Dallas Cowboys Shut Out Washington Redskins 17-0, Clinch Playoffs

Entering tonight's game the Cowboys knew a win would put them in the playoffs and that this opportunity couldn't be squandered. The Cowboys took advantage and shut out the Washington Redskins 17-0 clinching a playoff spot and potentially the NFC East title.

The Cowboys were in control from the opening drive when they forced the Redskins to a third-and-three. Jason Campbell (24-39, 199 yards and one INT) threw a short pass to tight end Fred Davis and it went off his hands into the air long enough for corner back Terence Newman to get under it for the interception. 

That set the Cowboys up at the Washington 36-yard line and six plays later Tony Romo (25-38, 256 yards, one TD and one INT) avoided a sack and found Roy Williams in the back of the end zone to put the Cowboys up 7-0.

In the second quarter the Cowboys were at their own 28-yard line and Romo found tight end Jason Witten (six catches, 117 yards) over the middle. Witten outran safety LaRon Landry and others until he was taken down at the Redskins three yard line. On the next play Marion Barber (17 rushes, 63 yards) took a draw and ran it in to give the Cowboys a commanding 14-0 lead.

In the second half the Cowboys drove into 'Skins territory twice but were held on fourth-and-one both times, as Marion Barber was stuffed giving the Redskins the ball, but they were unable to sustain a drive.

Former Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham added a field goal in the fourth quarter for the Cowboys finishing the scoring and relieving them of the kicking drama they've been used too for the last several weeks.

The Cowboys' defense was the key factor in this game. Defensive tackle Jay Ratliff had two sacks and linebacker Bradie James had 12 tackles.

The Cowboys sacked Jason Campbell three times and hit him a lot more. The Redskins didn't fare much better on the ground as they gained just 43 yards as a team and no one had more than 13 yards.

The Redskins were just 4-14 on third down conversions and never got into the Cowboys red zone.

Now the Cowboys head home to face the Philadelphia Eagles with the NFC East crown on the line. Last season the Eagles beat the Cowboys 44-6 to keep them out of the playoffs. Now the Cowboys want to show the Eagles that a lot has changed in a year.

Extra Points: 

Cowboys' running back Felix Jones had 58 yards on 10 carries and receiver Miles Austin had 92 yards on nine catches.

Redskins' wide receiver Santana Moss had 92 yards on eight catches.

This season marked the first time in the Cowboys-Redskins rivalry that the Redskins didn't score a TD in both games of the season series.