Jessica get me a kleenex
Takeaway drill: a strong opponent with high regard for itself on a home site victory lap held in check by solid playcalling, steady quarterbacking and aggressive defense. Through 25 percent of the NFL season the Redskins are one of those teams.
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Monday walkthrough: in the heat and humidity the Redskins take away the last chance to defend Texas Stadium in a regular season game, beat the Cowboys 26-24 to move to 3-1. Either Washington is shooting snake eyes every week or Jason Campbell is becoming a solid NFL quarterback. Meanwhile back at the ranch the defense does what it always did.
The Redskins took the ball to start the first quarter and on a balanced attack rode Clinton Portis and Jason Campbell 39 yards before Jason Campbell had to burn a timeout on third and one at the Cowboys 35 yard line, tackle eligible Lorenzo Alexander was called for a false start. Santana Moss could not haul in a right side slant and Durant Brooks punted. Dallas' first possession started at their own 10 yard line, they managed 31 yards before punting, key plays here were good pass defense on Terrell Owens by Shawn Springs on first and ten and Rocky McIntosh stopping Marion Barber for no gain on second and ten. On the Redskins second drive they could get nothing going, Jason Campbell was sacked by Chris Canty (Wahoowa!) who blew by Chris Samuels and the Redskins punted. Dallas' second possession was three and out on Fred Smoot's good pass defense on Jason Witten on third and six. The Redskins got the ball back and DeMarcus Ware sacked Jason Campbell immediately and Durant punted again. Washington was holding Dallas in check when Carlos Rogers committed a holding penalty on third and four to give Dallas new life, Jason Witten caught a 21 yard touchdown pass from Tony Romo on the next play to make the game 7-0 Dallas. The Redskins got the ball back and the quarter ended with the Cowboys leading 7-0. (quarterly reports: Washington Post / Washington Times / Matt Terl)
The Redskins had the ball to start the second quarter, a completion to Antwaan Randle El and a Clinton Portis run gave Washington fresh downs. One solid drive later and James Thrash is catching a short pass for a touchdown and the game is tied 7-7. Dallas got the ball back and three and outed, again largely due to Shawn Springs blanketing Terrell Owens. Washington got the ball back at midfield and put on a terrific drive featuring Jason Campbell dodging a tackle and still making a great throw to Santana Moss and a squeezed in an end zone throw to Antwaan for a touchdown, Redskins take the lead 14-7. Dallas got the ball back and three and outed... again. On the first play of the Redskins' next drive Jason Campbell went long down the right sideline 53 yards to a wide open Santana, first and goal Redskins. Washington could not punch it in and settled for a 20 yard field goal to move the game to 17-7 Redskins. Dallas gets the ball back with less than two minutes left in the half, drives on short plays and gets into range, Nick Folk kicks a 36 yard field goal to make it 17-10 Redskins, that is the end of the half. (quarterly reports: Washington Post / Washington Times / Matt Terl)
Dallas got the ball to start the third quarter, for some reason Shaun Suisham's kickoff was a high short popper and a good return put them in good field position. Right off the bat Tony Romo went to Terrell Owens for a long completion, and Dallas moved from there, ending on a ten yard Terrell Owens touchdown catch, game is tied 17-17. The Redskins get the ball back, after two Clinton Portis runs Chris Cooley seals DeMarcus ware on the left side and boosts Clinton for 31 yards. Three plays later center Casey Rabach commits a hold negating a Clinton Portis touchdown. A muffed but recovered (op. cit.) handoff later, Jason Campbell escapes two attacking defenders to throw a touchdown pass to a scrambling Antwaan Randle El. This play is also negated by a penalty on Casey (ibid.), this one for illegal man downfield. The Redskins settle for a field goal to make the score 20-17 Redskins. Dallas gets the ball back and Jason Witten catches an impossible ball with Reed Doughty's hand literally in Jason Witten's cradle, and then London Fletcher forces a fumble by receiver Tony Curtis but it goes out of bounds for a loss and Dallas retains the ball. The next play is an incomplete to Terrell Owens and the Cowboys punt. The Redskins' next possession starts with a short pass to Santana before a first down Clinton Portis run, two incomplete passes later the Redskins are punting. On Dallas' next possession Marion Barber gets stuffed then Patrick Crayton runs over Fred Smoot, dazing him into thinking momentarily that he was back in practice. Shawn Springs and Leigh Torrence already were on the sideline getting treatment, Leigh mans up and comes back in the game. Tony Romo looks to pick on Leigh on the first play back and Chris Horton steps in front for the interception. Washington runs one handoff to Clinton Portis to end the quarter with the Redskins leading 20-17. (quarterly reports: Washington Post / Washington Times / Matt Terl)
