Cowboys 14, Redskins 10: Dallas Gets Themselves Back Into Playoff Hunt

The Dallas Cowboys had to have this one. With seven games remaining, conventional wisdom is that Dallas needed to win five of those games just to have a shot at the playoffs. Beating the Redskins in Washington goes a long way to getting back into the hunt.

The Cowboys got back to basics in this one. A strong defensive showing and a dedication to the running game got them the 14-10 win. Marion Barber rushed for 114 yards and turned into the finisher he was last season. With Dallas nursing that lead late, Barber continued to chew up the Redskins defense and the clock.

He ran for 66 of his yards in the fourth quarter alone, when the Cowboys ate up over 10:00 of clock.

This was Tony Romo's first game in a month and he looked a little rusty. His stats aren't anything great (19-of-27, 198 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions) but his calming presence in the pocket was key. In some huge situations, Romo made plays to keep drives alive. One was a huge "push pass" (to coin John Madden) to Miles Austin that resulted in a big first down. Dallas would go on to score the go-ahead touchdown on that drive.

For the Redskins, it is yet another in a string of bad showings.

Since winning in Dallas and Philadelphia to begin the season 4-1, the Redskins have come out lame over the past five games. They looked dead in a loss to the then-winless Rams; they needed a missed field goal to beat the Browns at home; they barely beat the currently winless Lions; they looked overmatched against the Steelers; and now this.

Jason Campbell threw his first 249 passes this season without an interception. With one tonight, he has thrown three in his last 58 attempts.

The once strong Redskins now find themselves in a battle for a wildcard berth (there is no way they can catch the New York Giants in the East) with Dallas and Atlanta. All are 6-4 with Philadelphia (5-4-1), Chicago (5-5), Minnesota (5-5) and New Orleans (5-5) right behind them.

One thing about the Redskins: Clinton Portis is unbelievable. He shouldn't have played this week with his sprained MCL. He hadn't practiced all week and was all but out of tonight's game. Well, that was until gametime when Portis started and played pretty well. He ran for 68 yards on 15 carries and nearly broke one for a touchdown.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-17-2008 @ 2:19AM

skinsTillDeath said...

F the cowgirls

HAIL TO THE MUDA F'N REDSKINS!!!

11-17-2008 @ 8:18AM

Dallas Fan said...

How ya like us Now?You say,'skin to death...well,looks like you're off the hook.

11-17-2008 @ 9:34AM

ROY said...

MUST SUCK TO BE A SKINS FAN!!!!

11-17-2008 @ 12:56PM

outridersrules said...

I'm sure that you're crying in your milk today, BITCH!...LOLOLOL!!

11-17-2008 @ 2:00PM

jeff said...

To Hell with the Deadskins.

11-24-2008 @ 8:48AM

JOYS BOYS said...

**Ya got beat there BUDDY! ................................................
.....But YOU KNEW that was gonna happen, now didn't ya! ** LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11-17-2008 @ 2:52AM

Jamie Childress said...

Amazing that they actually won after the 1st interception Tony threw I went to bed.Shocked to wake up and see that the cowboys won.Bout time.GO COWBOYS

11-17-2008 @ 5:04AM

Turp63 said...

The ints suck but as long as he has the deep ball they're never out of a game..

11-17-2008 @ 5:09AM

cowboy fan said...

I would like to think that someone important does read these blogs. So I will give it a go.

Better!: minimal 3 and out's, dinks and dunks, MB dump offs, sort of fast passes to TO on or near the line reducing double coverage, Romo stepping up in the pocket, bootlegs, some deep passes to remind them who they are, time of possession / clock control, and many uses of surprise. Now the bad parts (although I thought that it was a pretty good game fundamentally).

The first INT was pure play calling failure. Be more conservative and see what happens, go for the field goal if the 3-4 yards are not made. 2nd INT, a quarter second faster and it would have been a different story so I'll let that one go. Predictable and extremely visible hand offs to MB does not help. MB stutter stepping behind the line in the early quarters will usually get him tackled early. Penalties help to bring the other team and crowd back.

As for defense, bump the QB every chance you can get. On screen plays and if three are pressuring the QB, the rear one should be smart enough to fall back and search for the runner. But for the most part, both sides played pretty good (even though the score does not show that and the score is all that matters). I am happy to see that the Cowboys have showed an attempt at becoming more of an all around team. Not just the big play offense. Did Romo go down once? I don't think so. Be smart, tricky, dynamic, and resilient. Weather the storms for usually the bigger the beginning the calmer the end. But, Romo, your comments at the end still gave me some worries, every game is important and a must win. Never the less, I was somewhat pleased to see the different approach that I had wanted. Don't forget to change it up a little. I guess I will watch the next game instead of work.

11-17-2008 @ 6:35AM

UR MOM said...

I hope ur not a cowboys fan Jamie cuz real fans stay with there team and watch every play til it's over go 2sleep h o e go to sleep lol n skinstildeath u can suck da cowboys' d#@k! Ur foreskins are done for the season better luck next year

11-17-2008 @ 8:22AM

Ryan said...

bout friggin time is all i have to say....this was a must win game i dont care what anyone says....with the giants 9-1...to fall basically 3 games back to the skins(season sweep they would have had to pass the skins outright) would of ended there season outright. romo is back, barber had his big 4th quarter again....and more importantly T.O has shut the hell up...for now

11-17-2008 @ 8:36AM

ANNE - ARNG said...

I've been a cowboys fan almost all my life, and having served in the Military and living around the Washington DC area they really know how to harrass and rub it in when they win, well guess what it's our turn you don't hear a peep out of them. Well Deadskins it's OUR turn now.

11-17-2008 @ 8:42AM

Anne - ARNG said...

I've been a cowboys fan almost all my life, and having served in the Military and living around the Washington DC area they really know how to harrass and rub it in when the Deadskins win, well guess what, it's our turn now and you don't hear a peep out of them. Well Dallas Cowboys you made it and you are the best.

11-17-2008 @ 10:15AM

al said...

HEY ZORN, YOU LOST, CHALLENGE??? THROW YOUR RED FLAG...LOL LOL LOL

11-17-2008 @ 12:51PM

chris said...

wow, great win boys, wasnt it nice to hear all the dallas fans after the game , it was reall quiet after a loss ..as you were sing with the announcer ...HEY YOU SUCK !! go boys!!

11-21-2008 @ 10:22AM

JOY said...

Cowboys ARE **America's Team**..SO deep down, even you shitty Giants fans LOOOOOOOOOoooVE THE COWBOYS.
The Giants don't even have CHEERLEADERS!!!! WHY?...you ask? Because there isn't one woman that would wanna cheer them on.
Anyways- MAYBE the Giants will get "LUCKY" like they did last year (cuz thats' all they did). Far as I'm concerned Patriots were still the better team...AND I'M A COWBOYS FAN....cheering my team on to the Super Bowl this year! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
COWBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOYS!