After a strange game, full of miscommunication, field goals and cringe-inducing hits, the Dallas Cowboys prevailed over the Washington Redskins on Monday night, 18-16.
Washington's Graham Gano opened up the scoring with a 46-yard field goal on the Redskins' opening drive. Dallas answered with a 41-yard field goal by Dan Bailey on the ensuing drive to tie it up at 3-3. This is how the first half would go--and most of the game, for Dallas--not that these teams didn't have some golden opportunities.
Kevin Ogletree fumbled at the Dallas 10-yard line late in first quarter, a play that, after challenged, would eventually be ruled Redskins' ball. But the Dallas defense made a stand, featuring a big tackle and a near interception from second-year linebacker Sean Lee to force the Redskins to attempt another field goal, a successful 27-yard attempt from Gano to retake the lead at 6-3.
Lee intercepted Rex Grossman early in the second quarter to set Dallas up in the red zone, but the offense could only manage a field goal, a 27-yarder from Bailey. The teams would once more trade field goals in the final 2:30 of the first half to leave the game tied at 9-9 at intermission.
The field goals would continue in the second half--the nine made in the game would set an NFL record, as a matter of fact--but the Redskins would score the only touchdown of the game in the third quarter, a one-yard pass from Grossman to running back Tim Hightower to give the Redskins a 16-9 lead.
Dallas continued to struggle on offense in the second half. Second-year center Phil Costa seemed to have some major communication issues with Romo, and that would prove a great hurdle in the second half. Still, Romo and co. would do enough to set Bailey up for three more field goals, the last of which, a 40-yarder with less than 2:00 remaining, would give Dallas the lead at 18-16.
Washington's attempt at a comeback came to an end quickly, when the Cowboys' Anthony Spencer forced a fumble out of 'Skins' quarterback Rex Grossman on a second-and-ten, which was recovered by Dallas, effectively ending the game at 18-16.
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The injured Romo finished 22-36 for 255 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. Running back Felix Jones--who was dealing with a shoulder injury--finished with 115 yards on 14 carries, easily the best rushing performance for Dallas in this young season. Bailey, as you might've noticed, finished with six field goals.
At 2-1, Dallas will welcome the Detroit Lions into Cowboys Stadium next Sunday.
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