The “RG3” chant still echoed throughout FedEx Field several minutes after the Washington Redskins’ 17-16 victory over the New York Giants late Monday night.
Robert Griffin III did have some phenomenal runs as he set the NFL record for rushing yards in a season by a rookie quarterback. He also had some timely completions, including when he found receiver Pierre Garcon for an 8-yard fourth-quarter touchdown and then again on a 17-yard reception for a first down before the 2-minute warning to all but seal Washington’s first win in its last 10 “Monday Night Football” home games.
The target of the fan’s affection, however, may not have even been the deciding factor as the Redskins (6-6) inched into postseason contention for the first time in the Mike Shanahan era.
“We made plays when it counted,” said lineman Barry Cofield, part of a Redskins defense that held the Giants to three second-half points and five first downs. “They got some yards on us and we bent. We didn’t break. We got up in the fourth quarter and said, ‘This is it. We have to get it done.’ Guys are starting to step up.”
Washington’s third consecutive win puts it a game behind the Giants (7-5) and even with the Dallas Cowboys in the division. This game's contributions by the defense and Griffin were accompanied by 124-yard effort by running back Alfred Morris — which included a 6-yard run for a first down with a minute left to allow the ’Skins to kill the clock — and penalties.
Among the nine penalties for 73 yards called against the Giants was a drive-killing holding call on lineman Will Beatty, whose flag on third down negated a first-down pass as Giants quarterback Eli Manning found tight end Martellus Bennett for what would have been an 11-yard play on the potential game-winning drive. The Giants punted two plays later and never got the ball back.
