Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins: Full Report Card Grades for Dallas
The Dallas Cowboys end the regular season on a high note, as they dominated the Washington Redskins, 44-17. The Cowboys put together another complete performance as they outplayed the Redskins in every facet of the game.
The Cowboys improved their road record to 8-0 and enter the playoffs on a four-game winning streak. The Cowboys are coming into the playoffs playing as well as any team in the league.
Tony Romo put together another fantastic performance, which should further cement his status as a contender for the Most Valuable Player of the Year Award.
Dez Bryant continues to play at an extremely high level as he is in the midst of one of his best stretches of his career. Bryant became the single-season record holder for receiving touchdowns in the Cowboys franchise history.
The Cowboys defense continues its solid play as of late as it stymied the Redskins for most of the game.
The Cowboys now look forward to the playoffs where they will likely face the Detroit Lions or Green Bay Packers at home.
Let’s take a look at how each position graded out in this Week 17 matchup.
Quarterback
1 of 10
Tony Romo continues to play at a high level as he sliced and diced the Redskins defense throughout the game. He is playing as good or better than any quarterback in the NFL right now.
He went 22-of-34 for 299 yards, two touchdowns and a interception to put together another efficient game. Romo did a great job of going through his progressions and finding open receivers.
He had some mild struggles in the second half, but his first half was dominant enough for the Cowboys to win based on that alone.
Romo should be in contention for MVP because he has played his best when it has mattered most. Without Romo, the Cowboys don't sniff the playoffs, and to top it all off, he has done it with a hurt back all season.
The Cowboys are legitimate Super Bowl contenders, and Tony Romo is the biggest reason for that.
Grade: B+
Running Back
2 of 10
DeMarco Murray cemented his legacy in Cowboys history as he broke Emmitt Smith's regular-season Cowboys rushing record against the Redskins.
Murray finished the day with 100 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, as he showed all the traits that have made him such a great running back this year. He did a great job in pass protection and the receiving game as well.
Joseph Randle did a good job when he substituted in for Murray, as he showcased his quickness and reliable hands for the Cowboys offense. He finished with 69 yards and a touchdown on four carries.
The running game is immensely important in the playoffs, and the Cowboys are lucky to have one of the best in the NFL.
Grade: A
Wide Receiver and Tight End
3 of 10
Dez Bryant continued his career year as he picked on the Redskins cornerbacks early and often. He finished the day with four catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns.
Bryant was able to showcase some of his underrated abilities as he was able to outrun the Redskins defenders on the first touchdown and display the awareness to toe tap his feet inbounds on the second.
Cole Beasley continued his productive month as he made import catches that allowed the Cowboys to sustain drives. He has become one of the most reliable receivers on the Cowboys roster, as he is one of Romo's favorite third-down targets.
Beasley finished the day with six catches for 57 yards in a game where the stats don't tell the extent of his effectiveness.
Jason Witten was once again Romo's security blanket as he finished with four catches for 49 yards.
The Cowboys passing attacking is playing its best heading into the playoffs. Hopefully, they will be able to carry that momentum with them into their wild-card game.
Grade: A
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Offensive Line
4 of 10
The Cowboys offensive line's main objective was to keep Tony Romo upright and healthy entering the playoffs, which it was able to accomplish.
It was able to give Romo plenty of time to throw the ball, while also giving the running backs adequate running lanes to get through.
Tyron Smith continues his stellar play, as he kept Romo's blind side clean throughout the game. Smith was inconsistent for much of the season, but he has come into his own in the last month.
Jermey Parnell had some struggles, but he appeared to hold his own against Ryan Kerrigan throughout the game.
The Cowboys offensive line is the best in the NFL, and they will be a huge advantage for them in the playoffs.
Grade: A
Defensive Line
5 of 10
The Cowboys defensive line has been much improved the last couple weeks, and it continued that trend today. It was able to generate pressure on RGIII throughout the day, while bottling up Alfred Morris in the running game.
