As the clock on Sunday evening ticked below 10 seconds most Redskins fans had the same thought “here we are again.” A game that should be a blowout or at least should be in the bag at this point in jeopardy with one play left. For Dallas, it was truly a golden opportunity served on a silver platter to get to 4-3 on the season, grab some momentum, take first place in the NFC East, and have a comeback win against the arch-rival Redskins. Brett Maher lined for a 47-yard kick only to have a snap infraction that would back up the kick 5 yards to 52 yards, the kick was up and went end over end into the 39-degree sky…and clacked the left upright of the goalpost, Washington escaped 20-17, didn’t see that coming.
For Washington who came into this game as the NFC East leader at 3-2, it was by far the most important game of the young season, and unlike Jay Gurden teams of days past, the 2018 Redskins showed up and played stellar on defense only giving up 323 yards of offense to the Cowboys on the day. As for Dallas, more of the same happened, Dak Prescott could not make the plays necessary for the Cowboys to come out victorious. The game started off with the perfect beginning for Washington, forcing a 3 and out, then going on a six play 52-yard march down the field that ended with what arguably was the best play of the game for either side as Kapri Bibbs caught the ball on a screen play and used great downfield blocks by Brand Scherff and Josh Doctson to put the skins up 7-0.
The Redskins continued to exert their will upon the Dallas Cowboys, the Cowboys started off well on the next drive before setting up to go for it on a 4th and 1 from their own 44-yard line. Prescott got his number called as he pushed forward on a QB sneak, in came Redskins captain safety DJ Swearinger to force a fumble that he then recovered on the Dallas 45. As we have seen far too many times this season the skins could not capitalize on the great field position and were forced to punt. This would continue as the teams would punt the ball back in forth till Prescott found a wide open Michel Gallup for a 45-yard touchdown pass that tied the game at 7. The second half started with big plays by Washington first Adrian Peterson had a 22 yard rush, then Alex Smith who had been inaccurate all day was able to hook up with Jordan Reed for 27 yards to the Dallas 9 yard line. On the next play, the inaccurate Smith returned when the tight end Sprinkle broke wide open in the back corner of the end zone and Smith was unable to connect with him the drive would end in a field goal for Washington.
Smith did continue to do what he does best not turn the ball over with years of experience under his belt Smith did just enough to win the game.
Neither team would be able to break into the end zone till late in the 4th quarter but both would add field goals to make the score 13-10 the Redskins would be the next to find the end zone when Ryan Kerrigan was able to strip Dak Prescott of the ball that found its way to Preston Smith of Washington for the strip six to put the Redskins up 20-10.
Dallas would strike back to cut the lead to just 3 once again with a 1-yard dive from Dak Prescott 20-17 Washington.
The Redskins stared another chance to put the game away and take a 1.5 game lead in the division but would fail to do so and give Dallas a game-winning chance.
The Cowboys took over on their own 36 yards only about 35 yards away from the range of rookie Brett Maher they would get 35 yards when Maher lined up a snap infraction caused the ball to be moved back to make the kick a 52-yarder that hit the upright leading to a monster win for Dallas
The Redskins have secured first place in the division for now and will get a look at next week’s opponent the New York Giants tonight as they take on the Falcons.