Washington had the ball to start the fourth quarter, Chris Cooley caught a tight ball in traffic to move the chains but the team cannot sustain the momentum and is forced to kick a 33 yard field goal, 23-17 Washington. Dallas' first possession of the fourth quarter starts with three incompletions to Terrell Owens and the Cowboys punt. Redskins start on the ground when they get the ball back, The Fourth Quarter Magic came back as the Redskins convert two crucial third downs, one on a Cowboys penalty and one on a tough and short Ladell Betts run then Shaun Suisham kicks a 29 yard field goal to make it a nine point game, 26-17 Redskins. Dallas gets the ball back, desperate and completes three straight passes before an incomplete to TO in the end zone, then an incomplete to Miles Austin. A crossing route to TO and then a short crossing pattern to Miles and it is a touchdown, 26-24 Redskins. Dallas lines up for the onside kick, cannot pull it in and then it is victory formation, game over, Redskins win the game 26-24. (quarterly reports: Washington Post / Washington Times / Matt Terl)
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Soapbox: face it you don't beat Dallas much. How then can you feel any better about this game? The Redskins come into Texas Stadium, the last time these two teams will meet there in the regular season, go toe to toe, execute and win the game. Jim Zorn takes a huge step pre deity.
Key stat, through four games Jason Campbell has thrown no interceptions and fumbled no balls. The team has not just improved at protecting the ball, they are leading the league in takeaway margin.
Other key stat, 38 minutes of possession? What the hell.
When the Redskins offense worked, it worked. The defense was outstanding, Chris Horton has earned his spot on the starters card. Jason Witten, the league's leading third down receiver, was a special focus of the defensive game plan.
When things got hot for the Cowboys, the offense went completely through Terrell Owens who after this game said he did not get the ball enough. With Terrell unable to deliver the Cowboys went down. Of 54 offensive plays, Terrell was involved in 17 of them, or 31 percent, that's nearly a third of the offense, there is no objective measure by which Terrell did not get enough looks at the ball.
Get ready for Cowboys fans, already apoplectic if the small sample of bitter fans calling in to the Opening Drive on Sirius NFL Radio this morning is any indication, to whine like porch dogs about the two blatant missed penalties on the Redskins, Todd Yoder grabbing Adam Jones' facemask on a punt return in the third quarter and Jon Jansen's false start in the fourth quarter.
Did I mention the Cowboys fans are bitter bitter bitter? I heard ripping the play calls, too much reliance on Terrell Owens, not enough reliance on Terrell Owens, not enough running, no killer instinct, note to self: if the Cowboys go on not to be a top tier team after all this season, Redskins fans will get to look back on this game as the start of the spiral and as Martha Stewart likes to say, that is a good thing.
Easy to lose in a game where the Redskins dominated all phases of the game, Clinton Portis had a terrific game, is on pace for 1400+ rushing yards. I have regained some respect for Clinton this season, he is quietly going out there and making it happen.
The Redskins at 3-1 are now outperforming band one.
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Chattering class: Mike Wise at the Washington Post writes about Shawn Springs, not just his great game, also what it all means for him, he grew up in Dallas when his father Ron Springs played for the Cowboys, spent a lot of time in Texas Stadium. Now with that stadium disappearing and his father still in a persistent coma and his career winding down, Shawn is entering a new phase of life.
Tom Boswell also at the WaPo tries hard not to put rookie coach Jim Zorn in the pantheon with George Allen, Joe Gibbs and Vince Lombardi just yet, fails.
Les Carpenter has the obligatory front page A1 Washington Post piece, framed between a rare Steven Pearlstein front page appearance writing on Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson's tough economic medicine and the grounding of the Maryland state medevac fleet after a deadly helicopter crash over the weekend.
At the Washington Times David Elfin has Monday Morning Quarterback, Santana Moss owns Texas Stadium, Jason Campbell has taken the next step, Clinton Portis is back. Santana is the WashTimes player of the game (the Washington Examiner has Jason Campbell for that award).
