Redskin Defense Prevails : NFC: Washington sacks Troy Aikman eight times and Darrell Green scores a touchdown in 19-15 victory over the Cowboys.

WASHINGTON —  Quarterback Mark Rypien went down with a sprained knee in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, leaving seldom-used Stan Humphries to run the Washington Redskins’ offense.

The Redskin defense, doing its part, sacked Dallas Cowboy quarterback Troy Aikman eight times to lead the Redskins to a 19-15 victory, their first at home against Dallas since 1987.

“Thank goodness for the defense,” Washington Coach Joe Gibbs said. “They took it upon themselves and played great.”

Cornerback Darrell Green scored the Redskins’ only touchdown with an 18-yard interception return and the Redskin defense helped set up four field goals by Chip Lohmiller.

The Cowboys pulled within 19-15 and drove to the Washington 40 when Todd Bowles sealed the victory by intercepting an Aikman pass over the middle with 1:13 left.

“We all gave a big sigh of relief,” Green said. “It was anybody’s game until Bowles made that play.”

Rypien completed eight of 17 passes for 97 yards but was injured when he was hit by defensive tackle Dean Hamel as he completed a 15-yard pass to Art Monk with two minutes left in the first half. Rypien returned to the sidelines on crutches in the second half.

Humphries, who had thrown only 10 passes in his two seasons, completed five of 13 for 58 yards.

The Redskins (2-1) won despite being outgained, 234-214. The Cowboys also held the ball for more than 12 minutes longer the Redskins.

But Aikman, who completed 23 of 43 passes for 207 yards, could only get the Cowboys (1-2) into the end zone once.

Seven Redskins got sacks of Aikman, including Fred Stokes, who had two sacks and one fumble recovery.

“We felt coming in they were going to come after us practically every down,” Aikman said, “and they just about did that.”

The Cowboys were hoping for a repeat of last season, when they scored a 13-3 victory over the Redskins at Washington--the Cowboys’ only victory during a 1-15 season.

But four minutes after Lohmiller gave the Redskins a 12-6 lead with a career-best 55-yard field goal, Green picked off an Aikman pass at the Dallas 18 and returned it for a touchdown with 14:22 left.

Cowboy running back Emmitt Smith rushed for 63 yards in 17 carries and scored the only offensive touchdown of the game. The rookie from Florida capped a 71-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run that brought Dallas within 19-13 with 3:44 left.