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| Redskins close regular season on high note, beating Cowboys, 34-23, to finish 9-7 | Redskins close regular season on high note, beating Cowboys, 34-23, to finish 9-7 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| ARLINGTON, Texas — It was a day for celebrating Washington Redskins records, giving key veterans some well-earned rest and later — only after securing a fourth consecutive victory that averted a season’s sweep by their most reviled foe — looking ahead to the NFL playoff appearance no one saw coming. | ARLINGTON, Texas — It was a day for celebrating Washington Redskins records, giving key veterans some well-earned rest and later — only after securing a fourth consecutive victory that averted a season’s sweep by their most reviled foe — looking ahead to the NFL playoff appearance no one saw coming. |
| The Redskins turned the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium into their own playground Sunday, bolting to a three-touchdown lead before turning to backups to close out the regular season with a 34-23 victory. | The Redskins turned the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium into their own playground Sunday, bolting to a three-touchdown lead before turning to backups to close out the regular season with a 34-23 victory. |
| In the view of many, Sunday’s game was a meaningless formality, with little at stake for either team. The Redskins had already clinched the NFC East title and locked up home field for their first-round playoff game next weekend. NFL officials will announce Sunday night the opponent, date and kickoff time at FedEx Field. | In the view of many, Sunday’s game was a meaningless formality, with little at stake for either team. The Redskins had already clinched the NFC East title and locked up home field for their first-round playoff game next weekend. NFL officials will announce Sunday night the opponent, date and kickoff time at FedEx Field. |
| And injury-plagued Dallas, long eliminated from the postseason, could only hurt its draft-day selection spot with a victory. | And injury-plagued Dallas, long eliminated from the postseason, could only hurt its draft-day selection spot with a victory. |
| But with Coach Jay Gruden fielding all but three of his starters — left tackle Trent Williams, defensive end Jason Hatcher and wide receiver DeSean Jackson, all of whom welcomed the chance to recuperate before the postseason push — the Redskins issued a strong statement at the outset. Having finally rounded into winning form after a 2-4 start to the season, Washington had no intention of taking the afternoon off. | But with Coach Jay Gruden fielding all but three of his starters — left tackle Trent Williams, defensive end Jason Hatcher and wide receiver DeSean Jackson, all of whom welcomed the chance to recuperate before the postseason push — the Redskins issued a strong statement at the outset. Having finally rounded into winning form after a 2-4 start to the season, Washington had no intention of taking the afternoon off. |
| Quarterback Kirk Cousins led three consecutive touchdown drives in the first quarter to stake the Redskins to a 21-0 lead. With his 12th completion, Cousins set a single-season record for passing yards by a Redskins quarterback (4,166 yards). His reward for a close-to-impeccable outing — 12 of 15 for 176 yards and three touchdowns — was being met by a flurry of handshakes and backslaps on the sideline, where he traded in his helmet for a burgundy cap early in the second quarter and handed the reins of the offense to backup Colt McCoy. | Quarterback Kirk Cousins led three consecutive touchdown drives in the first quarter to stake the Redskins to a 21-0 lead. With his 12th completion, Cousins set a single-season record for passing yards by a Redskins quarterback (4,166 yards). His reward for a close-to-impeccable outing — 12 of 15 for 176 yards and three touchdowns — was being met by a flurry of handshakes and backslaps on the sideline, where he traded in his helmet for a burgundy cap early in the second quarter and handed the reins of the offense to backup Colt McCoy. |
| Joining Cousins in the Redskins record book was Jordan Reed, who moved into sole possession of the single-season record for receptions by a Redskins tight end with 87. | Joining Cousins in the Redskins record book was Jordan Reed, who moved into sole possession of the single-season record for receptions by a Redskins tight end with 87. |
| And nose tackle Chris Baker had his own reason to break out a celebratory gyration after recording his sixth sack of the season. In doing so, he triggered a contract bonus believed to be worth $250,000 — to be earmarked for his infant daughter’s college fund, he’d vowed earlier in the week. | And nose tackle Chris Baker had his own reason to break out a celebratory gyration after recording his sixth sack of the season. In doing so, he triggered a contract bonus believed to be worth $250,000 — to be earmarked for his infant daughter’s college fund, he’d vowed earlier in the week. |
| But it was a team victory all around — one that amounted to a cherry on top of season that had already far exceeded expectations. | But it was a team victory all around — one that amounted to a cherry on top of season that had already far exceeded expectations. |
| With it, the Redskins finished the season 9-7, more than doubling their win total from last season. And they head into their first playoff appearance since 2012 — on the heels of only their second NFC East title in the past 16 years — on a four-game winning streak. | |
