Splitsville

Not enough

Takeaway drill: a struggle, classic division football, the defense did its job, Marion Barber is a bruiser and the offensive line did not give Jason Campbell lots of time to throw. The Redskins are starting to look more like the Redskins.

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Monday Walkthrough: on a football cool night in Washington the Dallas Cowboys gut out a win over the Redskins 14-10, this was bitter division football and the home team could not make the statement, falls to 6-4 in a tie for second with those Cowboys. Band three is not off to a good start.

The Cowboys started the first quarter with the ball, on the second play from scrimmage Marion Barber fumbled but got it back, it was his sixth fumble of the season. The Cowboys punted and a facemask penalty gave the Redskins the ball near midfield. Santana Moss, Clinton Portis Mike Sellers all figured in this drive, with fourth and one on the ten yard line Jim Zorn goes for it and Clinton not only gets the first down, he almost scores. On the next play Jason Campbell connected with fullback Mike Sellers from 13 yards for the touchdown, Redskins go up 7-0 on their first possession. The Cowboys get the ball for the second time and move down the field until DeAngelo Hall intercepts Tony Romo but the Redskins cannot do anything on their second possession and punt and that is where the first quarter ends with the Redskins leading 7-0.

Dallas' third possession starts with TO and ends with TO and Tony Romo off his back foot and they punt. Washington's third possession is over in three plays and Ryan Plackemeier kicks another duck. Fourth possessions start with Dallas moving on two plays then LaRon Landry hurries Tony Romo to Terrell Owens who is hit by Carlos Rogers, the ball pops up and linebacker Rocky McIntosh comes up with the interception. The Redskins move easily, including Jason Campbell on a designed quarterback draw behind center Casey Rabach for 22 yards. Some confusion in the play call results in a delay of game then the team still has to take a time out. Jason Campbell was sacked by DeMarcus Ware on the next play. Ryan Plackemeier punted and Rock Cartwright nearly downs it at the one but it is a touchback. Fifth possessions start with Dallas moving as the half came down, Jason Witten caught a long one on the right then Terrell Owens at the goal line. Marion Barber scored on the next play to tie the game at 7-7. With just over a minute left in the half Rock Cartwright returns the kickoff to the Cowboys 37, then Chris Cooley nets a first down then Jason Campbell throws it away. Clinton Portis catches a pass but stays in bounds and Jason Campbell has to spike it with nine seconds left facing fourth down, then Shaun Suisham kicks a 42 yard field goal to put the Redskins up 10-7 with four seconds left in the half. The kickoff and the half ends, Redskins lead 10-7.

Washington got the ball to start the third quarter and Rock Cartwright fumbled the ball out of bounds. The Redskins sixth possession moves in short increments, think Chris Cooley and Ladell Betts, then Terence Newman steps in front of Santana Moss for his first interception of the season, Jason Campbell's third and third in two games. Dallas' seventh possession stalls and they punt, the Redskins get the ball back for the seventh time on their 40 and Jason Campbell connects for 24 to Antwaan Randle El. Clinton carries right for 20 yards but then they stall on a sack and Shaun Suisham misses a 46 yard field goal, short. The Cowboys eighth possession is a stinker and they punt, Antwaan Randle El dances. Washington nets three yards on third and eight and the quarter ends with the Redskins leading 10-7.

Washington's eighth drive ends with a punt to start the fourth quarter, Dallas moves from their 33 yard line down to the Redskins 25 then Tony Romo throws to rookie Martellus who beats Chris Horton in coverage for the touchdown, Cowboys go up 14-10. Washington's ninth drive goes down to fourth and four and they went for it and did not get it, it was a bad progression. Dallas takes over with 6:40 left in the game and the Redskins have to hold. They do not, the Cowboys have their way including a fourth and one at the Washington 17 and Marion Barber gets it. Humiliation formation and the game is over, Cowboys win 14-10.

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Soapbox:

The decision point in this game was the fourth quarter fourth and four. The options were go for it, punt or kick a 56 yard field goal. Coach Zorn should have punted, he went for it and the lack of execution gave Dallas at least 17 extra yards, based on a touchback, better if it could have been downed on at short field.

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Chattering class:

Sally Jenkins on Tuesday wrote the whole thing is on the offensive line at this point. If they cannot get it back then the team is not going to get better.

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Omnibus: The Redskins took the field in white jerseys and burgundy pants. Don't make me start tracking their attire, all I care about is white jerseys at home, expecially tonight with the Cowboys also preferring to wear white at home.

Clinton Portis was active and started.

DeAngelo Hall was out there in the first drive and was the one that got facemasked to put the ball at midfield for the Redskins to start the game. To my surprise DeAngelo

Chris Canty, Wahoowa!

The fourth down play call in the first quarter was a classic NO NO NO YESSSS! play call.

Tony Romo went left to a flanking Terrell Owens on Dallas' second drive and Fred Smoot completely pwned him.

As the Redskins took the ball with 12:58 left in the first quarter, Al Michaels noted how beautiful the quote Independence Mall unquote looked on b-roll. Note the Al, it is called the National Mall, not the Independence Mall. Perhaps Al was thinking of Independence Hall, in Philadephia. By the way did you hear the Eagles tied the Bengals today? Donovan McNabb did not have a good day.

Marcus Washington was carted off the sideline in the first quarter with his right shoe off.

Game management bugaboo: with 5:18 left in the half, the Redskins had the ball and were forced to take a timeout in Dallas territory. The timeout call was too late and Washington was called for delay of game. The play call was late again and Washington still had to call timeout. Adding injury to gamem management insult, Jason Campbell was sacked on the next play.

Bad refereeing and good challenge on the Rock Cartwright punt down in the second half, that ball should have been down at the one and not a touchback.

LaRon Landry has some fucking closing speed, he saved a TO touchdown at the end of the first half. Marion Barber scored on the next play.

As the Redskins drove down the field on their final possession of the first half, Jason Campbell found Clinton Portis on the left side, it was a low pass and Clinton grabbed it and rolled out of bounds. Despite not being touched Clinton was called in bounds and the clock kept running, with no timeouts left the Redskins were forced to spike the ball and then go for the field goal. Bad refereeing and bad game management is a bad combo.

At about eight minutes left in the fourth quarter it looked like the radios failed again. Jim Zorn had to come onto the field and give Jason Campbell the play. It was busted. That drive ended in the fourth and four when they went for it and did not get it. It was a weak drive and it may have cost them the game.

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Never pay for Zorn: the daring does not pay off at the end, Jim Zorn falls to 6-4 as head coach, 6-4 career, if radio equipment problems caused the fuckup midway through the fourth quarter then coach should scream at everyone he sees tomorrow at Redskins Park.

Shooter: Jason Campbell has a tough day, makes plays when he has to but is harried and hit often, finished 22 of 34 for 162 yards, one touchdown and one interception, his third of the season.

Coltrolled:

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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:


Next up, a trip to visit the Seattle Seahawks, Washington's 2005 and 2007 playoff nemesis. Mike Holmgren continues his farewell tour through the league.



Jason Campbell being sacked by Jay Ratliff in the first quarter: Evan Vucci / AP photo from here. Mike Holmgren: uncredited image from here.