Week 1, September 5th, 1988, MNF, Washington Redskins @ New York Giants

Monday, September 5th, 1988 9:00PM
Washington Redskins (0-0) @ New York Giants (0-0)
Giants Stadium
Weather: 72 degrees relative humidity 74%, wind 17 mph
Line: New York -2 (washington), O/U 42 (under)

Attendance:  76,417 (76,891)

Washington 17, New York Giants 16

There was high drama in the national spotlight for the last 2 Superbowl Champions and fierce Divisional rival as the Washington Redskins visited Giants Stadium for a Monday Night clash.

The Giants stopped the Redskins on the opening possession and answered with a methodical 78 yard touchdown drive.  The drive was led by a grinding running attack by halfback Joe Morris (22-91) and timely pass connections from QB Phil Simms (18-38 181 Yards) to TE Mark Bavaro (3-45) and Flanker Stephen Baker (3-34).  Maurice Carthon ran the ball in up the middle to put the Giants up 7-0 early.

Maurice Carthon scored the game's first touchdown, a power run up the middle in the 1st quarter

The two teams exchanged possessions until the Giants started to move the ball once again late in the 1st quarter running into the 2nd quarter.  Phil Simms again was able to convert on clutch passing, converting on 4 huge 3rd downs on passes to Mark Bavaro, Stephen Baker, and twice to Lionel Manuel.  The drive stalled inside the Redskin 10 yard line, a critical early battle that would come back to haunt the Giants.  Kicker Paul McFadden made the 27 yard field goal to extend the lead to 10-0 in the opening minutes of the 2nd quarter.

The next drive, Quarterback Doug Williams (22-38 288 Yards 2 TD, 1 Int) threw an interception to DB Sheldon White and the Giants took over at the Redskin 44 yard line.  They could not gain 1 yard on that drive though, another missed opportunity.

The Redskins turned the tables, driving down most of the field behind 2 catches by Ricky Sanders for 42 yards.  Ricky Sanders did drop a potential touchdown pass on 3rd down from the 16.  Chip Lohmiller would kick a 36 yard field goal to cut the Giants lead to 10-3 just before the 2-minute warning.

The Giants 2 minute offense clicked.  Phil Simms put the finishing touches on a solid half going 5 for 5 with 57 yards on the drive, which was capped by an Ottis Anderson touchdown run off the tackle with :22 left.  Paul McFadden however, missed the extra point, a failed conversion that would come back to doom the Giants.  The home crowd was in high spirits as the Giants were leading the defending Champions 16-3 at halftime.

The 3rd quarter started with both teams struggling to gain yardage.  The Redskins started to move the ball in the middle stage of the quarter, and penetrated to the Giants' 26.  On 3rd and 5, Lawrence Taylor came through with a huge sack on Doug Williams for an 11 yard loss, eliminating the possibility of a field goal attempt.

The Redskins again had the ball moving late in the 3rd quarter and early in the 4th, Chip Lohmiller missed a 48 yard field goal attempt.  14:01 Remaining in the game and time was ticking on the Redskins.

The Redskin defense, who held the Giants to 4 total first downs, 77 yards, and 0 points in the 2nd half, held the Giants on the following drive on 3 plays.  

On the 3rd play of the drive, Art Monk beat CB Perry L. Williams and Doug Williams connected for a 65 yard touchdown connection that cut the lead to 16-10, with over 10 minutes remaining and changing the game.

The teams exchanged punts in a field position game until Doug Williams and the Redskins took over, running out of opportunity, on the New York 27 with 4:30 remaining.  The Redskins were able to move the ball efficiently, never facing a 3rd down while getting 5 first downs and running the clock.  Gary Clark caught a bobbling pass to move the ball to the 1 yard line.  On the next play, Williams connected with Fullback Craig McEwen for the 1 yard touchdown and a 17-16 lead with only 1:15 remaining.  

Gary Clark makes an athletic catch deep in Giants territory late in the 4th quarter

The Giants were not slain yet.  After an offsides penalty nullified a kickoff, the second try was returned by Neal Guggemos for 40 yards to the Washington 47 with over a minute to get into field goal range.  The first play, Washington was flagged for pass interference, putting the Giants at the 32 and in field goal range. The Redskins held strong, forcing 2 incompletions and dumping TE Zeke Mowatt for a 4 yard loss.  Paul McFadden had the game on his boot for a 53 yard field goal try, however he missed the field goal and a chance to redeem himself, as the Redskins held on for the comeback victory 17-16

Player of the Game

Doug Williams - Redskins

Doug Williams took control of the game in the 4th quarter, erasing a 13 point deficit with 108 yards and 2 touchdown passes.  He completed passes to 10 different receivers.

1988 Washington 17, 1988 New York NFC 16
	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT	Total
1988 Washington	0	3	0	14	0	17
1988 New York NFC	7	9	0	0	0	16

Scoring Plays
Qtr	Clock	Poss	Scoring Description(Extra Point)	Score
1	8:09	1988 New York NFC	M.Carthon 1 yd. run (P.McFadden kick)	7-0 NYN
2	11:57	1988 New York NFC	P.McFadden 26 yd. field goal	10-0 NYN
2	2:05	1988 Washington	C.Lohmiller 36 yd. field goal	10-3 NYN
2	0:08	1988 New York NFC	O.Anderson 2 yd. run (kick failed)	16-3 NYN
4	10:46	1988 Washington	A.Monk 65 yd. pass from D.Williams (C.Lohmiller kick)	16-10 NYN
4	1:15	1988 Washington	C.McEwen 1 yd. pass from D.Williams (C.Lohmiller kick)	17-16 WAN

