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BOX SCORE
CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Washington Redskins spent the offseason
spending millions, signing superstars and future Hall of Famers
with one goal in mind -- winning the Super Bowl.
"That is the master plan," Washington coach Norv Turner said.
|  | | Redskins running back Skip Hicks (20) scoots in for a touchdown as Browns defensive back Raymond Jackson, left, trails behind in the second quarter Saturday. |
The Redskins certainly looked like a team on a mission Saturday
night as Skip Hicks scored two easy touchdowns and Washington's
starters pushed Cleveland's first team all over the field in a 24-0
victory.
"We have a good football team," Turner said. "We had a good
football team returning and we added five or six guys that can make
an impact. We have put together what should be a real good football
team."
Brad Johnson and Jeff George, the Redskins' high-priced
quarterback combo, each completed a TD pass for Washington (2-1),
the preseason favorite to win it all this season.
If the Redskins were looking for a game, Cleveland wasn't the
place to find one. It figured to a be a mismatch, and it was.
Turner only played his first-stringers until early in the third
quarter. By then, the Redskins' roster full of Pro Bowl players had
shown they're in a different league than the young Browns (1-2).
Watching Washington's locker room door swing open and seeing
Deion Sanders, Bruce Smith, Jeff George, Darrell Green and LaVar
Arrington can be intimidating.
Imagine how the young Browns felt. "They're a great team," Cleveland quarterback Tim Couch said.
"That was a great test for us."
Cleveland made several costly penalties and blew two scoring
chances in the second half on fumbles inside the 20.
"We did not make plays," Browns coach Chris Palmer said. "I
thought we matched up well physically against them. We had some
penalties that hurt us. Offensively, we did not get on track."
The game was also a reunion for former Penn State All-Americans -- Arrington and Courtney Brown.
Arrington, currently behind Greg Jones on the Redskins' depth
chart at strongside linebacker, plugged the hole to deliver a
bone-jarring tackle on Rahshon Spikes in the first half and
recovered a fumble in the third quarter.
"He did a lot of nice things," Turner said of Arrington, who
played a little with the first team. "When he's sure of what he's
doing, he shows he has great explosion and can make big plays. He
has gotten better in each of the three games."
Brown wasn't nearly as visible, making his biggest play in third
quarter when he was called for roughing on George.
Hicks, battling Adrian Murrell for the backup job behind feature
back Stephen Davis, had a 6-yard TD catch from Johnson and a
12-yard scoring run in the second quarter when the Redskins'
offense outgained Cleveland's 127-11.
Couch was 11-of-20 for 83 yards in three quarters. Couch, the
Browns' second-year QB, has been under fire all summer after
throwing four interceptions during the exhibition season.
But he showed some nice flashes in the third quarter, even if it
came against Washington's second-unit defense.
"My confidence is as high as ever," Couch said. "I'll never
let anybody break my confidence. I've worked to hard to let what
somebody said effect my confidence."
Johnson was 7-of-10 for 69 yards and a score, and George, who
came over as a free agent this winter for $18.25 million for four
years to back him up, finished 9-of-14 for 104 yards.
"Each week we're getting better and better," George said.
"And that's what's most important."
George hooked up with Albert Connell for a 36-yard TD in the
third quarter to put the Redskins up 24-0.
Two defensive penalties against the Browns helped Washington
take a 14-0 lead in the second quarter.
Cleveland safety Marquis Smith was assessed a personal foul at
the end of a 5-yard pickup by Hicks, giving the Redskins a first
down at the Browns 28. Two plays later, rookie cornerback Lewis
Sanders got caught pushing Westbrook out of bounds, giving
Washington a first-and-goal.
On second down, Hicks was left uncovered in the right flat and
caught a swing pass from Johnson for an easy score.
George entered with 5:44 remaining and took the Redskins on a
16-play drive, which ended with Brett Conway's 21-yard field goal
with six seconds left to give Washington a 17-0 halftime lead.
Hicks scored on a 12-yard run with 12:56 remaining in the first
half to give the Redskins a 7-0 lead. Sweeping left, Hicks picked
up a couple of nice blocks and went in untouched.
Browns running back Errict Rhett, signed last winter to be
Cleveland's every-down back, didn't play after breaking his nose
during practice this week.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Washington Clubhouse
Cleveland Clubhouse
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