Quadruple Threat: Dallas Cowboys to 9-1

For the first half of the Cowboys/Redskins game, it looked as if the 2006 Dallas Cowboys were out there. Even after Wade Phillips had his players sign a “No Stupid Penalties” contract over the past week, the first half reminded fans of the Bill Parcells helmed 2006 team—the one that imploded late in that season with careless penalties, a porous pass defense, and a coach that they had simply tuned out.

With Andre Gurode botching three snaps (two of which flew over Tony Romo’s head) and floating at least three others higher than usual, and Roy Williams getting burned in pass coverage for TDs, nightmarish memories of the previous season likely come to mind. But as this Cowboys team has shown all season, they are a second-half team that makes excellent adjustments after 30 minutes.

Despite not playing as well as they had the previous two weeks, the Cowboys continue to win this year. Beating the blood rival Redskins 28-23 was much closer than it should’ve been, but great teams even find a way to win on their off days.

Neither teams’ run game was effective (Cowboys with 72, Redskins with 62), which meant that both QBs relied on the pass. The injury-depleted Washington Redskins led 10-7 at the end of a messy first half. QB Jason Campbell lit up the Dallas secondary for a career-high 348 yards, two TDs, and one INT.

It seemed at times that Campbell could find open receivers and tight ends at will. Santana Moss, who supposedly couldn’t put on his shoes this week in practice because of severe pain, finished with nine catches for 121 yards and a TD while Cowboys killer, TE Chris Cooley caught eight balls for 89 yards and a TD.

However, the Redskins were forced to settle for FGs more often than not in the second half and Campbell’s crucial INT late in the fourth quarter by cornerback Terence Newman sealed the win for the Cowboys.

In the end there was simply too much Tony Romo and Terrell Owens for the Redskins to handle. Romo finished with 293 yards on 22 of 32 passing with four TDs and one INT. All four TDs were accounted for by T.O. who continued his dominant play over the past three weeks finishing with another monster game (eight catches for 173 yards and the aforementioned four scores).

Jason Witten (six catches for 67 yards), Patrick Crayton, and Sam Hurd came up with huge catches that extended drives and DeMarcus Ware came up with a key sack that caused a Campbell fumble that the Cowboys recovered and another near sack that resulted in an intentional grounding penalty on Campbell. The offensive line continued its steady play, only allowing Romo to get sacked once.

The Cowboys now stand atop the NFC at 9-1, tied with the Green Bay Packers. Both teams are expected to be 10-1 when they meet at Texas Stadium on Nov. 29 for what will unquestionably be the NFC regular season game of the year that may decide where the road to Arizona will go through in the NFC playoffs.