From: swilliam@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Steve Williams)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro,dc.redskins
Subject: Washington Redskins News - 12/21/92
Date: 21 Dec 92 17:43:19 GMT
Reply-To: swilliam@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Steve Williams)
Followup-To: rec.sport.football.pro
Organization: Carderock Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center


		    Washington Redskins News
		       December 21, 1992

The Washington Redskins turned over the game to the Philadelphia Eagles
yesterday.  The game ended with Gary Clark on his knees in the end 
zone and Eagles cornerback Eric Allen fist-pumping.  Allan slapped 
the potential game winning touchdown pass away from wide receiver Gary 
Clark to preserve the Eagles' 17-13 victory over the Redskins.

The Eagles (10-5) gained an NFC wild-card playoff spot, and the 
Redskins (9-6) were left in the nervous position of needing help from
either the New York Giants or Minnesota Vikings next Sunday.

"Both sides want to tear each other's throat out," Redskins kick
return Brian Mitchell said.  "We knew it would be like that.  They 
won the game and they deserve it because of the mistakes we made."

The Redskins finish the regular season on Saturday against the Los
Angeles Raiders at RFK Stadium, but no matter what they do in that
game, they'll have to wait until Sunday to find out if they're in
the postseason.

The NFL's playoff formula is maddeningly confusing at times, but the
bottom line for the Redskins is this: If the Vikings defeat the
Green Bay Packers Sunday, the Redskins are in no matter what they
did against the Raiders.  They can also make it by defeating the 
Raiders and hoping the Eagles defeat the Giants at the Veterans 
Stadium.  (If the Vikings defeat the Packers, the Redskins-Raiders
and Eagles-Giants games will be irrelevant.  If the Redskins and
Packers both lose, the Redskins would beat the Packers in a 
tiebreaker.)

"I think we're going to have to fight our guts out against the 
Raiders," Redskins Joe Gibbs said.  "There's going to be a lot
riding on it.  All we can do is win and see what happens.  We didn't
want to put it in sometone else's hands, but we came up short.  
Hopefully, we'll still find a way to get in."

Finally, if the Redskins do get in, they'll open the playoffs against
the Vikings in a familiar spot - the Metrodome, where they're 4-0,
including last January's victory in the Super Bowl.  They're 3-0
against the Vikings there, including a 15-13 victory  in Week 7.

The Redskins have no one to blame but themselves for their predicament.
A week after a victory over the Dallas Cowboys, the Redskins played
a game that was brilliant at times and terribly sloppy at other times.
Quarterback Mark Rypien made some of his best plays of the season, 
including a 62-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ricky Sanders and
several clutch throws in the final drive.  Rypien also threw a pair of
interceptions to end scoring chances.  Kick return specialist Brian
Mitchell also fumbled a pair of returns and Andre Collins and Alvoid 
Mays were hit with costly penalties.

Offensively, the Redskins opened the game with possessions at their
46- and 40-yard lines and also at the Philadelphia 45.  The Redskins 
came away with just three points.

The Eagles responded to the Redskins' 3-0 lead by driving 80 yards
on six plays for a touchdown.  The Redskins responded immediately,
getting a 10-7 lead three plays later, when Rypien threw a 62-yard
touchdown pass to Ricky Sanders.  It was the Redskins' longest pass
play of the season.

The Redskins then could have dug the Eagles a big hole three plays
later when cornerback A.J. Johnson intercepted a Cunninghan pass at
the Philadelphia 30.  But Rypien gave it right back to the Eagles
when he made a terrible decision under pressure to throw the ball
to tight end Ron Middleton.  The ball went into the hands of the 
Eagles' linebacker Seth Joyner.

The Redskins managed to get a 13-7 lead, thanks to Lohmiller's
41-yard field goal as time ran out in the half. 

The Eagles took the 14-13 lead by opening the second half with a 
80-yard drive, culminating with Cunningham's 28-yard touchdown pass 
to Williams.  The Eagles' lead was extended to 17-13 by Ruzek's
23-yard field goal in fourth quarter.

Redskins Injury Report:
----------------------
WR Ricky Sandes    - sprained knee
RB Brian Mitchell  - sprained foot
CB A.J. Johnson    - sprained shoulder and bruised heel
LB Andre Collins   - bruised rib
 G Mark Schlereth  - knee
SS Danny Copeland  - strained calf
CB Darrell Green   - bruised heel

G Mark Schlereth told coaches last night that he may opt for 
arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.  He's gambling that he has
minor damage and could return for a playoff opener on January 2 or 3.
He has been unable to practice for six weeks and has been "in pain
24 hours a day, seven days a week."  He went the distance yesterday
when the Redskins lost to the Eagles, but the knee "locked up" on
him once.

Doctors believe Schlereth has a torn piece of miniscus floating in 
the knee, and that an arthroscopic cleanup job could be a relatively
minor procedure.  However, if more serious damage is found he would
be gone for the season.

Defensive end Charles Mann also has a sore left knee.  He apparently
has a torn piece of miniscus and said finishing the season is a
struggle.  He'll undergo offseason surgery.


Source: The Washington Post, December 21, 1992

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 Steve Williams                           swilliam@oasys.dt.navy.mil
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Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro