Washington Redskins Lose to Dallas Cowboys: 4 Critical Observations

I was forced to watch the heartbreaking ending to the Washington Redskins game surrounded by screaming and cheering Cowboy fans. After getting home from Jerry's house, I had to take a few deep breaths and stay away from the computer until I had time to watch the highlights from the safe distance of a television screen.

Unfortunately, even after I calmed down, my initial observations proved all too accurate. The Redskins failed to adequately perform the four keys I outlined HERE as essential to their victory.

Perhaps more importantly, with two games against NFC East teams already completed, the true measure of the Redskins is beginning to take shape.

Here are four important observations from the Monday night game.

1. The Cowboys Gave a Clinic on How to Stop the Washington Running Game.

Not one ran over 9 yards or had over a 2.9 yards per carry average. Combine this film with the Week 1 New York Giants game and every team in the NFL now knows what works against the Redskins. All they have to do is implement it and hope their players have the skill set to pull it off.

The Redskins' offensive line has shown no evidence that they can open up the running game against a quality defensive line. I lost count of how many times initial contact was made in the backfield, but it was often.

Not that the running backs helped too much, either. Roy Helu spent all night slipping and falling during his initial cut, and Tim Hightower looked like he had tunnel vision, missing several obvious running lanes.

I half expect to see Ryan Torrain out there next week, but it won't do any good if the line doesn't make the holes.

The good news? The St. Louis Rams are not an elite defensive squad, so we should be able to establish the run, despite our issues. That gives us essentially three weeks to improve as drastically as we need to for the Philadelphia Eagles.

2. Don't Anoint the Defense as Saviors Just Yet.

First-and-goal from the 2-yard line. What an emotional series of plays. I screamed myself hoarse in those few moments, and the Washington defense was transcendentally perfect. This was the finest moment of live football I have ever seen.

The Dallas Cowboys never should have been there in the first place.

The Redskins' defense put themselves in bad situations, only to step up and shut Dallas down every time. In the second half,  they gave up huge plays over and over again, only to hold at the end. third-and-21, anyone?

How many missed interceptions? How many fumbled snaps to Tony Romo only resulted in a loss instead of a turnover? How many trips into field-goal range did it take to beat us?

I'm not just blaming the defense for the loss, though. I'm blaming everyone, including the defense. One turnover instead of a field-goal and the game was won.

The Washington Redskins defense did some incredible things on Monday, but they weren't perfect.

The Good news? No touchdowns and a memory I'll cherish forever as a fan. First-and-goal from the two. If we had won, that stand would have become legendary.

3. The Redskins Are Not Good Enough to Have Average Special Teams.

The Washington Redskins are a better team this year than they have been in a long time, but they are not good enough to overcome missed field goals and bad field position.

One thing that watching from the stands showed crystal clear is that the timing of Brandon Banks' blocking wedge is poorly executed. Several times the wedge formed and punched into the Cowboys long before Banks was in place to take advantage of the holes created.

The result? We started from inside the 20-yard line more often than not. Banks has the ability to score from the end zone, but not without blockers.

Do I really need to talk about the missed field goal? A marginal snap and a bobbled hold.

So, despite his incredible punting, did Sav Rocca cost us the game? Yes he did. A single play that, just like the missed opportunities on defense, cost us the game.

I'm not just blaming Rocca for the loss, though. I'm blaming everyone, including Sav Rocca.

The Good News? Of all people, Graham Gano was excellent. A career-long 50-yard field-goal, superb kickoffs and the miss that wasn't his fault.

4. Red Zone, Red Zone, Red Zone!

A fumble recovery inside the red zone nets a field goal. A blocked field goal from the 19-yard line. Ultimately, three trips inside the 20-yard line gained 10 points.

But it wasn't all red zone this time. No, this week, we went 3 for 12 on third down, no ground game to speak of and three sacks.

But the red zone was where the game was lost on offense. Three more points and the Redskins go home 3-0.

I'm not just blaming the offense for the loss, though. I'm blaming everyone, including the offense. Do you detect the theme here? The Redskins had so many chances in every facet of the game to put it away, but never did. This was a complete team loss.

The Good news? Chris Cooley is officially my favorite Redskin for the week.

A fullback for heaven's sake. A first down on his first carry.

His 423rd reception to pass Cowboy Jay Novacek for 19th place in all-time receptions for a tight end.

Yeah. Cooley is back. A bit of good news for a rough week.