Washington Redskins Mentally Outlast Dallas Cowboys

How wonderful did it feel to be a Redskins fan on Sunday night? Instead of laying down in your bed, replaying the dreaded outcome of a primetime game in your mind, you were able to already pick out your favorite Redskin attire to rock on Monday. Instead of watching your burgundy and gold boys fall just short of a comeback effort, you saw a new, resilient Redskin bunch, who withstood the fire.

Sunday night at Fed Ex Field, the Washington Redskins defeated the Dallas Cowboys 13-7, in the most memorable Washington sports victory since Joe Gibbs won a playoff game in 2005.

Don’t listen to Michael Wilbon and some of these other ESPN pundits, who are already claiming that the Cowboys are an overrated bunch of athletes. Dallas dominated the Redskins in total yards, third down conversions, first downs and time of possession. The Cowboys were a much better team on the field Sunday night and that’s why this win means so much to the Washington franchise.

More than any sport in the world, football requires immense preparation for how a player will react to certain situations. The Redskins seemed oddly organized and under control in critical moments during the game, something far from what the nation’s capital has seen in years.

The Redskins played a below average game Sunday night and were able to beat a division rival, slowing down one of the top offensive units in the NFC. To be completely honest, Shanahan’s offense looked only a tad better than Zorn’s childish attempt at running an NFL scheme.

The running attack was stifled majority of the game, Donovan McNabb missed quite a few intermediate patterns and not one player on the roster has emerged as a consistent threat outside of Santana Moss and Chris Cooley.

But McNabb started and the finished the game the same way; marching Redskin field goal drives into Dallas territory. With 6:14 remaining in the game, a measly 10-7 lead wasn’t going to hold up against a Tony Romo-Miles Austin combination. Mike Shanahan and the Redskins realized they needed to methodically keep the chains moving at a slow enough pace to limit any chance of a Dallas touchdown.

Clinton Portis muscled 36 of his 63 yards on the Redskins final possession, including an 18 yard burst up the middle, reminiscent of his glory days in Denver. McNabb fired a laser to Moss on a third down corner route. Chris Cooley hauled in a big time catch over the middle to put the Redskins in Dallas territory.

And although the drive eventually stalled and turned into a Graham Gano 49-yard field goal, the message had been sent: The Redskins are a mentally tough team.

Washington passed the test of the potent Cowboy front seven and were able to execute their best football when it mattered most. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s timely mix of running plays not only was the reason the Redskins advanced the ball, they also killed 4:26 on the game clock, putting Dallas in the two minute drill.

That is such smart football. If you role reversed the Cowboys into that situation, Jason Garrett would have called too many pass plays and Dallas probably would have punted.

The weirdest part about Sunday night: The game was on the line and the Redskins took matters into their own hands. Instead of being the team trailing and planning onside kicks and two point conversions, the Redskins had total control of the situation.

Mike Shanahan has restored confidence back into the locker room at Fed Ex Field. These players actually believe in the message he is preaching to them. And the best student in Shanahan’s new classroom wears No. 5.

Insert Jason Campbell for Donovan McNabb and this article becomes completely different and more than likely the Redskins are 0-1. McNabb’s understanding of football, and above all the NFC East, is just the thing the Redskins have lacked for decades.

McNabb now has 35 wins over NFC East opponents. That’s more than Kevin Kolb, Eli Manning, and Tony Romo combined.  This experience with winning, this understanding of how to finish off tough division games are not traits you enter the league with. McNabb’s blindside was even comfortable, thanks to rookie Trent Williams' superb debut.

Any proclaimed adjustment period to Jim Haslett’s 3-4 defense reached a screeching halt Sunday night. Sure, yardage-wise, the Cowboys found some of the obvious holes in the Redskin secondary. But Dallas is a big play team with touchdown capable players up and down the roster.

Washington limited the ‘Boys to just one play over 30 yards, a testament to the entire unit, who was without Haynesworth for majority of the evening. On more than one occasion, it seemed like the Redskins knew what play was coming. LaRon Landry amassed 13 tackles and was like an annoying mosquito who kept biting Dallas ball carriers. A

lso credit Haslett's adjustment on moving Brian Orakpo across the line to face Cowboy backup and penalty machine Alex Barron.

Sunday provided so many things we haven’t seen in years from the burgundy and gold. Getting off to a winning start is more crucial than the average fan realizes. The last time the Redskins were at least tied for first place in the NFC East? Try week two, 2007.

How about the last Redskins defensive touchdown? London Fletcher in 2007 against the Cardinals. Mike Shanahan even improved on his now NFL-leading 13th consecutive Week 1 victory.  

Before you order your playoff tickets though, Redskins fans need to come back to reality. Sure, one win can mean the world to a franchise.  There are countless things this team needs to improve on if it’s even going to win eight games.

Fullback Mike Sellers is not the same player anymore. Center Casey Rabach was getting eaten alive by Cowboys pro bowler Jay Ratliff. Cornerback Carlos Rodgers still has a hands problem that nearly cost Washington the game. The Redskins didn’t sack Tony Romo once, and Brian Orakpo whiffed on several open field tackles. Where in the world was tight end Fred Davis? Reed Doughty nearly blew the game on a blown fourth down coverage.

The Redskins will often be outmatched physically this season, there’s no question about that. But it would be hard to argue that there will be a team in the NFC better prepared to succeed than Washington.

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