Dan Daly also at the WashTimes writes that this team looks like they are ready for the playoffs. Yes that game looked a lot like playoff football, it was an NFC Beast division game, as I was discussing with my neighbor after the game, the big risk is if the team continues to deliver and then begins to freak out that they can actually do it and start over thinking.
Rick Snider at the Washington Examiner writes that it is all coming together. I agree, see above.
Rich Tandler at Real Redskins fills out the parallel between George Allen and Jim Zorn.
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Onmibus: Redskins are now 2-1 overall, 1-1 in the division and 3-1 in the NFC.
Jon Jansen started over Stephon Heyer, who also played. Demetric Evans started in place of Jason Taylor whose streak of 133 consecutive games came to an end (op. cit. and op. cit.). In something of a surprise, Chris Horton started in place of Reed Doughty, on the Cowboys first drive Chris had a good tackle of Marion Barber and then stopped Jason Witten short on third and ten to end Dallas' first drive.
James Thrash's second quarter three yard touchdown catch was largely the result of James going into motion before the play and reversing himself back down the line, cornerback Terence Newman fell trying to turn himself around before the snap and James was undefended.
With 6:33 left in the half the total yards tally for the second quarter was Washington 122, Dallas seven. At 2:22 in the half that stat was updated, the tally then was Washington 183, Dallas 10.
After the Redskins second quarter field goal rookie safety Kareem Moore whacked Cowboys returner Orlando Scandrick. Welcome to the Redskins Kareem.
The Redskins scored 17 points in the second quarter (op. cit.). That is how you stay in the game.
Shawn Springs had an incredible first half defending Terrell Owens. In the third quarter he strained his left calf and did not return (ibid.).
The Redskins scored twice on their first possession of the second half, both negated by penalties by center Casey Rabach.
Santana Moss likes to drop spin the ball when he makes a big play, in the second quarter after a 53 yard catch from Jason Campbell Santana collided with Dallas cornerback Terence Newman and his helmet came off (op. cit.), and we got to see his look of intensity, cornrows and all.
I think I agree with Troy Aikman, Marcus Washington does not look able to play full speed.
DeMarcus Ware knocked heads with Clinton Portis and got his bell rung.
Chris Horton IS A MONSTER!!!!!!!!!!! For his third interception of the season the rookie knew, KNEW after Dallas receiver Patrick Crayton laid wood on Fred Smoot and sent him out for at least a play that Tony Romo would immediately pick on reserve corner Leigh Torrence. Chris sprinted to the sideline, not even looking at the play until he was right on the route, making an excellent grab for the INT (op. cit.).
Wth Shawn Springs out of the game, Carlos Rogers had two consecutive great plays in the fourth quarter to deny the ball from Terrell Owens.
Bye bye Texas Stadium.
Bonus reference to 1990s Cowboys players cocaine problems.
Jim Zorn becomes the first Redskins head coach since George Allen in 1971 to win his first game in Dallas.
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My wife found my Zorn: rookie coach Jim Zorn is rising rapidly, moves to 3-1 career as head coach. Unlike the last two games where a bold fourth quarter playcall or clutch catch saved the day, it was power running that sealed it for the Redskins this week, the first two times Washington had the ball in the fourth quarter (they had the ball a third time, strictly victory formation) they ran the ball 14 times and passed four times. That is Redskins football.
Shooter: Jason Campbell is still heading upward on the impressive curve, 20 of 31 for 231 yards and two touchdowns, no turnovers for the fourth game, it is at this point possible to look both at Jason's progression as a professional as well as Jason's progression as a Jim Zorn system quarterback.
Coltrolled: our young gun Colt Brennan appeared twice in the game, once in the first half behind an animated Jim Zorn in the camera shot and once wandering through the shot in the second half while Shawn Springs was on the sideline having his calf worked on.
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Washington Post / AP recap, box score, play by play, photos. NFL recap, box score, full play by play, Gamebook (PDF), photos.
Other recaps: Hogs Haven one/two/three/four, Bill at The Redskin Report (where is Lee?), Hog Heaven one/two, Rich Tandler, David Wagner, Mark Newgent, Sportz Assassin, Landis Andrews and Joseph Clifton at Redskins Gab, Penn Skins Fan / Spence / Spence at DC Pro Sports Report, Brian Murphy and bonus Brian Murphy on Brian Murphy.
