NFL Washington Redskins

Washington Redskins Save Season With Win Over Dallas Cowboys

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Washington Redskins Colt McCoy

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All it takes is one win to change the course of a season and the Washington Redskins earned that win on Monday Night by upsetting the Dallas Cowboys 20-17 in overtime. The script could not have been written more perfectly as backup quarterback Colt McCoy returned to Texas and delivered a brilliant performance.

The seemingly over-matched Washington defense bullied Tony Romo all night long in its best showing of the season. With the victory, the Redskins kept their hopes alive and could mark a turning point in the 2014 season.

Washington was a heavy underdog heading into a Monday night matchup against the 6-1 Cowboys in Jerry World. McCoy hadn’t started a game in the NFL in three seasons, and didn’t have any success in his previous tenure with the Cleveland Browns. He was clearly rusty in the first half, under-throwing receivers and making a poor decision on an interception. But McCoy came out in the second half more composed, leading the Redskins to touchdown on their first drive of the half.

With the game tied at 10 in the fourth quarter, McCoy ran a draw up the middle to score the go-ahead touchdown to give Washington the lead. The Cowboys would eventually tie the game and send it into overtime. Washington got the ball first, and McCoy led a magnificent drive that ended in a 40-yard field goal by Kai Forbath. The drive was highlighted by a spectacular play when McCoy broke free from the pocket and lofted a pass to Jordan Reed, who made a beautiful catch on the sideline to put Washington in field-goal range. McCoy finished the game completing 25-of-30 passes for 299 yards with the lone interception.

Although McCoy’s play was superb, it was the performance of Washington’s defense that ultimately won the game. Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett coached arguably the best game of his tenure in D.C., dialing up blitz after blitz and confusing Romo. The Redskins sacked Romo five times during the game and confused the Dallas offensive line on a consistent basis. Rookie cornerback Bashaud Breeland held his own against Dez Bryant and the Cowboys’ receivers in the best game of his young career. Bryant finished with only three catches for 30 yards and one touchdown, a stat line that Washington will take every time.

This was exactly the type of game that the Redskins have been in this season, a game in which they usually lose. Whether it’s a drive-killing penalty, turnover or big play, Washington seemed to always self-destruct in close games this year. Although it wasn’t perfect, the Redskins found a way to avoid the key mistakes and pull off the biggest upset in the NFL so far this season. Washington fans, players and coaches know how important the games against Dallas are, and shocking America’s team on Monday night could do wonders for the team’s confidence going forward. This was an enormous win for Jay Gruden in his first season as head coach of the franchise.

The Redskins are now 3-5 with the return of franchise quarterback Robert Griffin III looming. Washington heads to play the Minnesota Vikings next week and then will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home coming off a bye. It’s not insane to say that the Redskins could be 5-5 heading into a crucial stretch at the end of the season. Washington snapped an eight-game losing streak in the division with the win and still has three more games left of the schedule against NFC East opponents. The Redskins may have changed the course of their season with a remarkable triumph over the Cowboys, and it will be interesting to see where the team goes from here.

Ben Linton is a Baltimore Orioles writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter or add him to your network on Google.

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