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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) -- Stephen Davis took his share of hits
through three quarters, then provided the decisive run when it
counted most.
|  | | Washington linebacker Kevin Mitchell intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore's Shannon Sharpe on Sunday. |
The Washington Redskins became the third straight team to hold
Baltimore without a touchdown and the first to get a victory, using
a fourth-quarter score by Davis to beat the Ravens 10-3 Sunday.
"We knew it would be like a baseball score," Washington
defensive end Kenard Lang said. "We knew the defense was going to
have to step up, but Stephen hit the home run."
Even though Davis' 33-yard TD run came with 14:18 left, given
the plight of the Ravens offense, it might as well have been a
walkoff homer. Baltimore couldn't get past the Washington 48 during
its final two possessions and did not get the ball after punting
with 5:30 remaining.
It was the fourth straight win for the Redskins (5-2), who
limited the Ravens to 199 yards in a game between teams more
interested in holding onto first place than claiming bragging
rights against their in-state opponent.
"We were able to move the ball in the second half and get some
drives going," Redskins coach Norv Turner said. "Defensively we
hung in there all day, made plays and put pressure on the
quarterback. It's nice to put a game like that together."
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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The Redskins' defense, under coordinator Ray Rhodes, has made great strides
this year and is playing playoff-caliber football.
This was a defensive battle throughout the game until the Redskins broke
through late.
Neither team could generate much offense, but Washington was able to get running back
Stephen Davis on track in the second half (after 35 yards
through three quarters, he finished with 91).
Tony Banks threw a costly interception at the end of the first half when the Ravens had a first-and-goal with the score tied 3-3. Baltimore has not scored a touchdown in 12 quarters.
Banks has struggled with inconsistent play all season and continued in that
vein today.
If you're a Baltimore fan, you have to be concerned about the offense.
Ravens head coach Brian Billick has made his reputation as an outstanding
offensive coach, but they need to start scoring some touchdowns.
With the injuries the Redskins have had on the offensive line and at wide
receiver, they may need to depend on their defense -- and be more
conservative on offense than they'd like to be -- until they get healthier.
Tom Donahoe, ESPN.com's NFL analyst, was formerly the Steelers' director
of football operations.
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Washington bottled up Baltimore quarterback Tony Banks for much
of the game and greatly benefitted from a strange play call at the
end of the first half to remain atop the NFC East.
The Ravens (5-2) won their previous two games despite failing to
score a touchdown, a feat last accomplished in the NFL by the 1925
Detroit Panthers.
But that formula wasn't enough Sunday, even though Baltimore's
highly touted defense limited Davis to 35 yards rushing through
three quarters.
"I just kept pounding and pounding, hoping something good would
happen," Davis said. "And it did."
The Redskins went up 10-3 when Davis capped an 80-yard drive by
bursting through a hole off left tackle and cutting to the outside
into the clear. Davis had three carries for 50 yards on the
seven-play drive, including a 16-yarder that ended with him lying
on the ground for several minutes.
Obviously, he wasn't seriously hurt. Davis finished with 91
yards on 21 carries.
"It was the kind of a game that was advertised, a tough,
physical game," Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "They were able
to make the one big play, the big one by Stephen Davis, and we
weren't. You kind of figured it would come down to that."
The defeat ended the Ravens' three-game winning streak and
dropped them out of first place in the AFC Central.
Banks went 16-for-27 for 135 yards and one very costly
interception.
The first half ended in a 3-3 tie and with the Ravens lamenting
an ill-advised call.
With time running out, Baltimore inexplicably tried a pass on
first-and-goal from the 1 despite having two timeouts left. Banks'
throw to Shannon Sharpe was intercepted in the end zone by Kevin
Mitchell with five seconds to go.
"We probably should have thrown it away," Billick said.
"The primary guy was covered. We didn't have it the way we
thought we had it," Banks said. "If I throw a higher ball there,
maybe Shannon is able to pluck it. If not, we get a field goal out
of it."
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No offense
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Team
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No TD
Games
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Record
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Ravens
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4
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5-2
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Bengals
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3
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0-6
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'Hawks
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2
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2-5
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No other team has more than one TD-less game.
That served as an appropriate conclusion to a half that was
dominated by both defenses.
The Redskins managed only two first downs before moving 45 yards
in an 11-play drive that ended with a 37-yard field goal by
newcomer Kris Heppner midway through the second quarter. Brad
Johnson went 5-for-5, including an 18-yard completion to Larry
Centers and a 23-yarder to James Thrash.
Baltimore bounced right back, tying it on a 51-yard field goal
by Matt Stover.
Davis then lost a fumble at the Washington 42, but Banks gave it
back with his errant toss into the end zone.
Game
notes
Redskins DB Darrell Green strained a calf muscle in the
first quarter and did not return. ... It was the 24th straight game
in which Baltimore did not permit a 100-yard rusher. ... Because
Deion Sanders was nursing a back injury, James Thrash fielded punts
for the Redskins. ... With Irving Fryar inactive, the Redskins on
occasion used CB Champ Bailey as a receiver. ... Ravens DT Sam
Adams hurt his groin in the first quarter and did not return. ...
Johnson, who went 18-for-27 for 158 yards, was held under 200 yards
passing for the first time this season.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Baltimore Clubhouse
Washington Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Redskins' quarterback Brad Johnson share his thoughts on his team's victory over the Ravens.
avi: 1024 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Norv Turner says the Redskins' defense played with a sense of urgency against Baltimore.
wav: 159 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Brian Billick answers questions about the Ravens' offense.
wav: 75 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Shannon Sharpe says the Ravens' offense is a weak link.
wav: 141 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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