EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Bruce Smith made some history in a game history would otherwise forget.
The 11-time Pro Bowl defensive end became the NFL's all-time career sacks leader with 199 in the Washington Redskins' 20-7 victory over the New York Giants in a battle of NFC East rivals.
With 8:22 left in the fourth quarter, Smith blew past Giants left tackle Ian Allen and dove to take down Jesse Palmer by the ankles for the historic sack. Palmer was in the game after starting quarterback Kerry Collins was knocked out with a left ankle injury after being hit by Smith.
"Bruce Smith has displayed a remarkable consistency that will place him among the great defensive players in NFL history," NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. "The NFL salutes Bruce Smith for his many contributions to our game and congratulates him on this significant achievement."
"It was just a special day," Smith said. "It was a little frustrating today because... I had gotten back there three or four times today (without getting a sack)."
Collins' X-rays were negative, just like the rest of his day. He completed just 5-of-14 passes for 62 yards with an interception as the Giants (4-9) lost their sixth straight home game and fifth straight overall and dropped into sole possession of last place in the division.
"There's a lot of things going on this year," Giants receiver Amani Toomer said. "We don't think that it is (coach Jim Fassel's) fault the way our season has gone."
Fassel has been rumored to be on his way out as the Giants' coach, and New York did little to halt that talk. The Giants mustered only 220 yards of total offense and struggled from the start after Tiki Barber fumbled on the first play of the game.
"I don't like getting beat," Fassel said. "I don't care what our record is, I don't want to get beat. I do not want to get beat. I don't care who we're playing, where we're playing, what the circumstance, I don't want to get beat."
Redskins quarterback Tim Hasselbeck, starting in place of the injured Patrick Ramsey, completed 13-of-19 passes for 154 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Washington (5-8) took the lead for good 58 seconds into the second quarter when Hasselbeck threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Darnerien McCants.
