The playoff-bound Washington Redskins record-setting first quarter allowed them to rest their starters while winning their fourth straight game, a 34-23 victory over their NFC East rival the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins was spectacular. He completed 12 of 15 passes for three touchdowns. Along the way he set the franchise record for passing yardage in a season with 4,166 yards. He broke the record of 4,109 yards set by former Redskin quarterback Jay Schroeder in 1986.
He left the game in the second quarter with his team up 24-0. Four drives four scores. Backup Colt McCoy came in to replace Cousins and maintain the lead. The Redskins were helped by four Dallas turnovers.
Leading 7-0, Redskin Will Compton intercepted a high throw by Dallas quarterback Kellen Moore in for the injured Tony Romo. He returned the ball to the Dallas 43-yard line setting up the Redskin’s second scoring drive.
Cousins hit wideout Pierre Garcon, who made a leaping 39-yard reception near the goal line without breaking stride, running right into the end zone and giving his team a quick 14-0 lead with 4:20 to play in the first quarter.
During the next Dallas drive, Redskin lineman Chris Baker recovered a fumble on a poor exchange from center to quarterback. With another short field, Cousins hit Jamison Crowder on a three-yard scoring strike and a 21-0 lead.
Washington had another chance to pile on the points but were stopped on a third and four play inside the 10-yard line. They settled for a 27-yard Dustin Hopkin’s field goal and a comfortable 24-0 lead with 8:16 to play in the second quarter. Exit Cousins.
Dallas countered with a successful fourth down fake punt which allowed them to keep the ball and score a touchdown, cutting the Washington lead to 24-7 with 3:35 to play before the half. They later added another touchdown right before halftime to make the score a more interesting 24-14 at the break.
With his team now ahead 27-14, McCoy in with the second team, hit a wide open Rashad Ross for a 71-yard bomb and a back-breaking touchdown. Washington now had a commanding 34-14 advantage with 14:51 to play in the game.
Dallas later drove down the field and was about to score when Redskin Will Blackmon jumped the route and intercepted Moore’s pass right at the end zone for a touchdown-saving turnover at the Washington one-yard line.
Unfortunately for Washington, the Dallas drive did result in points as Washington was not able to move the ball out of their end zone and running back Alfred Morris was tackled for a safety making the score 34-16 with 12:20 to go in the contest.
Washington later stopped another Dallas scoring drive and it was Blackmon again coming to the rescue. As Dallas running back Darren McFadden was about to cross the goal line with a critical Dallas touchdown, Blackmon reached over and stripped the ball out of his hands. It rolled out of the end zone and instead of a touchdown resulted in a turnover and a touchback for the Redskins.
Dallas later added a meaningless touchdown, making the score 34-23 with 4:18 to go and the Redskins recovered the ensuing onside kick to take any late game drama off the table.
McCoy ended the game 7 for 11 for 128 yards and one touchdown. Morris led the Redskin’s ground attack with 100 yards on 19 carries. Crowder was the leading receiver with five catches for 109 yards and one touchdown.
The Washington defense did its part with four takeaways and four sacks. Although the Cowboys out gained the Redskins 512 to 437, Washington won the third down battle going 7 for 14 while Dallas was 2 for 10.
Moore ended the game 33 of 48 for 435 yards and three touchdowns and two interceptions. McFadden was the Cowboy’s leading rusher with 92 yards on 12 carries. Their top receiver was Terrance Williams who had eight receptions for 173 yards in a losing effort for (4-12) Cowboys.
Meanwhile the surprising Redskins, after starting the season 3-5, finished 6-2 for a (9-7) first place playoff-bound record.
