THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 4, 1996 TAG: 9611040113
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 74 lines
The good: For the Redskins, the pregame buffet at the hotel. . . Michael Westbrook's diving 27-yard catch in the fourth quarter. . . . Buffalo's K-Gun offense and the running of Thurman Thomas and Darick Holmes. . . . Tre Johnson's pancake block of Bruce Smith.
The bad: Washington's tackling against Thomas and Holmes. . . The run blocking by the offensive line. . . Many of Gus Frerotte's passes.
The ugly: The look of Redskins' P Matt Turk's left thumb, which has torn ligaments, incurred when he tried to make a tackle in the third quarter. . . Watching DT William Gaines try to stay on-sides. He jumped twice.
Turning point: On the first possession of the second half, the Redskins drive to the Buffalo 38. A touchdown brings them to within 3. Then Frerotte fumbles when blind-sided by Bryce Paup. Marc Logan overruns the ball; Bills LB Sam Rogers recovers.
And don't forget: The Redskins had a chance to stop the Bills almost immediately after Frerotte's fumble. Reed fumbled the Bills' try at a reverse, but Darrell Green tried to scoop it and run rather than fall on it. He failed, the Bills recovered and went on score.
Unsung heroes: Redskins FB Marc Logan, who played despite a thigh pull suffered late last week in practice. He had a crucial 21-yard gain on Washington's opening touchdown.
Numbers crunching: Thurman Thomas' touchdown made him just the fourth player in NFL histry with 60 rushng TDs and 20 by pass. The others: Marcus Allen, Jim Brown and Lenny Moore. . . . Thomas and Holmes ran for more than 100 yards, marking the first time since 11-22-92 at Atlanta that Buffalo had two runners exceed 100 yards rushing in a game. . . . Ellard's 22-yard catch in the fourth quarter moved him past ex-Redskin Art Monk and into fourth place on the NFL's all-time receiving yards list with 12,721.
Injuries: OT Shar Pourdanesh (compound dislocation of the right ring finger); P Matt Turk (torn ligaments left thumb); DT Sean Gilbert (sprained righ knee); OT Ed Simmons (sprained knee); CB Scott Turner (strained hamstring) and RB Marc Logan (aggravated pulled calf muscle.)
Next opponent: Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, 1 p.m., RFK Stadium. The Cardinals are 3-6, last in the NFC East, after a 16-8 loss to the New York Giants Sunday at the Meadowlands. - Jim Ducibella
Skins Report Card
Offensive line F Never caught on to where Bryce Paup was coming from; never got to MLB Chris Spielman to keep him from making plays. Did nothing with the ball - not that they had it all that often.
Receivers C Michael Westbrook's diving catch and a couple of nice grabs by Leslie Shepherd kept this position from an ``F.'' They caught what was thrown their way.
Running backs D Nowhere to run, which is the line's fault. But FB Marc Logan started the Redskins downhill slide with his early second-quarter fumble.
Quarterback D Underthrew a pass to an open Westbrook that might have given the Redskins life in the second half; fumbled twice; never exhibited the leadership necessary to help the team dig out of its hole.
Defensive line F The Bills ran right, left and up the middle. Granted, they were missing three players, but they got no rush and when they got close, they couldn't put Bills QB Jim Kelly down.
Linebackers D Like everyone else, they didn't nothing to stifle Buffalo once the Bills got rolling. Poor tackling helped turn 5-yard gains into 10-yard gains.
Secondary F FS Stanley Richard and SS Darryl Morrison ought to return their paychecks; CB Tom Carter was beaten long, short and across the middle; Darrell Green was no factor.
Special teams D Brian Mitchell reversed his field on a punt return that lost 10 yards, then fair-caught one he had 20 open yards to return. P Matt Turk had his worst game as a Redskin.
Coaching F Norv Turner came out with the nice wrinkle of starting Brian Mitchell and putting him on the flank. It worked early. But it's his responsibility to get his team ready to play. They weren't, and got drilled. by CNB