Next up: a road trip to the Eagles, lifetime Eagles fans, season ticket holder and Curly R reader/lurker Wilbert Montgomery and I will be attending, this will be our 18th of the past 19 Eagles-Redskins games, a streak dating back to 1999.
Top image by me of the Fox coverage. Donovan McNabb getting his ass sacked last night by Adewale Ogunleye and Danieal Manning: M. Spencer Green / AP photo from here.
James Thrash's second quarter three yard touchdown catch was largely the result of James going into motion before the play and reversing himself back down the line, cornerback Terence Newman fell trying to turn himself around before the snap and James was undefended.
With 6:33 left in the half the total yards tally for the second quarter was Washington 122, Dallas seven. At 2:22 in the half that stat was updated, the tally then was Washington 183, Dallas 10.
After the Redskins second quarter field goal rookie safety Kareem Moore whacked Cowboys returner Orlando Scandrick. Welcome to the Redskins Kareem.
The Redskins scored 17 points in the second quarter (op. cit.). That is how you stay in the game.
Shawn Springs had an incredible first half defending Terrell Owens. In the third quarter he strained his left calf and did not return (ibid.).
The Redskins scored twice on their first possession of the second half, both negated by penalties by center Casey Rabach.
Santana Moss likes to drop spin the ball when he makes a big play, in the second quarter after a 53 yard catch from Jason Campbell Santana collided with Dallas cornerback Terence Newman and his helmet came off (op. cit.), and we got to see his look of intensity, cornrows and all.
I think I agree with Troy Aikman, Marcus Washington does not look able to play full speed.
DeMarcus Ware knocked heads with Clinton Portis and got his bell rung.
Chris Horton IS A MONSTER!!!!!!!!!!! For his third interception of the season the rookie knew, KNEW after Dallas receiver Patrick Crayton laid wood on Fred Smoot and sent him out for at least a play that Tony Romo would immediately pick on reserve corner Leigh Torrence. Chris sprinted to the sideline, not even looking at the play until he was right on the route, making an excellent grab for the INT (op. cit.).
Wth Shawn Springs out of the game, Carlos Rogers had two consecutive great plays in the fourth quarter to deny the ball from Terrell Owens.
Bye bye Texas Stadium.
Bonus reference to 1990s Cowboys players cocaine problems.
Jim Zorn becomes the first Redskins head coach since George Allen in 1971 to win his first game in Dallas.
=====
My wife found my Zorn: rookie coach Jim Zorn is rising rapidly, moves to 3-1 career as head coach. Unlike the last two games where a bold fourth quarter playcall or clutch catch saved the day, it was power running that sealed it for the Redskins this week, the first two times Washington had the ball in the fourth quarter (they had the ball a third time, strictly victory formation) they ran the ball 14 times and passed four times. That is Redskins football.
Shooter: Jason Campbell is still heading upward on the impressive curve, 20 of 31 for 231 yards and two touchdowns, no turnovers for the fourth game, it is at this point possible to look both at Jason's progression as a professional as well as Jason's progression as a Jim Zorn system quarterback.
Coltrolled: our young gun Colt Brennan appeared twice in the game, once in the first half behind an animated Jim Zorn in the camera shot and once wandering through the shot in the second half while Shawn Springs was on the sideline having his calf worked on.
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Washington Post / AP recap, box score, play by play, photos. NFL recap, box score, full play by play, Gamebook (PDF), photos.
Other recaps: Hogs Haven one/two/three/four, Bill at The Redskin Report (where is Lee?), Hog Heaven one/two, Rich Tandler, David Wagner, Mark Newgent, Sportz Assassin, Landis Andrews and Joseph Clifton at Redskins Gab, Penn Skins Fan / Spence / Spence at DC Pro Sports Report, Brian Murphy and bonus Brian Murphy on Brian Murphy.
Next up: a road trip to the Eagles, lifetime Eagles fans, season ticket holder and Curly R reader/lurker Wilbert Montgomery and I will be attending, this will be our 18th of the past 19 Eagles-Redskins games, a streak dating back to 1999.
Top image by me of the Fox coverage. Donovan McNabb getting his ass sacked last night by Adewale Ogunleye and Danieal Manning: M. Spencer Green / AP photo from here.
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