Brad Johnson, the NFL’s passing leader who was 17 for 28 for 241 yards. “It’s a huge win, coming from behind in New York against the Jets.”

The Jets took a 17-13 lead on John Hall’s 37-yard field goal with 8:10 to go, then became generous.

On an 80-yard Redskin drive that ended with a four-yard, go-ahead touchdown run by Davis, cornerback Ray Mickens was called for two pass-interference penalties. The first cost the Jets 35 yards when he bumped Michael Westbrook, the other nullified a stop on third down when he held Albert Connell.

Then Lang got two sacks, the second forcing a fumble by quarterback Rick Mirer that was recovered by Dan Wilkinson at the New York 21. Davis’ seven-yard touchdown run gave the Redskins a 27-17 lead.

Kevin Williams’ 81-yard kickoff return set up the Jets at the Washington 16, and an apparent touchdown pass to Keyshawn Johnson was not allowed when the replay showed he didn’t have possession of the ball before he stepped over the end line.

Hall followed with a 34-yard field goal, but Washington recovered the on-side kick.

The Redskins, who had allowed an NFL-worst average of 457 yards in their first two games, gave up 337 to the Jets.

“We were real mad today and we got ticked off on that very first drive,” Lang said of a 35-yard touchdown reception by Dedric Ward. “We were just not going to let this happen again. After that, we got it together and decided we were going to work this out.”

After sputtering early, Washington’s prolific offense--averaging 450 yards--finally got going midway through the second quarter, helped greatly by an illegal contact penalty against backup cornerback Marcus Coleman on third down. Johnson passed to Stephen Alexander for 21, 15 and 20 yards before Brett Conway made a 26-yard field goal.

The Redskins scored on their next possession. Johnson beat a blitz to find Connell for a 34-yard gain that set up a one-yard score by Davis, who has eight touchdowns.