Redskins Get Ready For Big Games, 44-10

ATLANTA — Coach Joe Gibbs called it just what the Washington Redskins needed.

With critical NFC East games coming up against Dallas and the New York Giants, the Redskins seemed to get themselves well-prepared with a 44-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

“We knew we had to do well in this game because the next two are very important,” Gibbs said. “It would have been for nothing if we had played poorly today.

“This was the Redskins’ best game and it was unfortunate for Atlanta that they caught us on our best day. But you have to have things going right . . . going into the playoffs and I hope this has turned it around for us.”

Quarterback Joe Theismann ran 11 yards for one touchdown and threw 34 yards to Art Monk for another during a 28-point second-quarter outburst.

Washington (5-4) broke open a 3-3 game by scoring touchdowns on four consecutive possessions.

“The way Atlanta plays defense, with a lot of blitzing, it throws a lot of responsibility on the safety, which leaves the middle open,” said Theismann, who passed for 178 yards. “We took advantage of this early.”

Keith Griffin put the Redskins ahead at 3:09 of the period with a five-yard scoring run two plays after George Rogers ran for 34 yards. Theismann got his score at 6:41, Rogers went over from one at 11:18, and the Theismann-to-Monk score came occurred at 13:42, giving Washington a 31-3 halftime lead.

The Redskins’ fifth touchdown came with 3:51 left on a 66-yard run by Griffin, who finished with 164 yards in 16 carries. Rogers had 124 yards, also in 16 rushes. John Riggins did not play.

“I have to give a lot of credit to George Rogers,” Theismann said. “We opened up the holes and he has been able to take advantage of it.”

Mark Moseley, who kicked a score-tying 39-yard field goal at 11:10 of the first quarter, had a 40-yard field goal at 12:34 of the third period and a 48-yarder at 4:09 of the fourth quarter to account for the other Redskins scores.

The Falcons (1-8), who have lost 17 of their last 18 games, scored first on a 28-yard field goal by Mick Luckhurst at 7:44 of the first period, but then were shut out until Bob Holly threw a 14-yard scoring pass to Arthur Cox with 1:21 left in the game.