| It may not convince skeptics that Washington is anything more than the beneficiary of the NFL’s weakest division. It can’t be denied that the Redskins earned their playoff spot without beating a team that currently has a winning record. But their winning streak has convinced an already unified locker room that it has the tools it needs to make a statement in the postseason. | It may not convince skeptics that Washington is anything more than the beneficiary of the NFL’s weakest division. It can’t be denied that the Redskins earned their playoff spot without beating a team that currently has a winning record. But their winning streak has convinced an already unified locker room that it has the tools it needs to make a statement in the postseason. |
| Dallas, meantime, limped to a 4-12 finish — tumbling from 12-4 NFC East champions to dead-last finisher in one year’s time — and faces questions about its roster in the offseason. | Dallas, meantime, limped to a 4-12 finish — tumbling from 12-4 NFC East champions to dead-last finisher in one year’s time — and faces questions about its roster in the offseason. |
| Kellen Moore, the fourth quarterback to suit up for Dallas this season, attemptedto prove that he’s a viable backup going forward should Tony Romo, at 36, not be tip-top after twice breaking his collarbone this season. On Sunday, Moore was 33 of 48 for 435 yards, three touchdowns and two interception. | Kellen Moore, the fourth quarterback to suit up for Dallas this season, attemptedto prove that he’s a viable backup going forward should Tony Romo, at 36, not be tip-top after twice breaking his collarbone this season. On Sunday, Moore was 33 of 48 for 435 yards, three touchdowns and two interception. |
| After both teams traded punts on their opening series, Cousins got the Redskins’ offense going with a screen pass that rookie wide receiver Jamison Crowder stretched into a 44-yard gain, helped by a terrific downfield block by rookie right guard Brandon Scherff. Cousins then hit Ryan Grant for a 5-yard touchdown throw that put the Redskins on the board. | After both teams traded punts on their opening series, Cousins got the Redskins’ offense going with a screen pass that rookie wide receiver Jamison Crowder stretched into a 44-yard gain, helped by a terrific downfield block by rookie right guard Brandon Scherff. Cousins then hit Ryan Grant for a 5-yard touchdown throw that put the Redskins on the board. |
| Linebacker Will Compton, among the backups who have more than proved their value given a chance in the season’s second half, came up with an interception of a high throw by Moore. | Linebacker Will Compton, among the backups who have more than proved their value given a chance in the season’s second half, came up with an interception of a high throw by Moore. |
| This time, Cousins needed just three plays to turn it into a touchdown, sidestepping a would-be sack to heave a high, arcing ball to wide receiver Pierre Garcon, who made the terrific leaping catch for the second touchdown of the day, making it 14-0. | This time, Cousins needed just three plays to turn it into a touchdown, sidestepping a would-be sack to heave a high, arcing ball to wide receiver Pierre Garcon, who made the terrific leaping catch for the second touchdown of the day, making it 14-0. |
| Baker recovered a fumble on the Cowboys’ next series, and Cousins hit Crowder for a 3-yard touchdown in the end zone. | Baker recovered a fumble on the Cowboys’ next series, and Cousins hit Crowder for a 3-yard touchdown in the end zone. |
| With a 28-yard completion to Crowder, Cousins set the team’s single-season passing mark and exited the game once the series ended on a 27-yard field goal by Dustin Hopkins. | With a 28-yard completion to Crowder, Cousins set the team’s single-season passing mark and exited the game once the series ended on a 27-yard field goal by Dustin Hopkins. |
| As McCoy loosened his throwing arm on the sideline, the Cowboys extended yet another foundering drive with a successful fake punt. On the series, the Redskins backup cornerback Dashaun Phillips suffered a frightening neck injury on a hard hit in the red zone. His Redskins teammates gathered around as medics tended to him. The cart was summoned. And as he was strapped onto a gurney and immobilized, a section of Cowboys fans erupted in the wave. | As McCoy loosened his throwing arm on the sideline, the Cowboys extended yet another foundering drive with a successful fake punt. On the series, the Redskins backup cornerback Dashaun Phillips suffered a frightening neck injury on a hard hit in the red zone. His Redskins teammates gathered around as medics tended to him. The cart was summoned. And as he was strapped onto a gurney and immobilized, a section of Cowboys fans erupted in the wave. |
| Phillips was then transported to a local hospital, and team officials announced that he had movement in his extremities. | Phillips was then transported to a local hospital, and team officials announced that he had movement in his extremities. |
| Once play resumed, Moore found tight end Jason Witten for a four-yard touchdown to avert the shutout. | Once play resumed, Moore found tight end Jason Witten for a four-yard touchdown to avert the shutout. |
| McCoy’s first drive ended in a punt, and Dallas scored again, with Moore hitting wide receiver Cole Beasley for a 5-yard strike shortly before the half expired, and the Redskins took a 24-14 lead into the break. | McCoy’s first drive ended in a punt, and Dallas scored again, with Moore hitting wide receiver Cole Beasley for a 5-yard strike shortly before the half expired, and the Redskins took a 24-14 lead into the break. |
| Hopkins went on to add another field goal, from 33 yards, in the third quarter. | Hopkins went on to add another field goal, from 33 yards, in the third quarter. |
| And McCoy found wide receiver Rashad Ross for a 71-yard catch and run — the longest touchdown throw of his career — on the first play of the fourth quarter. | And McCoy found wide receiver Rashad Ross for a 71-yard catch and run — the longest touchdown throw of his career — on the first play of the fourth quarter. |