LANDOVER, Md. — Robert Griffin III led the Washington Redskins to a fourth-quarter rally and a 17-16 victory over the New York Giants on Monday night, giving Washington a three-game winning streak in which it has dispatched NFC East rivals - Philadelphia, Dallas and now New York.
Washington (6-6) is one game behind New York for first place in the NFC East.
“We know that our backs are against the wall,” said Griffin, whose Redskins were 3-6 a month ago. “And even though we won tonight, our backs are still against the wall.”
With the Giants losing three of four and the Cowboys (6-6) also at .500, the division is up for grabs.
Griffin did get another of his goals accomplished Monday by assuring Washington will win more games than last season’s 5-11 team.
“You can put a check by that one, but there’s a lot more goals that this team is stretching for and striving for,” Griffin said.
Griffin completed 13 of 21 passes for 163 yards and ran 5 times for 72 yards, breaking Cam Newton’s NFL record for yards rushing by a rookie quarterback. He has gained 642 yards rushing in 12 games this season.
His top target again was Pierre Garcon, who had 8 receptions for 106 yards and 1 touchdown, showing no signs of the painful toe injury that forced him to miss six of the season’s first nine games.
Alfred Morris ran for 124 yards on 22 carries, becoming the second Redskins rookie to run for 1,000 yards. Reggie Brooks had 1,063 in 1993.
Washington also ended a 10-game home losing streak in Monday night games.
Eli Manning completed 20 of 33 passes for 280 yards and 1 touchdown for the Giants, who had won 26 in a row on the road when holding a halftime lead.
They were ahead 13-10 at halftime Monday against the Redskins, but they failed to finish the job for the first time since blowing a 21-0 halftime lead in a 24-21 loss to Tennessee in 2006.
Ahmad Bradshaw ran for 103 yards on 24 carries, and Victor Cruz had five catches for 104 yards for the Giants.
The Giants moved the ball well all game, but the drives produced three field goals by Lawrence Tynes and only one touchdown - Manning’s 4-yard pass to Martellus Bennett late in the first half.
The game’s final score was Griffin’s 8-yard pass to Garcon early in the fourth quarter, but the Redskins’ first touchdown was one of the evening’s crazy moments.
On second-and-2 from the New York 28, Griffin ran to his left and was being tackled by Stevie Brown after what would have been a 12-yard gain.
But as Griffin fell with his back to the ground, the ball popped out and went right on the fly to Washington receiver Joshua Morgan 3 yards farther up field. Morgan then ran 13 yards for the score.
“We didn’t run [that play] in practice because we wanted to save it for the game,” Griffin said with a grin. “I knew he was going to be there for it. ... Joshua did a good job being in the spot where he was supposed to be.”
Sports, Pages 21 on 12/04/2012