Cowboys vs. Redskins: 6 Biggest Goats in Rivalry's History

This weekend, the Dallas Cowboys will face off against their most storied rival: The Washington Redskins. The men of D.C. currently sit at 3-6 and seem to be in a freefall. The 'Skins are on a five-game losing streak after starting the season 3-1, and with no breathing room in sight in terms of schedule, things could get uglier in the nation's capital.

But we're here to talk about the Cowboys and the Redskins and not just the issues that Shanahan's team faces. In fact, we are going to talk about players who may be viewed as bums for both teams.

With a rivalry as nasty, vicious and angry as this one, there are bound to be players who have, for lack of a better phrase, stunk up the joint. Just for measure we'll start off of with the Redskins' players to see who has been a true goat in this rivalry.

Here are six players who bring back less than fond memories for Cowboys and Redskins' fans.

Darrell Green/Matt Stevens, Redskins

My favorite memory of this rivalry is of Rocket Ismail catching a 76-yard bomb from Troy Aikman to beat the Skins in overtime. Green released the Rocket to safety Matt Stevens, and while Darrell may have thought that Stevens didn't bite on the play fake, he was sadly mistaken.

Green had great speed throughout his NFL career, but on this day he didn't have what was needed to make up the distance between him and Ismail.

This play is burned into my memory bank due to Aikman's play fake and Stevens' decision to take a ride on the okie-doke train. The Boys ended up winning in overtime.

Roy Williams/Aaron Glenn, Cowboys

I used to love Roy Williams, I really did. I remember him as a hard-hitting safety that was willing to take another player's head off even it meant facing a fine. But then I realized that he was always looking for that big hit, even if it meant a blown coverage.

In 2005, Mark Brunell, before the bankruptcy, burned the Cowboys deep. Twice. In the same quarter.

Dallas was up on the ‘Skins 13-0 when Brunell and Santana Moss hooked up for two late fourth quarter scores that left deep scars for many Cowboys' fans.

These plays are more on the aging Glenn than they are on Williams in my opinion. Glenn was burned by Moss, but Williams still was supposed to pick up the slack. Due to both players lack of coverage, the ‘Skins beat the Cowboys after being down by 13 points for the majority of the game.

Stephen Davis, Redskins

I remember Stephen Davis from his days as an Auburn Tiger and a Redskin. He set the team's single season rushing record in 2001 with over 1,400 yards on the ground that season.

But Texas Stadium is never kind to those who don't respect it, and neither are the Dallas Cowboys. Davis was in charge of running the clock down with his jackhammer legs, but instead he coughed the ball up with his jimmy arms.

This wasn't all Davis' fault, but because he lost the ball and gave Dallas a chance to win, he's the resident goat. Cowboys win 9-6 in a snoozer.

LaVar Arrington, Redskins

How can you pretend to enjoy the sight of LaVar Arrington if you’re a Cowboys fan? I remember watching an episode of Pardon the Interruption on ESPN where Aikman said it wasn’t Arrington who ended his career, but back problems.

Can you picture the side-eye I’m giving?

Anyway, Arrington popped Aikman as they both raced toward the sideline. One player got up and the other kind of stayed down. Arrington effectively ended Aikman’s Hall of Fame career with this hit because Tory suffered yet another concussion.

I recently wrote a piece for the Bleacher Report where I called Aikman slightly overrated for a number of reasons. That doesn’t mean I’m not a fan. To this day I’m not a fan of Arrington because of the wood he laid to Aikman, but as a former defensive lineman I can most definitely appreciate the collision.

Mike Vanderjagt/Kyle Kosier, Cowboys

Kyle Kosier has had an up and down time with the Cowboys since his arrival in Dallas. He's on the upswing now both because of his play and how he's brought Doug Free and Tyron Smith along. That wasn't the case in the offseason, but Dallas would have missed him if he left.

Back in 2006, Dallas had a chance to beat the 'Skins, but due to a blocked Vanderjagt field goal and a 15-yard Kyle Kosier penalty the Cowboys snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Redskins' kicker Nick Novak hit a game winning 47-yard field goal after a series of crazy events that even Miss Cleo couldn't have predicted.

Dallas had the ball with six seconds left and a chance to win with a field goal. The kick is blocked, the ball is scooped up by 'Skins safety Sean Taylor, and he runs in to Cowboys' territory. There is no time left on the clock, but because of Kosier's facemask Washington is able to run one more play to win and that's exactly what happened.

Ken Stone, Redskins

I believe everyone is familiar with the name Clint Longley. He was the back-up who came in for an injured Roge—ok yeah, you follow me now?

So to make a long story short, the 'Boys were down 23-17 when Longley found a streaking Drew Pearson down the field and hit him for a 50-yard touchdown pass.

Redskins' safety Ken Stone had Drew as his man deep, but he was caught slipping and Pearson burned him for it.

Washington ended up making the playoffs that year but got beat by the Rams in the first round. Way to steal the momentum Dallas.