Washington Redskins 26, Dallas Cowboys 24

by PegNews wire

IRVING — The Dallas Cowboys were in post-season form Sunday afternoon, losing to the hated Washington Redskins 26-24 at Texas Stadium. The Cowboys had carried a perfect record through September, but are now tied with the Redskins and a half-game behind the New York Giants at 3-1.

Photo not provided by the Washington Redskins

This man held the Cowboys offense off the field for most of the second half

The game was close throughout, with neither team enjoying a two-score advantage until the final quarter. With the game tied 17-17 in the third, the Redskins mounted three rush-heavy drives that kept the potent Dallas offense off the field, each drive resulting in a field goal. After the third field goal went in, the Cowboys found themselves down 26-17 with just over three minutes remaining. Romo blew down the field for the needed touchdown that brought Dallas within two, but the Cowboys offense never touched the ball again.

Romo finished 28-of-47 for 300 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, but could not convert on some key third downs in the second half. Much of that was due to the odd abandonment of the run early by head coach Wade Phillips, who passed five times as many times as he ran the ball.

Marion Barber finished with just eight carries for 26 yards. Terrell Owens had the other two runs, for eleven more, while catching seven passes for 71 yards and a touchdown.

Jason Witten and Patrick Crayton carried the load for the receiving corps, as Witten finished with seven catches for 90 yards and a touchdown, while Crayton caught seven passes for 87 yards.

The game was lost in the trenches, however, as Dallas was outgained 161-44 on the ground, and was unable to force any Redskins turnovers to stop long drives.

Posted by Todd M.