DENVER, Nov. 18 -- It was far from elegant, but the Washington Redskins certainly were not complaining. They erased the lingering doubts about the legitimacy of their turnaround by going on the road, overcoming the loss of quarterback Tony Banks and enduring a miserably damp and chilly afternoon to beat the Denver Broncos, 17-10, today at Invesco Field at Mile High.
Banks suffered a concussion on a second-quarter hit by defensive tackle Leon Lett, but veteran backup Kent Graham took over and threw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes. The Redskins (4-5) rallied from a 10-0 deficit and extended their winning streak to four games with their first road victory in five tries.
Tony Banks was carted off the field after being injured late in the first half of Sunday's game in Denver. Tests revealed no signs of a serious head injury, team officials said Monday.
(AP)
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_____Play of the Game_____
On third down with 2:53 left in the game, Redskins reserve tight end Zeron Flemister sprinted off the line of scrimmage untouched and ran to the left side of the end zone to catch the game-winning touchdown pass from backup quarterback Kent Graham.
The score broke a 10-10 tie. It was Flemisters sixth reception of the year and first career touchdown catch.
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_____By the Numbers_____
20: Number of catches by Michael Westbrook, pictured, in Redskins' first eight games.
9: Number of catches by Michael Westbrook against Denver.
123.1: Kent Graham's quarterback rating after replacing the injured Tony Banks. QB rating for Banks: 40.2 (4 for 13, 27 yards)
12: Number of fumbles (6 by each team) in a game played in rainy and snowy conditions.
2: Number of Redskins starters who lost consciousness: Tony Banks and Bruce Smith.
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_____He Said It_____
"Offensively, that was the worst performance I've ever seen in all my time in the NFL."
-- Broncos Coach Mike Shanahan, after his team's season low 10 first downs and 186 total yards.
Sunday's quote sheet
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_____Next Game_____
Redskins (4-5) at Eagles (6-3)
Where: Veterans Stadium
When: 1 p.m. Nov. 25
TV: Fox
This Week: The Eagles beat the Cowboys, 36-3, Sunday in Dallas.
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They are within two games of first place in the NFC East -- and set to face the division-leading Eagles next Sunday in Philadelphia -- in a season that seemed bereft of hope a month ago.
"You beat somebody in their house in weather like this, it's big," Redskins cornerback Champ Bailey said. "We know we're for real. We don't care what other people think."
Said linebacker LaVar Arrington: "We brought our 'A' game today. . . . We have a chip on our shoulders because people wrote us off a long time ago. We're going to march that a long ways -- as far as it will take us."
The two teams combined for 12 fumbles and 12 dropped passes in a game played in conditions that were alternately windy, rainy and snowy. The stands were about two-thirds empty by the second half. Banks, Graham and punt returner Eric Metcalf fumbled twice apiece for the Redskins, and one of Metcalf's gaffes led to a one-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brian Griese to wide receiver Rod Smith that put Denver up 10-0 late in the first half. The Broncos (5-5) got a field goal earlier in the second quarter following a bizarre play in which an instant replay challenge backfired on the Redskins.
But the Redskins persevered. They won because Graham helped wide receiver Michael Westbrook to his best day of the season, with nine catches for 104 yards. Westbrook caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Graham in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, and Graham found tight end Zeron Flemister for a three-yard touchdown throw with just under three minutes to play.
Graham completed 12 of 18 passes for 123 yards after Banks struggled to a 4-for-13, 27-yard performance. Banks said he hopes to play next Sunday, but Coach Marty Schottenheimer was noncommittal.
"When you're thrown in those situations, you just do the best you can," Graham said. "I tried to fit into the offense and do what Tony does.
The Redskins won because Graham led them on a drive just before halftime that resulted in a 48-yard field goal by place kicker Brett Conway into the teeth of the wind. They won because tailback Stephen Davis fought his way to 84 rushing yards against a Denver defense stacked to stop the run.
They won because Arrington, playing just two weeks after suffering a severe ankle sprain, delivered one jarring hit after another and because Bailey followed Smith all over the field and, aided by a sprained ankle that finally forced Smith from the game, limited him to three receptions. Denver had only 186 total yards and Griese completed only 11 of 31 passes.
The Redskins won because they got some luck, benefiting from a questionable pass interference penalty on their winning drive, and because they played with emotion. Left tackle Chris Samuels screamed that the club should win for Banks when the Redskins took the field to open the second half, and Arrington left the field at the end of the day yelling: "We had to make this our house today!"
Schottenheimer said, "The fact that we have found ways to win is the most important thing."
The Redskins got an early break when Denver's first possession ended with punter Tom Rouen dropping a snap. Rouen picked up the ball but had his punt deflected by Bryan Johnson, and the Redskins took over at Denver's 39-yard line. But Banks and Davis missed connections on a handoff on the Redskins' first offensive play, and linebacker John Mobley recovered the fumble for the Broncos.
