Week 4: Redskins 26, Cowboys 24

September 29, 8:48 AMWashington Redskins ExaminerMark Newgent

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Photo cred: NFL.com

Rich and Will predicted it, and both my pal Ben Folsom and Jason La Canfora said that the Skins are playing with house money.

Continuing with the gaming metaphor, all I can say is: Winner, winner chicken dinner.

The Redskins go into the last rivalry game at Texas Stadium and take one from the Cowboys 26-24.

After surrendering the first touchdown of the game when Jason Witten burned Marcus Washington, I had that “oh no here we go” feeling.  Yet, the Skins answered with Jason Campbell’s three-yard pass to James Thrash, and then taking the lead 14-7 with Campbell’s two-yarder to Antwaan Randle-El. (Terence Newman you are a goodly man). They would never trail again. The offense holds the ball for 38:09, and Shaun Suisham nails three field goals -- one coming off Chris Horton’s interception of Tony Romo. Thanks to the Dallas 12^th man for continuing a stalled drive.  No, not the Dallas fans, I mean the 12^th Dallas player on the field on third down coming out of a timeout.

Dallas scores a touchdown to make it 26-24 with less than two minutes, but Sam Hurd can’t handle the onside kick and Skins hold on to win. 

Photo cred: NFL.com 

Offense:
Scored enough points to win, and kept the ball away from Tony Romo et al., but really needed to turn those second-half field goals into touchdowns. They do that and maybe we’re talking about a rout.

Grade: B+

Defense:
Another solid performance, giving up 44 net yards rushing and holding Marion Barber to just 26 yards total. More importantly the secondary held strong and did not give up the big play, like they did last year, and they picked off Romo.

Grade: B+

Special Teams:
Durant Brooks redeemed himself with a 46.3 average, and the punt coverage team helped him keep the net average to 42.8 holding the Cowboys to just 14 yards on three returns. Suisham was 4/4, three of which sealed the deal.

Grade: A

Individual Performances:
Jason Campbell is getting better and better each game, 20/31 231 yards and two touchdowns. Not only is he “managing” the game, but making plays to win the game. He has yet to throw an interception or fumble the ball, and made the little plays that turn out to be big.

Clinton Portis did his part with 121 yards, and helping to chew up nearly seven minutes of clock on the last field goal drive in the fourth quarter.  He should have had a touch down but for a phantom holding call on Casey Rabach.

Santana Moss had another great game eight catches for 145 yards.

Shawn Springs, Fred Smoot, Chris Horton and Carlos Rogers all kept Terrell Owens relatively in check. Could it be that the Cowboys love him a little too much?

Trouble in paradise?  Photo cred NFL.com

Up Next
The Iggles.

Odds n Ends
Rock Cartwright went Dancing on the Star. Lovely!

Matt Terl has pics of Skins fans reveling in the joy of a win at Texas Stadium, and spotlights Chief Zee’s young apprentice.

I don't have the link yet, but I loved it when at his postgame presser Jim Zorn said referring to his play calling, "you haven't seen my best yet."