Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-16
Mark for Tribe Seen
In Winning Games
With Poor Play
Muff Six Opportunities
In First Half Against
Giants, Then Step
By LEWIS ATCHISON.


Almost home but not quite solidly
established as Eastern champions
and next on TIE list Of challengers
for the Chicago Bears pro football
crown, the Redskins in the season
drawing to close probably have
set new high for winning games
and looking bad. Take yesterdays
14-7 victory over the New York
Jinx for example.
1t was the Tribes first win at
the Polo Grounds since 1887 when
Cliff Battles ran wild against Steve
Owens outfit. It was its first de-
cision over the Jinx since their first
game in 1910 and only the second
victory in the last 10 games. The
Giants were supposed to be crippled
by injuries and the Skins needed to
win to be assured of at least tie
for Eastern honors. They had
plenty of reasons for wanting to
win and they should have MUIR
dered the Maramen.
Ray Flaherty's warriors began
as if they intended to do just
that, but they bumped into the
old trouble and for a while it
seemed the Jinx still was working
against them, and at union wages.
Six times in the first half Wash
ington knocked on the door of
a touchdown and six times it
fumbled or tossed away the op-
portunity. Three fumbles, one pass
interception and two stout stands
by the Giants STAYED 'em of.
Leave Critic Skeptical.
Watching them scramble around
on the SCARED, brown turf you
found yourself asking if this was
the team that was supposed to whip
the Bears in the playoff next
month. Could it be possible that
any team that muffed six potential
scores could play that kind of foot
ball against the Bears, against that
give us a. yard-and-wel l-take-
100 crew from old Chi and still
hope to come out on top?
The law of averages got busy and
hustled to the Ckins' rescue at the
start of the second period, for it
was a good break that enabled Andy
Farkas to get away for his 94-yard
touchdown trek with the initial
kickoff. Actually, it was the second
kickoff, which is where the break
comes in, as Ward Cuff had to boot
the ball again after the Jinx was
offside on his first try. Farkas got
that first kick, too, and merely
reached his own 25-yard line. but
the second time there were more red
flannel shirts in front Of him than
you'd find in an 1890 family wash
and he went to town.
Redskins Settle Down.
After that the Tribe played smart,
steady football with Sammy Baugh
pitching 'em downfield to their
second score, also registered by
Farkas on a buck from the l-lnch
line to clinch matters. Messrs.
Offers, who played probably his best
game of the season, Masterson, NC
Chesney and Justice aided the cause,
playing target for most OF Baughs
bullets, but when they arrived on
the 1-yard line the Braves had q
little trouble and Farkas just did
st ok his nose over the final mark
after hitting hard enough to stove
in brick wall.
But, getting back to the original
theme, after looking at the Skins
week in and week out, watching
them stagger across the finish line
q scant head in front OF their So
called weaker sisters, and comparing
their scores with the Bear land
slides, YOU catch yourself wondering
all over again how in heavens name
they possibly can win the champion
ship.
The cause and remedy seem obvi-
GUS enough. Not since the exhibit
ton game against Green Bay at
Baltimore last September have the
Redskins played like real title con-
tenders.
Alternate in MediOcrity.
One week the line has been GOOD
and the backs off their feed and
the next week vice versa. Few OF
them have been good consistently.
The one shining example is Baugh,
who looks good without even COM
pleting a pass. Farkas has been up
to scratch as have XII Aldrlch at
center, Bob Seymour and a rev
others. But as a whole they've been
on and off as much as the celebrated
Finnegan.
Give us another game like the one
they played against the Packers and
we'll concede the Bears nothing but
their reputation. Possibly the Tide
has saved something for the play
off. Maybe all the ammunition IS
going into one annihiliating blast
reserved for the champs. 1t is pos
sible the boys have skinned by these
other games without working up
lot of enthusiasm because the play
of bulked so large in their minds.
But they seem to be counting dlsas-
ter in being satisfied with close
scores. They've got to show the Ola
blood and thunder. eat-'em-a live
spirit If they're going to be match
for the Bears and right now they
don't seem to have It.
fluffy Leemans, reverting to yes
terday's game, was responsible LOT
the Giants touchdown, passing to
ONeale Adams in the end zone Tor
the marker. A penalty against
washington for showing a potentlal
pass receiver helped keep the drive
going, and after Cuff converted
eemans left the game.