Linebacker Wilber Marshall, Washington`s $6 million man, did a nice job summing up the New York Giants` 27-20 victory over the Redskins Monday night. ”It was a learning experience, but it was pretty disappointing,” said the former Bear who was acquired by the Skins as a free agent during the off- season. ”When you have someone like that down at the half, you have to nail the coffin.”
Despite all the high-priced help running around Giants Stadium, this matchup of the last two Super Bowl champions turned on a play by Mike Scully, a free agent from Illinois who was signed by Washington, cut during training camp and then re-signed for the opener.
With the score tied at 13 early in the fourth quarter, Scully`s low snap that bounced to punter Steve Cox led to the kick`s being blocked by New York`s Gary Reasons. The Giants` Tom Flynn scooped up the ball and ran 27 yards for a touchdown.
”When a snap`s low like that, you have to sort of be a shortstop,” said Cox. ”But it`s my job to catch it.”
Then, just more than two minutes later, on the Redskins` next possession, the aroused New York defense, playing without star linebacker Lawrence Taylor because of his 30-day suspension, struck for another touchdown.
This time, linebacker Pepper Johnson jarred the ball loose from Washington`s Doug Williams just as he was about to pass.
New York`s Jim Burt grabbed the ball and took it 39 yards for a touchdown that put the Giants up 27-13 and, for all practical purposes, sealed the victory over the defending National Football League champs.
”Turnovers won the game for us,” said Giants coach Bill Parcells.
”Nice way to start the season, with a big one like this.”
The Redskins had gone up 13-0 by early in the second quarter, and their lead could easily have been more except for an offense that sputtered whenever it got close to the Giants` end zone.
Washington had to settle for two Chip Lohmiller field goals and a 29-yard TD pass from Williams to Ricky Sanders for the points. Twice the Redskins got to the 8-yard line with at least a down to spare before calling on Lohmiller. ”We were very, very fortunate,” said Burt. ”It could easily have been 21-zip. We just kept the pressure on, and that was the main thing.”
The Giants` running attack, expected to be a strong suit this year, never got untracked. New York had only one first down on its opening four possessions, and Joe Morris had minus-11 yards in the first half before finishing with a scant 24 for the night.
Williams, last year`s Super Bowl hero, hit 24 of 50 for 288 yards.
