NFL: Washington Redskins 17 Dallas Cowboys 44 recap and analysis

Dallas started with the ball and they alternated well runs and passes, as Romo found TE Witten up the middle for a 18 yards and a big 3rd down. K Bailey connected on a 36 yard field goal as Dallas grabbed the early lead by 3. But the Redskins responded early, thanks to a superb play by WR Jackson, as RGIII faked the handle to Morris then found the former Eagles on a superb screen play. Jackson took advantage of some superb blocks and scored a big 69 yards TD. Dallas responded very well, as QB Tony Romo found his old reliable TE Witten for a 1st down. Then, he recognized the Redskins blitz to found WR Bryant on a quick throw, and Dez did the rest, as he passed the CB on a nice inside-outside move and scored a huge 65 yard TD, as the Cowboys leaded by 3, 10-7. The Skins went 3 and outs and Dallas continued to excel in offense. RB Murray dominated this drive, as he caught and ran very well to enter the Washington red zone. Then, Tony Romo went to his favorite red zone target, as he found WR Bryant on a superb play action, play action who is possible because the D is so afraid of RB Murray. Dez Bryant caught the 23 yard pass from his QB, even if the call was for an incomplete pass at the beginning. On the replay it looks like the former Oklahoma State guys had both feet in bounds and the refs called it a TD, as Dallas leaded 17-7. Washington went again 3 and outs and Dallas put up once again a solid drive, as WR Beasley was found 2 times by Romo and Murray ran some good routes : Bailey kicked a field goal after the Cowboys QB couldn’t connect with Witten up the middle on 3rd and 8. On the very next play, Dallas went tricky, as K Bailey tried an onside kick and SS Church recovered the football, as Dallas earned an other possession. 2 straight penalties by the Skins D backs helped Romo enter the red zone, and he let DeMarco Murray finish the drive, as the RB followed his O Line and scored a 9 yard TD. With this run, he sets single season rushing record for the Dallas Cowboys, as he passed Emmitt Smith, so congrats to him ! RGIII touched finally the football and he drove his team well, as the former Baylor superstar complete some 3rd down and RB Morris got involved both on the running game and the passing game. DC kicked a field goal, as Griffin III couldn’t find RB Helu on his left. 27-10 Dallas was the score at the half.
Both D showed up in the 3rd, as Dallas went 3 and out 2 times and Washington couldn’t manufacture good plays on offense, especially in the Cowboys territory. On a huge 4 and 1 at the Dallas 7, RGIII tried to find WR Garcon on a quick slant, but the Cowboys D show up and pass rusher Carter intercepted the ball. Romo did nothing with ball and the Redskins were again in the opposite territory, but their QB made an other mistakes, as he found once again Bruce Carter instead of WR Roberts. The ball rebounded of WR Roberts, who was by the way really well cover by the Dallas CB and finally picked a second time by the Cowboys pass rusher. But Griffin fought back and drove once again in to the Dallas end zone. And finally he did what he needed to do, as he scrambled to his left to score a nice TD, as Dallas leaded now 27-17. Tempers flared a little bit as WR Garcon kicked a Cowboys defender : this is a big rivalry so that’s understandable. Romo responded very well as he found WR Williams on a superb 51 yard pass to enter the Skins territory, and this was a big play on 3rd and 16. Bailey kicked an other field goal to make this one a 13pt ballgame. And RGIII’s problems reappeared, as he was sacked by DT McClain and fumbled the football, football who was recovered and took to the end zone for a TD by DE Spencer. TE Reed fumbled the football once again for the Redskins and Dallas extended his lead, as backup RB Randle broke a couple of tackles and scored a superb 63 yard TD, as Dallas win this game in Washington 44-17.
Dallas is really on a roll right now, as they are perfect in the month of December. RB Murray and WR Bryant broke a pair of prestigious franchise records, as the entire Cowboys team maintaining momentum heading into its first postseason appearance since 2009. Jason Garrett didn’t give his starters some rest, as Dallas started the game fast and scored on their first 5 possessions. The Cowboys will face the Lions next week in a NFC Wild Card game, and this should be a superb game, as the great Dallas offense will face one of the best defense in the country. Washington had his chances in this one, as Griffin threw for a career high 336 yards, but he had his issues with 3 turnovers. My MVP of this game goes to WR Dez Bryant, who had just 4 receptions but made them counts with 99 yards and 2 superb TD.

With the collaboration of Alan Guillou