On Monday Night, the Washington Redskins overcame the doubters, the officiating, and the Dallas Cowboys to win their biggest game of the season. The Redskins' 20-17 overtime victory over the Cowboys in Dallas was their 3rd victory of the 2014 season and second in a row. It was their best performance so far this year. They played with emotion and intensity from the opening kickoff until the last Tony Romo pass was on the ground. The Redskins played a complete game getting contributions from all three areas of their squad, offense, defense, and special teams.
The offense, shockingly, was led by third-string quarterback Colt McCoy. McCoy came in relief during the second half last week for backup Kirk Cousins. McCoy threw a TD pass and was effective in a game-winning FG drive against Tennessee. This week, McCoy was starting as the regular QB on the road versus the 1st-place Cowboys, 6-1 record coming into Monday. McCoy looked nervous throughout the first half. He threw an interception in the endzone during the first quarter and underthrew a long pass to Desean Jackson, complete for 49 yards, which should've been an 87-yard touchdown.
However, he got better as the game got later. He didn't make any mistakes after those earlier ones. McCoy ran 7 yards for a touchdown early in the 4th quarter to give the Redskins a 20-17 lead. In overtime, McCoy showed great elusiveness to get away from Dallas defenders before floating a perfect pass to Jordan Reed for a 16-yard catch to the Dallas 29. It set up Kai Forbath's go-ahead 40-yard field goal. For McCoy, it was a special night. He played high school and college football in the state of Texas and with his family watching in the stands. Considering the circumstances, he played the best game of his life, 25 completed passes in 30 attempts for 299 yards and a rushing touchdown.
The defense was the key part of the Redskins success in the first half. They limited Dallas' high-powered offense to 7 points through 30 minutes. That was important because the Redskins offense only scored 3 points in the first 2 quarters. Jim Haslett, the defensive coordinator, has drawn a lot of criticism from local media and Redskins fans for the defense's poor play. Last season, they were 30th out of 32 teams in yards allowed per passing attempt at 7.1 yards and last out of 32 in allowing rushing touchdowns at 23.
This year, the defense has improved although they still struggle at times. They only allowed three rushing touchdowns entering Monday, second fewest. However, they surrender 15 passing touchdowns for the season before the Dallas game, fifth highest. Monday, the Redskins were much better against the pass while conceding rushing plays to the Dallas offense. The Redskins gave up only 278 passing yards. In addition, they sacked Dallas QB Tony Romo five times for 54 yards. The net total passing for Dallas was only 224 yards. In fact, the pass rush was so strong that it knocked Romo out of the game for a while with a back injury.
Keenan Robinson was the man who hammered Romo to the turf in the third quarter. Brandon Meriweather had a tremendous game with 2 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Perry Riley and Ryan Kerrigan each had one sack. The defensive star was rookie Bashaud Breeland. Breeland was matched a lot of the game against Dez Bryant, the Cowboys top receiver. Bryant only caught 3 passes for 30 yards. Breeland also had four passes defended away from receivers including Dallas' last pass on 4th down in overtime.
Special teams for the Redskins was actually special, okay maybe good. Good is great for a unit that has been one of the worst in pro football in recent years. Earlier this year, they gave up a blocked punt against Houston for a touchdown and a 102-yard kickoff return TD. Last year versus Kansas City, the Redskins allowed a 74-yard punt return and a 95-yard kickoff return for touchdowns in the same game. Last night, the special teams units gave up only 63 yards combined on four punt/kickoff returns. Four other kicks were boomed all the way into the endzone for touchbacks and one was not returned at all. Kai Forbath was solid again kicking field goals. He missed a key go-ahead 33-yard attempt in a loss at Philadelphia. However, Forbath was money on Monday night. He booted a 44-yard field goal in the first quarter but more importantly nailed a 40-yard attempt in overtime for the winning margin.
In addition to battling the Cowboys, the Redskins had to fight adversity with a few controversial official calls not in their favor. On McCoy's interception, Cowboys cornerback J.J. Wilcox made a leaping catch but bobbled the ball as he tumbled down. Then in one motion, he stood up and was hit by Pierre Garcon which knocked the ball out of the endzone. It was ruled an interception. Replays showed the ball moving a little bit on Wilcox's stomach as he landed. NFL rules maintain a receiver or defender must hold onto the ball throughout the catch. This interception ruling was dicey. Late in the fourth quarter, Dallas had the ball at their own 5-yard line with a third and 8 yards to go. The Cowboys near their endzone decided to pass. Romo dropped back into the endzone and was rushed by two Redskins. He moved up and threw a completed pass to Terence Williams at the 23-yard line. However, replays showed Redskins defensive lineman Trent Murphy being held and taken down by Cowboys offensive lineman Tyron Smith inside the endzone. A penalty by the offensive team in their endzone is a safety and two points for the defense. The Redskins didn't get the call. They played through it though, forcing the Cowboys to punt after three plays and then stopping them in overtime.
The Redskins proved a lot of national critics wrong with their predictions as well. On CBS-TV's "The NFL Today" online preview for CBSSports.com, analyst Bill Cowher said Dallas turnovers were "the only thing that gives Washington a chance...is if...Dallas somehow hands them the opportunity and turns the football over". Fellow analyst Tony Gonzalez explained that the new starting QB Colt McCoy, "if he can do what he did last week, means no turnovers, he can be efficient with that ball, MAYBE, they have a chance". Cowher couldn't hold back laughter and commented back to Gonzalez, "you say Colt McCoy as if they have a chance". Gonzalez continued, describing the Dallas Cowboys stellar play until co-analyst Boomer Esiason shouted, "so does that mean they have no chance?". Gonzalez responded by saying, "I think they have no chance", which was met by laughter and smiles by everyone including Gonzalez.
On ESPN, a promo during the week for Monday night's matchup focused primarily on the Cowboys. Redskins defensive back Ryan Clark told reporters that the commercial was used as extra motivation. In addition, all of ESPN's nine pregame studio commentators picked the Cowboys to win the game. Teams always say nobody believes they can beat the opponent they're playing. In this case, it was true.
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