Reserve Manages to Carry the Day

Damon Washington was just what a dormant New York Giant offense needed.

Washington--who previously had only one carry in two NFL seasons--stepped in for injured Ron Dayne, rushing for 90 yards in 25 carries Sunday as the Giants escaped with a 23-9 victory over the winless Washington Redskins.

“I didn’t envision that I was going to be the guy today,” Washington said. “I was ready to go there and do whatever I had to do to keep the flag flying for the running backs.”

Locked in a frustrating game of trading field goals, the Giants (3-1) turned to Washington during a sustained drive that started late in the third quarter. He carried eight times in nine plays, gaining 15 yards to start the drive and 22 more on another carry to move the ball to the Redskin 1.

After Kerry Collins passed to tight end Dan Campbell for the game’s only offensive touchdown, Jason Sehorn sealed the victory, scoring on a 34-yard interception return against Tony Banks with 2:57 left.

Sehorn also made an interception in the end zone.

“It felt good going in the huddle, knowing my teammates were confident in me,” said Washington, who spent last season on special teams. “I don’t think there was a doubter on the sidelines or in the huddle that didn’t believe I could get the job done. So when I went in there, it felt good to let them know, ‘Thanks for having faith in me.”’

Giant Coach Jim Fassel was forced to turn to Washington because, with Tiki Barber sidelined by a sore hamstring, Dayne had become the primary back. He gained 39 yards in the first half, but suffered a neck injury and didn’t play in the second half.

That put Washington--from Colorado State--in the spotlight.

“Damon, I always thought he was going to be a good running back,” Fassel said. “I was worried that he was going to get tired. He hasn’t played that much. I was a little worried about him putting the ball on the ground, but he gave the whole team a lift.”

And in a game that had eight fumbles and four interceptions, the Giants needed it.

It wasn’t until Sehorn’s second interception that the Giants were safe. The cornerback bristled at criticism of an offense that struggled against the Redskins (0-4), who have the lowest-rated defense in the NFL.

“We don’t call that struggling,” he said. “We held the ball for 12 minutes in the third quarter. We’re not the greatest show on earth, but we win and we’re in first place.”