National Football League

RG3, Garcon find chemistry in Redskins' 7-6 win

Published Aug. 10, 2012 4:53 a.m. ET

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Receiver Pierre Garcon might still have a little work to do in sticking the landing on his head-first somersault touchdown celebration.

Otherwise, the Washington Redskins free agent addition had no difficulty developing instant chemistry with Robert Griffin III in the rookie quarterback's much-anticipated preseason debut.

''I probably won't be doing that again,'' Garcon said, referring to how he came down hard in the end zone at the end of his 20-yard touchdown catch from Griffin. ''The landing wasn't too smooth, so I'll have to come up with something else.''

As for Griffin, Garcon had no issues after catching all three passes for 58 yards the quarterback completed during the eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive for the go-ahead score in the Redskins' 7-6 win over the Buffalo Bills (No. 19 in the AP Pro32) on Thursday night.

After a fumbled handoff and no first downs in his first two series, Griffin showed poise in beginning to display glimpses of his stardom in his third and final series for the Redskins (No. 25).

''It was fun to get out there and run around, suit up in the Redskins gear for the first time officially,'' said Griffin, who was 4 of 6 for 70 yards and a lost fumble. ''It's something I don't want to forget.''

Coach Mike Shanahan was pleased with what RG3 - the Heisman Trophy winner, who was drafted with the No. 2 pick out of Baylor - accomplished in just 14 plays.

''He did everything you asked him to do,'' Shanahan said. ''He stepped up. Made some plays, some excellent throws. He was very calm cool collected. Excellent for his first game.''

Defensive end Mario Williams made a debut of his own for the Bills in his first game since signing a six-year, $100 million contract in free agency in March. Williams, the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history, and the Bills' new-look defensive front was solid in limiting the Redskins to 11 yards and no first downs in the first two series.

The real trouble for Buffalo came on offense, which was sloppy and lacked finish.

Starter Ryan Fitzpatrick went 6 for 14 for 61 yards, and squandered a scoring opportunity when the Bills got the ball at the Redskins 21 following Griffin's fumble. The Bills were undone by a false start penalty, and then an illegal formation that negated what would've been a 20-yard touchdown pass to Stevie Johnson.

Buffalo instead settled for Rian Lindell hitting a 43-yard field goal.

''There was more bad than good tonight,'' Fitzpatrick said. ''I thought it was really poor, but luckily it's the preseason.''

Discipline was an issue. The Bills were penalized 14 times for 134 yards.

''It looked ugly. It felt ugly. And it was ugly,'' coach Chan Gailey said.

Griffin's only real miscue was the fumble, which was credited to him because he was the last player to have possession. Replays, however, showed running back Evan Royster was also to blame because he never closed his hands on the ball.

Though the play had been whistled dead when Buffalo's George Wilson recovered the ball, Griffin still chased down Wilson and punched the ball out of his hands as the safety ran toward the end zone.

Shanahan was impressed.

''If I've got a quarterback running the other way when there's a fumble and a guy right there, then I've got the wrong quarterback,'' Shanahan said.

The only thing missing in Griffin's performance was any sign of his ability to run with the ball.

Give it time, Griffin said. He wouldn't mind saving something for the regular season.

''I don't mind that,'' he said. ''I didn't get touched today. That was a great feeling.''

The replacement officials struggled.

They were booed late in the first quarter after missing a call on a touchback. Bills punter Brian Moorman hit a 49-yard punt, which Buffalo's Ruvell Martin downed at the Redskins 4. Back judge Craig Burd, however, ruled it a touchback.

Gailey challenged the play, which was reversed shortly after referee David Scott reviewed it.

The NFL is using replacement officials after locking out its regular officials, whose contract expired.

NOTES: Redskins LT Trent Williams had a sore foot after being stepped on during the extra-point attempt. ... Lindell also hit a 45-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. But he also pushed a 22-yard attempt wide left to end a series in which backup quarterback Tyler Thigpen couldn't produce a touchdown despite six chances from inside the Redskins 10. ... Bills' Vince Young came in as the third quarterback. He led the team with 37 yards rushing, went 5 of 12 for 50 yards and was sacked three times.

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Online: http://bigstory.ap.org/NFL-Pro32 and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL

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