SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 14, 2012
Redskins 38, Vikings 26: Rookie Robert Griffin III broke loose for a 76-yard touchdown run with 2:43 remaining to squelch a comeback attempt and halt Washington's eight-game home losing streak.
Griffin, who was knocked out of last week's game with a mild concussion, threw for 182 yards and a touchdown and ran for 138 yards and two scores to give the Redskins (3-3) their first home win since Sept. 18, 2011.
Running backs Alfred Morris and Darrel Young scored touchdowns 13 seconds apart late in the second quarter and Madieu Williams returned an interception 24 yards for a TD to give Washington a 31-12 lead early in the fourth.
Christian Ponder rallied the Vikings (4-2), throwing touchdown passes to Michael Jenkins and Kyle Rudolph to cut the deficit to 31-26 with 3:42 to play. But Griffin supplied the dagger when he took off and outraced Minnesota's defense down the left sideline for the longest rushing TD by a quarterback since 1996.
Ponder finished 35-of-52 for 352 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and Percy Harvin had 11 receptions for 133 yards for Minnesota, which got four field goals from rookie Blair Walsh and led 9-0 after the opening quarter.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Griffin's two rushing touchdowns were his fifth and sixth of the season, setting a franchise record for single-season rushing TDs by a quarterback. ... Adrian Peterson rushed for 79 yards for Minnesota, which made three trips into the red zone and amassed 148 yards in the opening quarter, but was held to only nine yards in the second quarter. ... Washington's defense has registered four touchdowns this season and made it back-to-back games with an interception return for a score for the first time since 1994.