Jeremy Mincey had another big game, as he registered his sixth sack on the season and constantly help up well at the point of attack in the running game.
DeMarcus Lawrence looks to be finally getting back some of his explosiveness, as he was close to getting a sack on a couple of occasions.
Terrell McClain's sack and forced fumble clinched the game for the Cowboys, as he fought through multiple blockers to get to the quarterback.
The Cowboys ability to play well on defense comes down to the defensive line's ability to generate pressure. If it is able to get pressure, the Cowboys will make a deep run in the playoffs. If not, it will be tough for Dallas to get out of the first game.
Grade: A
Linebacker
6 of 10
With Rolando McClain out, the Cowboys needed some of their other linebackers to step up. Bruce Carter did just that, as he recorded two interception in the red zone, which kept the Redskins from making it a close game.
Carter has had his struggles throughout this season, but he has been one of the biggest playmakers for the Cowboys when they needed it most.
The one injury scare the Cowboys did have is Anthony Hitchens' ankle injury he sustained during the game. The Cowboys are already thin at linebacker, and they can't afford to lose one of their most valuable contributors on that unit.
The Cowboys should be commended on how well the linebackers have played this season despite the myriad of injuries they have faced.
Grade: A
Secondary
7 of 10
Outside of their tackling on a few bubble screens, the secondary did a phenomenal job of stifling the numerous weapons on the Redskins offense.
Orlando Scandrick was excellent in coverage throughout the game as he took whomever he was covering out of the game. Scandrick is playing at a Pro Bowl level, and the Cowboys should feel confident that he can cover any wide receiver they face in the playoffs.
Brandon Carr had another good performance as he provided lockdown coverage on the various Redskins receivers throughout the game.
Barry Church continues to be a solid player, as he didn't allow the Redskins to beat him deep throughout the game, while doing a solid job in run support.
Overall, the Cowboys secondary has been one of the most surprising aspects of the team, as they have shut down some really productive receiving corps throughout the season.
Grade: A
Special Teams
8 of 10
After missing one last week, Dan Bailey was perfect on his field-goal attempts this week. He went 3-of-3 on the day as he went back to his usual self.
The Cowboys were able to nullify the Redskins return units as they continue to be very adept at covering punts and kicks.
Chris Jones averaged 43 yards per punt on four punts as he was able to flip field position on a couple of occasions.
The Cowboys special teams struggled early in the season, but they have been able improve as the season has worn on. If the Cowboys lose in the playoffs, it likely won't be because of the special teams.
Grade: A
Coaching
9 of 10
Head coach Jason Garrett made the decision to play the starters for most of the game, and it didn't backfire on him for the most part. The only significant injury the Cowboys suffered was an ankle injury to Anthony Hitchens.
Play-caller Scott Linehan called a great game, as he mixed the run and pass well against the Redskins. He made some great play calls in some important situations that allowed the Cowboys to be in a great position to put points on the board.
Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli called a brilliant game, as he played to the Cowboys strengths and put them in advantageous positions throughout the game
The Cowboys were billed as a team that was destined for mediocrity before the season, now that they have finished 12-4 with a spot in the playoffs, the coaching staff should get a lion's share of the credit for exceeding everyone's expectations.
Grade: A
Final Grade
10 of 10
| Positional Unit | Overall Grade |
| QB | B+ |
| RB | A |
| WR | A |
| OL | A |
| DL | A |
| LB | A |
| Secondary | A |
| Special Teams | A |
| Coaching | A |
| Cumulative Grade | A |
For the second consecutive week, the Cowboys have put together a great team performance, as evidenced by their cumulative grade. Bruce Carter, Jeremy Mincey and Orlando Scandrick led the Cowboys to their dominant performance on defense, while Dez Bryant and the offensive line led the way for the offense.
The Cowboys will likely face the loser of the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions game, and either of those teams will provide a stiff test to the Cowboys.
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