Team Statistics
	1988 Washington	1988 New York NFC
First Downs by Rush-Pass-Pen-Total	5-16-1-22	6-11-1-18
Third Down Efficiency	3-13-23%	8-18-44%
Fourth Down Efficiency	1-1-100%	0-0-0%
Red Zone Efficiency (pts-poss-pct)	10-14-71%	17-21-81%
Total Offense-Plays-Avg Yards Per Play	373-69-5.4	288-68-4.2
Total Net Yards Rushing	96	107
Total Rushes	30	30
Average Per Rush	3.2	3.6
Passes Completed/Attempted	22/38 (57.9%)	18/38 (47.4%)
Net Yards Passing	277	181
Avg Yards Per Pass	7.6	4.8
Sacked/Yards Lost	1/11	0/0
Punts/Average	6/39.3	8/42.4
Punts Received/Return Yardage	5/24	1/-1
Kickoffs/Returns	3/39	2/59
Interceptions/Returns	0/0	1/7
Penalties/Yards	9/87	5/25
Total Fumbles/Fumbles Lost	0/0	1/0
Time of Possession	32 mins 36 secs	27 mins 24 secs
Average Drive Start	WAN 24	NYN 27

Passing Stats
	Att	Comp	Yds	Comp %	Yds/Att	TD	TD %	INT	INT %	Long	Sack	Rating
1988 Washington
Doug Williams	38	22	288	57.9	7.6	2	5.3	1	2.6	65	1/11	88.5
1988 New York NFC
Phil Simms	38	18	181	47.4	4.8	0	0	0	0	17	0/0	61.4

Rushing Stats
	No	Yds	Avg	Long	TD	2 Pt Conv	Fumbles/Lost
1988 Washington
Kelvin Bryant	15	70	4.7	18	0	0	0/0
Timmy Smith	8	16	2.0	10	0	0	0/0
Jamie Morris	4	13	3.3	8	0	0	0/0
Doug Williams	3	-3	-1.0	-1	0	0	0/0
1988 New York NFC
Joe Morris	22	91	4.1	27	0	0	0/0
Ottis Anderson	6	15	2.5	5	1	0	0/0
Maurice Carthon	2	1	0.5	1	1	0	0/0

Receiving Stats
	No	Yds	Avg	Long	TD	2 Pt Conv
1988 Washington
Gary Clark	5	44	8.8	14	0	0
Ricky Sanders	3	60	20.0	29	0	0
Craig McEwen	2	14	7.0	13	1	0
Kelvin Bryant	2	16	8.0	8	0	0
Don Warren	2	25	12.5	15	0	0
Art Monk	2	98	49.0	65	1	0
Mike Oliphant	2	2	1.0	8	0	0
Jamie Morris	2	10	5.0	5	0	0
Terry Orr	1	7	7.0	7	0	0
Timmy Smith	1	12	12.0	12	0	0
1988 New York NFC
Lionel Manuel	6	66	11.0	17	0	0
Mark Bavaro	3	45	15.0	16	0	0
Stephen Baker	3	34	11.3	15	0	0
Maurice Carthon	2	21	10.5	11	0	0
Odessa Turner	1	6	6.0	6	0	0
George Adams	1	6	6.0	6	0	0
Zeke Mowatt	1	-4	-4.0	-4	0	0
Joe Morris	1	7	7.0	7	0	0

Field Goals
	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	Totals	% Made
1988 Washington
Chip Lohmiller	0/0	0/0	1/1	0/1	0/0	1/2	50.0
1988 New York NFC
Paul McFadden	0/0	1/1	0/0	0/0	0/1	1/2	50.0

Punting
	No	Avg	Net	Tb	Inside 20	Long	Blocked
1988 Washington
Greg Coleman	6	39.3	39.5	0	2	48	0
1988 New York NFC
Maury Buford	8	42.4	39.4	0	2	51	0

Kickoff Returns
	No	Yds	Avg	Long	TD
1988 Washington
Jamie Morris	3	39	13.0	19	0
1988 New York NFC
Neal Guggemos	2	59	29.5	40	0

Punt Returns
	Ret	FC	Yds	Avg	Long	TD
1988 Washington
Derrick Shepard	5	0	24	4.8	10	0
1988 New York NFC
Phil McConkey	1	1	-1	-1.0	-1	0

Individual Defense
	Tackles	Sacks	Fum Rec
1988 Washington
Neal Olkewicz	12	0	0
Dexter Manley	6	0	0
Barry Wilburn	5	0	0
Monte Coleman	5	0	0
Alvin Watson	5	0	0
Wilber Marshall	4	0	0
Charles Mann	3	0	0
Dave Butz	2	0	0
Darrell Green	1	0	0
Todd Bowles	1	0	0
Dennis Woodberry	1	0	0
Johnny Thomas	1	0	0
1988 New York NFC
Lawrence Taylor	8	1	0
Carl Banks	7	0	0
Perry L. Williams	6	0	0
Jim Burt	6	0	0
Mark Collins	5	0	0
Harry Carson	4	0	0
Terry Kinard	4	0	0
Pepper Johnson	3	0	0
Kenny Hill	2	0	0
George Martin	1	0	0
Eric Dorsey	1	0	0
Sheldon White	1	0	1

Interceptions
	No	Yds	Avg	Long	TD
1988 Washington
1988 New York NFC
Sheldon White	1	7	7.0	7	0

Game Story

It was a disheartening defeat for the home team, as the visitors from Washington defeated New York NFC by the score of 17 to 16. Doug Williams passed 38 times for 288 yards and 2 touchdowns. Washington won the air battle out-passing New York NFC 288 to 181 yards. The biggest play of the game was a touchdown pass to Art Monk that gained 65 yards with 10:46 left in the 4th quarter. New York NFC took the lead into the locker room at the half 16 to 3. Joe Morris rushed the ball 22 times gaining 91 yards for New York NFC .