NFL game summary for 09/23/1979:
An opportunistic Washington defense paved the way to victory over St. Louis. Linebacker Dan Hover recovered a fumble in the St. Louis end zone to give Washington a 7-0 lead. Washington moved ahead 14-0 when Joe Theismann completed a 41-yard touchdown pass to Buddy Hardeman. Theotis Brown cut Washington's lead to 14-7 with a third-quarter touchdown run, but Mark Moseley sealed the Redskins' victory with a 47-yard field goal. Cardinal quarterback Jim Hart completed 24 of 43 passes for 306 yards, but his performance was offset by a Washington defense that recovered four fumbles, intercepted a pass, and recorded three sacks.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 155.0 (9) | 128.0 (21) | 283.0 (20) | 7 |
| DEFENSE | 176.3 (23) | 138.7 (9) | 315.0 (13) | 11 | |
 | OFFENSE | 177.3 (4) | 123.3 (24) | 300.7 (17) | 7 |
| DEFENSE | 121.7 (8) | 205.3 (21) | 327.0 (17) | 8 |
Line: Cardinals by 4½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Redskins (3-1-0) | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
| St. Louis Cardinals (1-3-0) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
( 7- 0) WAS Don Hover 0 yard fumble return (Mark Moseley kick) (14- 0) WAS Buddy Hardeman 41 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick) (14- 7) STL Theotis Brown 1 yard rush (Steve Little kick) (17- 7) WAS Mark Moseley 47 yard field goal
WAS STL
First Downs: 11 23
Rushes-yards: 40-100 33-95
Yards/rush: 2.5 2.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 8-16-91-1 24-43-306-1
Sacked-yards: 0-0 3-25
Net pass yards: 91 281
Net yards/pass: 5.7 6.1
Total net yards: 191 376
Total plays: 56 (71% run) 79 (41% run)
Yards/play: 3.4 4.8
Fumbles-lost: 2-0 5-4
Turnovers: 1 5
Penalties-yards: 6-48 4-43
Attendance: 50,680
Passing:
WAS: Joe Theismann, 8 of 15 for 91 yards and 1 TD; Buddy Hardeman, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int) STL: Jim Hart, 24 of 43 for 306 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
WAS: Benny Malone, 16 for 42 yards; John Riggins, 12 for 34 yards; Joe Theismann, 7 for 9 yards; Buddy Hardeman, 3 for 2 yards; Clarence Harmon, 2 for 13 yards STL: Ottis Anderson, 19 for 67 yards; Wayne Morris, 7 for 29 yards; Thomas Lott, 3 for 8 yards; Theotis Brown, 3 for 6 yards and 1 TD; Mel Gray, 1 for -15 yards
Receiving:
WAS: Benny Malone, 3 for 18 yards; Buddy Hardeman, 2 for 48 yards and 1 TD; Jean Fugett, 1 for 16 yards; Don Warren, 1 for 6 yards; Clarence Harmon, 1 for 3 yards STL: Pat Tilley, 7 for 114 yards; Dave Stief, 6 for 125 yards; Ottis Anderson, 4 for 9 yards; Mel Gray, 2 for 31 yards; Wayne Morris, 2 for 8 yards; Theotis Brown, 2 for 8 yards; Gary Parris, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
WAS: Don Harris, 1 for 23 yards; Buddy Hardeman, 1 for 18 yards STL: Roy Green, 2 for 45 yards; Willard Harrell, 2 for 35 yards
Punt returns:
WAS: Buddy Hardeman, 3 for 4 yards STL: Willard Harrell, 3 for 7 yards
Interceptions:
WAS: Lemar Parrish, 1 for 0 yards STL: Ken Stone, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
WAS: Mike Bragg, 8 for 290 yards STL: Steve Little, 6 for 219 yards
Field Goals:
WAS: Mark Moseley, 1/1
WAS: Joe Theismann, 8 of 15 for 91 yards and 1 TD; Buddy Hardeman, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int) STL: Jim Hart, 24 of 43 for 306 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
WAS: Benny Malone, 16 for 42 yards; John Riggins, 12 for 34 yards; Joe Theismann, 7 for 9 yards; Buddy Hardeman, 3 for 2 yards; Clarence Harmon, 2 for 13 yards STL: Ottis Anderson, 19 for 67 yards; Wayne Morris, 7 for 29 yards; Thomas Lott, 3 for 8 yards; Theotis Brown, 3 for 6 yards and 1 TD; Mel Gray, 1 for -15 yards
Receiving:
WAS: Benny Malone, 3 for 18 yards; Buddy Hardeman, 2 for 48 yards and 1 TD; Jean Fugett, 1 for 16 yards; Don Warren, 1 for 6 yards; Clarence Harmon, 1 for 3 yards STL: Pat Tilley, 7 for 114 yards; Dave Stief, 6 for 125 yards; Ottis Anderson, 4 for 9 yards; Mel Gray, 2 for 31 yards; Wayne Morris, 2 for 8 yards; Theotis Brown, 2 for 8 yards; Gary Parris, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
WAS: Don Harris, 1 for 23 yards; Buddy Hardeman, 1 for 18 yards STL: Roy Green, 2 for 45 yards; Willard Harrell, 2 for 35 yards
Punt returns:
WAS: Buddy Hardeman, 3 for 4 yards STL: Willard Harrell, 3 for 7 yards
Interceptions:
WAS: Lemar Parrish, 1 for 0 yards STL: Ken Stone, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
WAS: Mike Bragg, 8 for 290 yards STL: Steve Little, 6 for 219 yards
Field Goals:
WAS: Mark Moseley, 1/1