Bailey Lifts Cowboys Over Redskins

Undrafted kicker Dan Bailey booted six field goals to put the Dallas Cowboys on top of the Washington Redskins 18-16 Monday night at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

In one of the NFL’s classic rivalries, the Cowboys and Redskins battered each other up and down the field in a game that was undecided until the final 30 seconds.

Dallas quarterback Tony Romo, playing with a fractured rib, completed 22 of 36 pass attempts for 250 yards.  Romo was in obvious discomfort after suffering the rib injury and collapsed lung last week against San Francisco.  Romo needed two pain-killing injections in order to play.

Romo was not the only Cowboys playing hurt, Jason Witten also was recovering from a rib injury.  Running back Felix Jones was playing after separating his shoulder, receiver Dez Bryant and cornerback Terrance Newman were both making their return to the field from the injury list.

Jones rushed for a career-high 115 yards on 14 carries and added another 40 yards on 3 pass receptions.

Witten caught 6 passes for 60 yards.  Bryant added 63 yards on 4 catches.

The Cowboys made it hard on themselves offensively.  Penalties and miscues did more to keep them out of the end zone than the opposing team.  On 4 occassions, center Phil Costa snapped the ball to Romo too soon, claiming the defense was shouting out the snap count.  

A bright spot for the Cowboys was linebacker Shaun Lee, who had an interception, a tackle for a loss, and a fumble recovery.  Lee appears to thrive in the defensive scheme put out by new coordinator Rob Ryan.

This is the 9th consecutive game decided by 3-points or less for the Cowboys, which sets an NFL record.  

With the win, the Cowboys improve to 9-8 at the new Cowboys Stadium.  The Redskins have lost all three times they have played in the Cowboys new home.

Dallas will host Detroit on Sunday at noon before they move into the much needed bye week.

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