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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) -- Stephen Davis took the money and ran. Bruce
Smith ran and took the momentum with a jarring hit to the quarterback.
|  | | The reason the Redskins signed 37-year-old defensive end Bruce Smith was apparent on Sunday, when he had two sacks in Washington's victory over Carolina. |
The Washington Redskins' newest rich player combined with one of the oldest ones Sunday to swing the tide in the second half. The priciest roster in NFL history debuted with Washington's 20-17 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
"People think we've added 15 guys who are egomaniacs," said coach Norv Turner, who also got solid games from newcomers Deion Sanders and Mark Carrier. "We've added four to five guys who are real, real
pros. They'll do anything we want them to do to win."
Smith, in his first game not in a Buffalo uniform, had two of the Redskins' six sacks, including his stumbling blindside jolt
that forced Steve Beuerlein's fumble in the third quarter. The only
turnover in the game was converted into a field goal that tied the score at 10-10, and showed the 37-year-old defensive end still has
plenty in the tank.
"It may not be full, but I think I'm still productive," Smith said. "Especially when I'm playing with guys like we've assembled here."
Davis took over from there. The fourth-year back, who agreed to
a nine-year contract worth about $90 million over the weekend,
revived the sputtering offense, setting up a touchdown and field
goal in the fourth quarter.
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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The Redskins got off to a fast start, with Brad Johnson going 7-for-7 on the first drive. After that, however, Carolina seemed to turn the game around.
The 'Skins played extremely well in the second half, and their defense started to get on track. They also ran the ball better. Playing without starting offensive linemen Cory Raymer and Tre' Johnson might be one of the reasons the Redskins had some difficulty in the second quarter.
With their ability to run the ball, and the effectiveness of Johnson, Washington will be a tough team to defend. Winning the opener was important for the 'Skins because of all the pressure on them this season.
The Panthers had a very poor preseason, and people weren't sure how they'd open up today. But George Siefert is an experienced coach who knows what he's doing. He might have been keeping some things under wraps in the preseason. The key for Carolina is keeping Steve Beuerlein healthy because they don't have an experience QB behind him. As long as Beuerlein is healthy and the defense continues to get better, the Panthers will stay in a lot of football games. |
Eluding tacklers on a tiring defense, Davis carried 10 times for
54 yards on those two drives. He finished with 23 carries for 133
yards, including a 2-yard touchdown run on the Redskins' first
drive.
"I was going to come out here and play, contract or no
contract," said Davis, who led the NFC in rushing with 1,405
yards.. "I felt the more I got the ball, the better I got."
Brad Johnson scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak that followed
three straight runs by Davis. Brett Conway made it 20-10 with a
21-yard field goal with 4:59 to play.
The Panthers, ineffective on offense for most of the game,
scored their only touchdown in a no-huddle, 65-yard drive capped by
Beuerlein's 20-yard pass to Wesley Walls with 1:52 to play.
However, the Redskins recovered the onside kick, and Davis took
the next handoff and ran 33 yards. He followed that with an 8-yard
gain to run out the clock.
"This isn't college," Sanders said. "We don't care about
winning by a certain number of points. We're not playing to be
ranked nationally."
Michael Bates' 92-yard first-quarter kickoff return was the only
other touchdown for the Panthers, who stayed close with a valiant
defensive performance that wilted in the humidity. It was almost a
moral victory for a team that lost seven players to season-ending
injuries and all four exhibition games.
"Everybody is touting these guys to be Super Bowl champions and
our resolve was to come in here and steal one," safety Eugene
Robinson said. "I think we demonstrated that. This team can take a
lot out of this loss."
On their first possession, the Redskins looked like a precision
machine. Johnson went 7-for-7 in a 79-yard drive that lasted 7:09
and was capped by Davis' scoring run.
But all that work was erased in 15 seconds by Bates on his fifth
career kickoff touchdown return.
Richie Cunningham kicked a 29-yard field goal to make it 10-7 as
Carolina coach George Seifert matched Turner's mix of formations
and plays.
Carolina missed a chance to extend the lead in the second
quarter after moving the ball to the Redskins 2. But Beuerlein was
sacked and William Floyd compounded the loss with a late push for a
personal foul. Cunningham then missed a 27-yarder.
While the Redskins' offseason investments paid dividends, the
Panthers' new defensive additions weren't as stellar. Reggie White,
Eric Swann, Chuck Smith and Jay Williams combined for four tackles
and no sacks.
"We erase a few of our mistakes: don't miss the field goal,
don't get the penalty down on the 2-yard line and don't give up the
sack, and we win the game," said White, who played about 30 plays.
"But sitters and quitters don't win games."
Game notes
Larry Centers had seven catches for a career total of 611,
passing Keith Byars (610) as the all-time leading running back in
receptions. ... Darrell Green played in the first game of his
franchise-record 18th season for the Redskins. Although he's been
eclipsed as a starter by Deion Sanders, Green was introduced with
the starters before kickoff. ... The attendance was 80,657, a
Redskins home record.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Carolina Clubhouse
Washington Clubhouse
Clayton: 'Skins need plenty of work
Bar None's blunder costs Carolina
Davis' incentive-laden deal tops out at $135 million
Week 1 wrap-ups
Week 1 infirmary report
TJ's Take on Week 1
Week 1 stats leaders
Prime Time Players
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Coach Norv Turner recaps Washington's victory over Carolina.
RealVideo: | 28.8
Norv Turner says Stephen Davis makes his team go.
avi: 1232 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Brad Johnson says the Redskins defense can win games.
wav: 111 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Norv Turner says his veterans will get their chance.
wav: 170 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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