By Gary Pomerantz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, October 3, 1983; Page C1

The facts mixed with fantasy at RFK stadium yesterday. "For the history books," Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann said when it was over.

Better yet, leave this one for the storybooks. In stunning style, the Redskins defeated the Los Angeles Raiders, 37-35, scoring the winning touchdown with 33 seconds left on Theismann’s six-yard pass to Joe Washington.

Likely, the memories will recall this as a brutally physical game, where the Redskins charged back from a 35-20 deficit with 71/2 minutes left. It will be remembered as a game with 890 yards offense (459-431 Redskins’ edge) and the game where Theismann was superior in the clutch, completing 23 of 39 passes for a career-best 417 yards and three touchdowns.

And, if memory has vast storage space, it will be remembered as the game where the Redskins’ chancy onside kick with more than six minutes left brought them fortune, extending the comeback.

"It was the longest, hardest football game I’ve ever played in," said defensive end Howie Long, who had four of the Raiders’ six quarterback sacks.

"Roughest game I’ve ever played in," said Redskins’ 11-year offensive tackle, George Starke. "Howie Long was great. He was fighting, spitting at people, but after the game he came over to me and said, ‘You guys were great.’"

Redskin coach Joe Gibbs said it was "the second-most significant victory in my three years here."

Upstairs in the press box after the game the Raiders’ managing partner, AL Davis, tore a piece of paper into tiny bits and stared out into space, contemplating a game gone awry.

Here’s why:

The Redskins led, 17-7, at half time, although they did not take full advantage of three interceptions thrown by quarterback Jim Plunkett and two fumbles by a team that had only seven turnovers in its first four games.

Then, as quick as it takes to say, "Doesn’t this remind you of the Redskins’ second half collapse in the 31-30 loss to Dallas?" the Raiders struck for that 35-20 lead. Playing without game-breaking running back Marcus Allen--his bruised hip reduced him to participating in just one play--Plunkett threw three touchdown passes in the second half. He threw two to wide receiver Calvin Muhammad and one to tight end Todd Christensen. And Muhammad was replacing star receiver Cliff Branch, who pulled a hamstring muscle on a 99-yard touchdown pass in the first half.

To make matters most pitiful for Washington, the Raiders’ Greg Pruitt returned a punt 97 yards for the 35-20 lead.

The only bright spot for the Redskins at this point was the Art Monk was playing again after missing the first four games with injury. He caught three passes for 59 yards.

Then Theismann turned from competent to superior. Over the final seven minutes he completed nine of 12 passes for 190 yards. Running back John Riggins, who ran 26 times for 91 yards despite having the flu, wasn’t even in the game at this time. "We had to pass," Theismann said.

Trace the magic with 7:20 to play the Redskins started from their 13. Theismann threw a screen pass to the evasive Washington, who ran 67 yards down the right sideline to the Raiders’ 21. Three plays later, Theismann threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Charlie Brown, who had a career-best 11 catches for 180 yards. That closed Washington to 35-27 with 6:15 to play.

Then, the Redskins turned the shrewd on the ensuing kickoff. The Raiders put nine players up front, including Allen, because they expected an onside kick. Jeff Hayes drilled a low, hard kick that hit one of the 18 feet in that front line and shot off to the Raiders’ left.

"I had the ball from the get-go," said Greg Williams, one of the Redskins’ prized special teams players, who recovered the kick at the Los Angeles 32.

"I was trying to make (Hayes) think I was going right," Pruitt said, one of the men on the front line. "I went right, but the ball went left and I just couldn’t reach it."

"If we had gotten it, said coach Tom Flores, his team now 4-1, "it probably would have been a different game."

On the subsequent drive, Theismann threw two more passes, but a sack for an 18-yard loss by the everfightin’ Long forced the Redskins to settle for Mark Moseley’s 34-yard field goal. This helped, though, making it 35-30 with 4:28 left.

Washington still needed a touchdown to win. The Raiders needed one more prolonged drive to hold on. They didn’t get it. "We knew they would run, so we blitzed every play," said strong safety Curtis Jordan.

The Raiders started from their 16. Running back Frank Hawkins (15 for 64 yards) ran twice, both times into the clutches of linebacker Neal Olkewicz, losing one yard. Then, on third and 11, Plunkett completed a nine-yard pass to Christensen. Not enough. So, with 1:50 left, Ray Guy skied a punt that left returner Mike Nelms and the Redskins pinned on their 31.

The 54,016 revved up in RFK. Theismann completed three straight passes to Brown for 9, 26, and 28 yards, to the Raiders’ six with 43 seconds left. Later, the Redskins said they were zeroing in on right cornerback James Davis, who had replaced the injured Ted Watts in midgame.

On first down from the six, Theismann intentionally overthrew the end zone and Brown, who was covered closely.

Then came the brief moment when fact and fantasy become one; on second down, Washington replacing Riggins in the one back offense, slid through the middle and veered slightly right. Theismann spotted him and fired. With both arms outstretched, Washington caught the pass.

"All I remember is catching it," he said. A cool, seven-year veteran, he spoke matter of factly, nearly void of the emotion that overflowed in this game. "I know I had both hands on it and I shouldn’t have any problems with that... It’s something that I expect of me."

Plunkett would up one last time. He completed 16 of 29 passes for 372 yards and four touchdowns to go with his four interceptions. But this long pass to Muhammad, deep down field in his hopes for snatching some mini miracle, was intercepted at the Washington 30 by cornerback Vernon Dean, beaten earlier for a touchdown by Muhammad.

It’s hard to explain how I feel," said Gibbs, his Redskins now 4-1, still one game behind Dallas. "It’s hard to get a lot of points on Oakland."

Perhaps the stunning nature of this game made Gibbs forget the Raiders had moved to Los Angeles.

So physical was the game it seemed like the Washington Grazianos against the Los Angeles Zales. "The Raiders tried to come in here and intimidate us," said defensive end Dexter Manley. "But they were totally shocked. We intimidated them."

The Raiders seemed a bumbling bunch in the first quarter: of their four drives, three ended with Plunkett interceptions-by Jordan, linebacker Mel Kaufman and strong safety Ken Coffey-and the other ended with a fumble by running back Kenny King.

The Redskins built the 17-7 half time lead by way of Riggins’ two-yard touchdown run--his ninth straight game with a rushing touchdown, two short of the NFL record--Theismann’s five-yard touchdown pass to Washington and Moseley’s 28-yard field goal.

"If they hadn’t scored those two touchdown passes in the third quarter, it would have been Riggo right, Riggo left, Riggo out the door in the second half," Starke said. Riggins ran 18 times for 67 yards in the first half alone. He also fumbled in the third quarter, ending a streak of 685 Redskin plays without a fumble. That streak stretched over 40 quarters.

Plunkett threw the 99-yard touchdown pass to Branch, closing the Raiders to 10-7 with 9:24 left in the half. Jordan said he was supposed to cover Branch deep, but covered the tight end instead, expecting a run play. Branch sped past Dean, who was in short coverage.

"It was my mistake," said Jordan.

Perhaps it was a cruel omen that Branch pulled a hamstring running the last 12 yards of that play, which tied an NFL record (with three other) for longest pass play.

Strange how a team produces touchdowns on a 99-yard pass play and a 97 yard-punt return and losses.

"This one will be with us for awhile," said Jordan.