The Redskins Rally, but Get Shot Down by the Cowboys

This past Sunday the Washington Redskins went down to the entertainment center that is Cowboys Stadium to face their division and most hated rival the Dallas Cowboys. At the beginning of the season many Redskins fans could have foreseen a battle for the top of the NFC East starring quarterbacks Donovan McNabb and Tony Romo. Instead we were given a game between two teams fighting for draft position as Jon Kitna led the Cowboys to a 33-30 victory against the Redskins led by Rex Grossman.

The Cowboys started fast as they quickly jumped ahead 10-0 in the first quarter behind an opening drive 42-yard field goal, and a Jon Kitna three yard touchdown pass to Miles Austin. The touchdown came late in the first quarter after Rex Grossman threw an interception as Cowboy’s safety Gerald Sensabaugh got in front of the throw.

After another Washington three and out the Cowboys got the ball back and scored early in the second quarter to add to their lead with another Buelher field goal. This time the kick came from only 20 yards out, as Washington held the Cowboys on a third and two on the two yard line. This may have inspired the Redskins as the came out on their next possession and scored a touchdown on a nicely executed screen pass. Ryan Torain caught the ball and ran for 19 yards and cut the lead to 13-7.

The Redskins were in even better position as they held Dallas to their own nine yard line on the ensuing kick off. This did not seem to matter as Jon Kitna with help from the entire offense strolled 91 yards and scored eventually scored on a 14 yard touchdown to Jason Witten. The Cowboys got one more chance at the end of the half to add even more the lead but Buehler missed a 35 yard field goal and they went into the half with a 20-7 lead.

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The second half started off with the Redskins set to receive the ball and maybe a chance to dip into the lead. This would not happen as Rex Grossman reminded us all why he has been a back up for the past couple of years, as he fumbled the ball on the opening drive. Damarcus Ware got in for the sack on a third and eight, when Grossman would lose the ball and lineman Jay Ratliff would recover at the Washington 15 yard line. Tashard Choice would than score from three yards out four plays later to put this game what seemed to be out of reach with the Cowboys taking a commanding 27-7 lead early in the third quarter.

The Redskins would not panic as Rex Grossman woke up and hit Anthony Armstrong for 47 yards and Santana Moss for 10 yards and a touchdown on their next possession. The Cowboys were drove down the field but were forced to another field goal to put the game at 30-14, with about four and a half minutes remaining in the third quarter.

The fourth quarter than started with the Redskins driving down the field and, with help from a roughing the passer penalty on the Cowboys, the Redskins got in the end zone again on a five yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss for his second score of the day. Grossman than threw a bullet to Chris Cooley for the two point conversion to put the Redskins down by eight, 22-30.

The Cowboys were stopped by the defense and were forced to kick the ball, and the moment, right back to Washington. The Redskins did not waste the opportunity as Rex Grossman once again drove them down the field and hit Chris Cooley right at the goal line to put them behind by two, with the conversion coming up. It took Washington two tries, but a defensive holding allowed Rex Grossman to get another chance to hit Mike Sellers to tie the game at 30. Grossman finished the game with a solid 322 yards on 25 of 43 passes with four touchdown and town interceptions.

The second interception would come on the last play of the game when Washington took over with just under a minute to play, after the Cowboys got their fourth and final field goal from David Buehler. The Redskins had gotten the ball to mid-field when Terrance Newman picked off Grossman and let time run out to put the Cowboys tied for last place in the NFC East with matching 5-9 records.

The Cowboys escaped this game with a win, but dominated the Redskins on the ground outrushing them 134-55. Felix Jones led the way with 70 yards on the ground, while Ryan Torain carried the load for Washington with 53 yards on the ground and 62 more yards receiving on five catches and the touchdown. Jason Witten played exceptionally and finished with ten receptions and 140 yards as Santana Moss led the way for the Redskins with 72 yards on eight receptions with two touchdowns. Anthony Armstrong also chipped in with a 100 yard game on only five receptions. Kitna finished the day with nice numbers as well with 305 yards on 25 of 37 passes and the two touchdowns and proved to be too much as the Cowboys escaped with the win.

By Jason Stein
ProFootball-fans.com Washington Redskins Correspondent