Gus Frerotte, left, is sacked by Giants defenseman Keith Hamilton in the second quarter. (Jeff Christensen - Reuters)

By Liz Clarke
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 7, 1998; Page C1

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Sept. 6 – The Washington Redskins carried an offseason's worth of dreams into Giants Stadium this afternoon, only to suffer through a rash of penalties and turnovers that doomed those dreams and dashed their chances of beating one of the NFL's best defensive teams.

As the clock wound down, Redskins starting quarterback Gus Frerotte was out with a sprained shoulder, and backup Trent Green had thrown the first two touchdown passes of his career to spur a late-game rally. But the comeback fell short, and the Redskins lost their season opener to the New York Giants, 31-24, before a crowd of 76,629.

The significance of the loss is hard to overstate, including a possible change of starting quarterbacks for the home opener against San Francisco next Monday night. The Redskins committed $57.4 million in contracts to a new pair of defensive tackles in the offseason, girding for a run at the NFL playoffs.

But the team lost a 10-3 lead late in the second period and watched the Giants pile up 21 consecutive points in less than four minutes late in the that quarter and early in the third.

The loss exposed a raft of weaknesses in the Redskins' game. The offensive line gave up eight sacks (one fewer than the 1991 Redskins gave up all season). Penalties, of which the Redskins had nine for 75 yards, cost them one touchdown and led directly to one for the Giants. Frerotte threw interceptions early in the third period on back-to-back plays – one of which Coach Norv Turner called "just a horrible decision."

And Turner, who now must weigh Frerotte's play against Green's, is saddled with a quarterback controversy after Week 1.

"I'm going to do, at any position, what it takes for this football team to win," Turner said when asked who would start against the 49ers. "It'll be a quick decision."

Turner had no trouble saying that Green was far more mobile against the Giants' rush.

Frerotte's final numbers, eight completions on 12 attempts for 93 yards and one touchdown, were more than negated by his successive interceptions to start the second half.

The first, a pass Frerotte forced while pinned back on his 5-yard line, drew him a tongue-lashing from middle linebacker Marvcus Patton. Patton wouldn't comment afterward. Turner said he heard the exchange, and that Patton was simply "trying to keep [Frerotte] in the game."

Green was sent into the game shortly thereafter, following the fourth and fifth sacks of Frerotte, on one of which he sprained his shoulder. Green proceeded to complete 17 of 25 passes for 208 yards, including a 62-yarder to wide receiver Michael Westbrook.

Against the Redskins' restocked defense, the Giants managed just 235 yards, including 82 rushing. Second-year quarterback Danny Kanell threw two touchdown passes, and fullback Charles Way rushed for another score. They found their most potent weapon in the Redskins' mistakes, particularly key penalties.

"In a nutshell, this game was based on penalties and turnovers," cornerback Darrell Green said. "That was the success and failure for the team."

When things soured for the Redskins, it happened fast.

Frerotte bounced back from a shaky opening possession to lead a 46-yard touchdown drive, capped by a crisp 17-yard pass to Leslie Shepherd that gave the Redskins a 7-0 lead.

The Giants took advantage of a Redskins penalty on punt return coverage to answer with a 35-yard field goal.

Frerotte's next touchdown pass was a beauty, 31 yards to Westbrook, but it was nullified by a holding penalty against right tackle Shar Pourdanesh, whom Turner later castigated, hinting he'd consider benching Pourdanesh. Said Pourdanesh, who defended the block: "It's not going to get called every time. It's a questionable call."

The Redskins couldn't convert a third and one on a subsequent series, as Giants defenders dropped running back Stephen Davis for a loss up the middle. They settled for a 46-yard field goal by Scott Blanton.

It seemed the Redskins would take a 10-3 lead into halftime, but with 28 seconds remaining in the half, Kanell hit wide receiver Chris Calloway for a five-yard touchdown pass that pulled the Giants to a 10-10 tie. The score was set up when Kanell hit wide receiver Ike Hilliard for 45 yards as defensive backs Cris Dishman and Jesse Campbell blitzed, leaving the receiver wide open.

The second half started miserably for the Redskins. Dug in at his 5, Frerotte dropped back and saw his sideline-bound pass intercepted by Conrad Hamilton at the Redskins 19. Hamilton returned the ball to the 2. Frerotte injured his left shoulder trying to tackle Hamilton. The Giants then sent Way into the end zone for a two-yard touchdown that gave them their first lead, 17-10.

Later, Turner's face turned red just talking about the play. "We have maximum protection, and it should never turn into a turnover," Turner said. "You shouldn't have a sack, you shouldn't have a fumble, and you should never have an interception there."

As Frerotte's shoulder was examined, Green was told to get ready-and he started throwing passes on the sideline.

But Frerotte reentered the game on the next possession, and on his next pass, defensive end Michael Strahan intercepted and returned the ball 24 yards for a touchdown, giving the Giants a 24-10 lead.

Frerotte returned for three more plays: a handoff to Terry Allen and a pair of sacks that left him reeling. The final hit pounded his head into the turf, and he lay dazed as five medical trainers surrounded him.

The tempo changed abruptly with Green's entry.

He completed his first five passes to put together a 90-yard touchdown drive that pulled the Redskins to 24-17. Fullback Larry Bowie caught a four-yard pass for the points.

But after the Redskins forced a punt, Green fumbled as he was sacked, and the Giants' Keith Hamilton recovered. Kanell then fired a touchdown pass to Amani Toomer to make it 31-17.

The Redskins' next possession was three plays and a punt.

When Green got the ball back, he converted a third down with a 28-yard pass to Shepherd. On fourth and two at the Giants 24, he hit Westbrook with an 11-yard throw. A four-yard rush by Allen, a completion to Bowie and a Giants penalty moved the Redskins within a yard of the end zone. On the next play, Green rolled to the right and lobbed a neat touchdown pass to rookie tight end Stephen Alexander to close the gap to 31-24.

Later, with less than four minutes remaining, the Redskins gambled again on a fourth and 10 at the Giants 38. Green fired a pass toward Westbrook, who was blanketed by three defenders. The ball was batted down.

Green gave himself mixed reviews, faulting himself for the fumble but hopeful that he had gained the confidence of coaches and teammates. "All I can do is when I am called upon, is be prepared, be ready to go and play as best I can when I get in there," he said.