Saints Put on Show, Put Redskins in Fix : NFC: New Orleans sacks Rypien four times, two by Jackson, and beats Washington, 20-3.
NEW ORLEANS — It was what the New Orleans Saints have been looking for, an impressive victory.
Rickey Jackson had two sacks and Bobby Hebert guided a consistent offense as the Saints put the Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins in playoff jeopardy with a 20-3 victory Monday night.
The Redskins (6-5) have lost three of their last four games.
“They’re kind of banged up,†Jackson said of the Redskins. “Not taking anything away from us, but they weren’t up to what they usually are. They’re hurting and we’re fresh and not hurting and that made all the difference.â€
The Saints (8-3) have been efficient yet not spectacular, winning for the sixth time in seven games after losing to the San Francisco 49ers eight days earlier.
New Orleans trails the 49ers by one game in the NFC West, but has all but wrapped up a playoff spot.
“I thought we played one of our most complete games,†Saint Coach Jim Mora said.
The Saints got an 18-yard touchdown run by Dalton Hilliard and a five-yard touchdown pass from Hebert to Quinn Early to take a 14-3 halftime lead. Morten Andersen added field goals of 43 and 45 yards in the second half.
Hebert completed 14 of 18 passes for 142 yards. Hilliard gained 50 yards in 11 carries and caught five passes for 20 yards.
The Saints held Washington to 58 yards rushing and sacked quarterback Mark Rypien four times. Jackson, visibly angry after last week’s last-minute 21-20 loss in San Francisco, was in Rypien’s face all night.
“Rickey’s one of the best competitors I’ve ever been around and he’s upset when he doesn’t win,†Mora said. “He played a great game tonight. He always plays hard but he turned it up a notch.â€
Jackson thought he should have had three sacks. He was briefly credited with one late in the game only to have it taken away and given to Les Miller.
“That’s my sack, they can’t give it to him,†protested Jackson, noting that he has a bonus clause in his contract for sacks. “I popped him. He just fell on top of it. I knocked him down.â€
Washington’s futility was exemplified by three plays late in the third quarter after it moved to a first down at midfield.
On first down, Gary Clark dropped a pass at the New Orleans 10. On second down, Rypien, who completed 21 of 38 passes for 207 yards, overthrew an open Clark in the end zone. On third down, Wayne Martin sacked Rypien for a 16-yard loss, ending the threat.
Chip Lohmiller kicked a 34-yard field goal to give the Redskins a 3-0 lead in the first quarter.
Go beyond the scoreboard
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