Missed Extra Point Ends Up Costing Redskins, 31-30

DENVER â€”  It wasn’t even close, was it?â€� a drained but relieved Dan Reeves said in the Denver Broncos’ dressing room Saturday. “It’s tough to see anybody lose a game like this.â€�

But if somebody had to lose, the Denver coach might have added, better that it be the Washington Redskins, who battled the Broncos toe-to-toe but ultimately fell short on the errant foot of rookie kicker Max Zendejas.

Zendejas missed an extra-point attempt after the Redskins’ first touchdown, and that failure loomed large in the Broncos’ 31-30 victory. Said Redskin Coach Joe Gibbs: “Every time you miss an extra point, it is an emotional turning point. I’m not going to make any rash decisions, but Max has not been producing lately.�

Quarterback John Elway and running back Sammy Winder accounted for two touchdowns apiece, and cornerback Mike Harden had two interceptions to help rally Denver from a 13-0 deficit.

Denver, the AFC West champion, moved a step closer to gaining the home-field advantage in the playoffs. It ended the Redskins’ hopes for the NFC East title, although they have a wild-card berth. Both teams have 11-4 records.

Rich Karlis’ 32-yard field goal with 3:10 remaining--set up by Harden’s second interception--proved to be the clincher, giving Denver a 31-23 lead.

Washington later drove 78 yards in 7 plays, with George Rogers scoring from a yard out to pull the Redskins within 31-30 with 1:28 left. The Broncos, however, were able to run out the clock.

Schroeder’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Ricky Sanders and Rogers’ 15-yard run had given the Redskins a 13-0 lead, but the missed extra point on the first score was crucial. Zendejas was wide left after the bad snap, and Denver’s Simon Fletcher was credited with tipping the kick.

Elway ran 11 yards on a quarterback draw as the Broncos got within 13-7 at the half.

Denver then scored two touchdowns in a span of 1:56 of the third quarter. Winder capped a 72-yard drive, bolting up the middle for a 6-yard score. Harden’s interception moments later gave Denver possession at the Washington 36, and Elway passed 19 yards to Steve Watson for a 21-13 lead.

After a Steve Cox field goal for the Redskins, Denver went up 28-16 on Winder’s 1-yard run. But the Redskins needed only two plays to score, however, as Schroeder hit Art Monk on a 55-yard bomb.

Monk’s reception pushed him over 1,000 yards in receiving for the third straight season, while the pass enabled Schroeder to break Sonny Jurgensen’s Redskin record of most passing yards in a season. Schroeder finished the game with 3,882 yards, breaking Jurgensen’s mark of 3,747.