Quick Kicks

By George, it’s same old story

For nine weeks, Washington Redskins’ quarterback Jeff George walked the sidelines and watched the offense struggle when it got inside an opponent’s 20-yard line. Sunday, with starter Brad Johnson sidelined with a torn knee ligament, George got a closer look at the problems.

The Redskins crossed midfield seven times, marched inside the Cardinals’ 20 five times, rolled up 431 total yards and came away with one touchdown, five field goal attempts, and a 16-15 loss in Tempe, Ariz.

“It’s ridiculous to put up 15 points and lose a game like this,” said George, who completed 20 of 39 passes for 276 yards and two interceptions.

George, who sat in front of his stall with his head in his hands for about 15 minutes after the game, exploded when it was suggested that the Redskins outplayed the Cardinals.

“We didn’t outplay them, we got beat,” he said. “Who cares how many yards we gained. I’m sick and tired of hearing the word outplayed. Nobody wants to just outplay anybody. The bottom line is wins and losses.”

Oh what a relief it is!

Relief for Terrell Davis came in 15-minute increments Sunday in Denver’s 30-23 win over the New York Jets.

Made it through the first quarter. Whew.

Got through the second quarter. Whew.

The third. Now the fourth.

Davis carried 33 times, piling up 115 yards like a chef operating without a recipe. His longest carry? Thirteen yards.

A little here. A little there. Pinch of this and that, and voila! Something to savor.

This was the first time Davis had rushed for more than 100 yards since the Broncos won the Super Bowl in 1998.

It was the first time he’d scored a touchdown since Oct. 3, 1999 - also against the Jets.

This was also the first time he’d caught a pass in a game in 14 months (two for four yards), and the most carries he’d had in his last 34 games.

All those carries Sunday weren’t in the game plan.

“He looked better (in practice) than I’ve seen him look,” said coach Mike Shanahan. “So he carried it more than we wanted to, but he played extremely well.”

Tough day at the office

Drew Bledsoe was in an unfamiliar position for the New England Patriots: on the sideline and out for the game.

Bledsoe, who jammed his right thumb on Buffalo linebacker Sam Rogers’ helmet in the first quarter of the Bills’ 16-13 overtime victory, was one of four quarterbacks injured on Sunday.

Atlanta’s Chris Chandler and Detroit’s Charlie Batch suffered concussions, and San Diego’s Jim Harbaugh pulled a muscle in his abdomen.

Elsewhere, Oakland rookie kicker Sebastian Janikowski sat out the Raiders’ victory over Kansas City with a bacterial infection in his right foot.

St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk did not start Sunday night’s game against the Carolina Panthers and will have arthroscopic surgery today to remove loose cartilage from his knee, causing him to miss at least two games.

They said it …

“I don’t think the whole city of Chicago is going to go out and paint the town red, but it’s a great feeling, I know that.”

Chicago quarterback Jim Miller after the Bears upset the Colts 27-24 in Chicago.