"I never imagined it would happen like that," Metcalf said. "I kept telling myself all week I could break one, but I didn't think it would be the first one."
But the Redskins' offense finished the half with three first downs and 83 yards, and the Giants climbed back into contention. They botched one would-be touchdown play when running back Ron Dayne made an errant pitch back toward Collins on a flea flicker. Instead of throwing downfield for the wide-open Hilliard, Collins fell on the ball for a 17-yard loss.
Michael Westbrook, No. 82, scores a 67-yard touchdown pass with just under seven minutes to play. New York's Shaun
Williams, No. 36, and Jason Sehorn, No. 31, give chase.
(Stephen J. Boitano - AP)
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_____Game Ball_____
Who gets yours after Sunday's win?
What's your opinion?
Note: This is an unscientific survey of washingtonpost.com readers.
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_____Play of the Game_____
Redskins wide receiver Kevin Lockett completed a 31-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Derrius Thompson on the fourth play of the second half.
The play was set up when quarterback Tony Banks lateraled to Lockett, who was lined up as the outside receiver to the left.
Thompson sprinted down the left side past New York Giants rookie cornerback Will Peterson and caught his first career touchdown pass.
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_____He Said It_____
Go in the locker room and see what kind of of people we have in there. It's important to them, and they're working hard.
Marty Schottenheimer, on the Redskins' reversal
Sunday's quotesheet
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_____Next Game_____
Redskins (2-5) vs. Seattle (3-3)
Where: FedEx Field
When: 4:15 p.m. Sunday
TV: CBS
This Week: The Seahawks lost to Miami, 24-20, in Seattle.
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On their next drive, though, the Giants went 65 yards to get to 14-7. Collins connected with Toomer for 14 yards and with Joe Jurevicius for 20 yards. Central McClellion, the Redskins' number three cornerback, had a 22-yard pass interference penalty, and Toomer made a leaping catch over cornerback Champ Bailey on a fade pattern for the touchdown.
A holding penalty on the kickoff return backed up the Redskins, and their offense backed up even more. Bryan Barker's 34-yard punt gave the Giants the ball on the Redskins 39, and they cashed in. On a second-down play from the 27, Collins slipped out of trouble and moved to the right, then got the ball to Hilliard around the 17. Hilliard made Bailey miss a tackle and bounced off a hit by Arrington, then outmaneuvered safety Sam Shade to the end zone.
The Redskins righted themselves before halftime, using Carter's 30-yard run through the middle of the Giants' defense to get in position for Conway's kick. The Redskins got a break to open the second half when Morten Andersen's kickoff rolled out of bounds. The Redskins got the ball at their 40, and opened up the offense.
Davis rumbled for 15 yards on the first play of the drive. He then was thrown for a three-yard loss, but Banks got the ball to wide-open tight end Zeron Flemister for a 17-yard gain. With a first down at the Giants 31, Banks took the snap and threw the ball backward to Lockett, who was standing around the 37. Lockett looked downfield and saw Thompson uncovered, and calmly put his throw on the mark for the touchdown.
The Giants moved downfield but were stopped. Smith stripped Collins on a third-down play. Barber recovered and advanced the ball five yards to set up a fourth and five at the Redskins 35, but Bailey broke up a pass headed for Toomer. With Giants linebacker Jessie Armstead out because of a strained knee ligament, the Redskins used the running of Davis and Carter to get Conway's second field goal of the game for a 27-14 advantage with 3 minutes 23 seconds to play in the third quarter. Schottenheimer used Davis to convert a fourth-and-one play at the Giants 42, but was not willing to gamble again on fourth and one from the 2.
Again, the Giants refused to wilt, going 72 yards to get to 27-21. Collins used a play-action fake to buy time to get the ball to Comella on first down at the Redskins 1. The Giants got the ball back but had to punt, and Westbrook used a stop-and-go move to get behind cornerback Jason Sehorn for his crucial touchdown. Banks passed to fullback Donnell Bennett for a two-point conversion.
"I think our problem before was that we didn't know what was going on as an offensive unit," Westbrook said. "Guys are learning and really know what's going on now."
