Cowboys Rout Redskins
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LANDOVER, Md. — With the NFC East title clinched and not much chance of earning a first-round bye, there was little on the line for the Dallas Cowboys Sunday.
The Cowboys didn’t play like it, burying their biggest rival 44-17 with starters playing the entire game to finish a perfect 8-0 on the road this season and avenge the overtime loss to the Redskins eight weeks earlier.
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett even tried an onside kick in the second quarter and slammed the door on the last-place Redskins, who finished 4-12 in coach Jay Gruden’s first season.
Dallas could still gain a bye with losses by favored Arizona and Seattle in games played later Sunday.
“There was a scenario where the outcome of this game was going to matter so our job was going to take care of what we could take care of and that’s what we did,” Garrett said.
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo was 22 of 34 for 299 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, while Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III was 27 of 41 for a career-high 336 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
The 34-year-old Romo will lead the NFL with a career-high 113.2 passer rating a year and a
day after his career was in jeopardy after having back surgery.
“We split with them; they’re 12-4 and we’re 4-12 so right now we’re far away,” said Gruden.
Three plays after Dan Bailey’s 35-yard field goal ended the opening drive and gave Dallas a 3-0 lead, Redskins receiver DeSean Jackson caught a screen pass from Griffin, was freed by a big block from left tackle Trent Williams, and turned on the jets for a 69-yard touchdown.
However, Washington’s edge lasted barely two minutes. On the fourth play of the Cowboys’ ensuing series, wide receiver Dez Bryant caught a screen pass from Romo, juked Redskins cornerback David Amerson, and was on his way to a 65-yard touchdown that made it 10-7 Cowboys with 6:25 left in the quarter.
Four plays after Washington’s three-and-out, NFL rushing champion DeMarco Murray (1,845 yards) broke Emmitt Smith’s Cowboys season record with a 32-yard gallop en route to gaining 100 yards on 20 carries. On the next snap, Bryant beat Amerson again and got both feet down in the left corner of the end zone for his 16th touchdown grab to top Terrell Owens’ previous team mark.
Shades of the Hall of Fame trio of Smith, receiver Michael Irvin and quarterback Troy Aikman that led Dallas to three Super Bowl titles in from 1992-95, Murray, Irvin and Romo had the Cowboys cruising 17-7.
“I don’t like comparisons, but it’s a formula of offensive football that we like,” said Garrett, who played with the enshrined Three Amigos. “A good, strong offensive line, quarterback play at a very high level, efficient, make them defend the run and a big-play receiver outside.”
After another fruitless Redskins possession, Bailey ended a nine-play, 56-yard Cowboys series with a 32-yard field goal that made it 20-7. To add the proverbial insult to injury, Barry Church recovered Bailey’s subsequent onside kick at the Washington 49. Murray scored from 9 yards out just six plays later.
Kai Forbath’s 25-yard field goal stopped the run, and the margin remained 27-10 at halftime because tight end Jason Witten’s holding penalty nullified Dallas third-string running back Lance Dunbar’s 80-yard burst.
Cowboys linebacker Bruce Carter, whom Garrett noted is at the top of the takeaway board in their defensive meeting room, picked off Griffin on consecutive series but Redskins rookie linebacker Jackson Jeffcoat intercepted a Romo pass in between early in the fourth quarter.
Griffin’s 2-yard touchdown with 6:45 left was his first scoring run since the 2012 finale. Bailey added a 23-yard field goal before defensive tackle Terrell McClain forced Griffin’s fumble that defensive end Anthony Spencer returned for a 5-yard touchdown. Backup running back Joseph Randle burst 65 yards for a final touchdown with 1:40 left.
“It’s been a real long year, a real tough year with a lot of adversity,” said 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year Griffin, who missed six weeks with a dislocated left ankle and was benched after losing three straight starts upon his return.
