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Cowboys have field day at FedEx, win 44-17 to end Redskins’ season at 4-12 Cowboys have field day at FedEx, win 44-17 to end Redskins’ season at 4-12
(about 2 hours later)
Having won just four games under first-year Coach Jay Gruden, Washington took FedEx Field Sunday with hopes of finishing a lost season with a modicum of good feeling. Having won just four games under Coach Jay Gruden, Washington took to FedEx Field on Sunday with hopes of finishing a lost season with a modicum of good feeling.
The visiting Dallas Cowboys, who had already clinched the NFC East title, had even less at stake in both teams’ season finale. The visiting Dallas Cowboys, who had clinched the NFC East title the week prior, had even less at stake in the teams’ season finale.
Rather than resting quarterback Tony Romo and the NFL’s leading rusher DeMarco Murray, the Cowboys fielded their stars, used the Redskins as practice dummies and, in the process, showed their hosts what it means to compete. Rather than resting quarterback Tony Romo and DeMarco Murray, their league-leading rusher, the Cowboys fielded their stars, used the Redskins as postseason practice dummies and, in the process, showed their hosts what it means to compete.
The result was a 44-17 defeat that left Washington 4-12 and highlighted numerous areas of concern in all three-phases of the team — offense, defense and special teams — heading into 2015. The result was a 44-17 defeat that left Washington 4-12 and highlighted numerous areas of concern, if not outright alarm, in all three facets of the team — offense, defense and special teams — heading into 2015.
Chief among them: A muddled picture at quarterback, a roster with so many glaring needs that a cache of draft picks couldn’t remedy them, and yet another erratic defensive performance that all but demands the firing of coordinator Jim Haslett. Among them: A muddled picture at quarterback, a roster with so many urgent needs that a cache of draft picks couldn’t remedy them, and a defense incapable of mounting two credible halves, much less back-to-back games.
Dallas (12-4) rolled up 457 yards of offense against Washington’s half-hearted defensive effort, with Romo firing touchdown passes of 65 and 23 yards and Murray rushing for another score scores despite playing with a cast on his hand. As architect of the mess, Gruden said he could only give himself a poor grade in his first season. “[We’re] not getting the most out of our players, we’re not getting enough victories, and that’s the bottom line,” said Gruden, who vowed that everyone in the organization would be evaluated in the offseason.
Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III, making his eighth start this season, was attempting to build on last week’s victory over Philadelphia and solidify a hold on the starting job heading into next season. He imploded instead, particularly in the red zone, throwing a pair of interceptions when in prime scoring position. Dallas (12-4) rolled up 457 yards of offense against Washington’s erratic defense, with Romo firing touchdown passes of 65 and 23 yards to Dez Bryant, who got the better of second-year cornerback David Amerson much of the afternoon. And Murray and Joseph Randle rushed for two other scores.
Griffin finished 27 of 41 for 336 yards and was sacked three times. His two scores — one touchdown pass and one rush — were offset by the two interceptions. The Cowboys gained nearly 300 yards in the first half alone, prompting a half-time tirade from Gruden, who called it the worst half of defense he’d ever seen.
Washington scored on its opening possession, with wide receiver DeSean Jackson electrifying the crowd by streaking into the end zone for a 69-yard score that put his team up, 7-3. Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III, making his eighth start this season, was attempting to build on last week’s victory over Philadelphia and solidify a hold on the starting job heading into next season. Instead, he imploded, particularly in the red zone, throwing a pair of interceptions and coughing up a fumble that was returned for a touchdown.
The Redskins then fell silent on consecutive three-and-outs, while the defense allowed Dallas to reel off 20 unanswered points. Griffin finished 27 of 41 for 336 yards and was sacked three times. His two scores – one touchdown throw, one run – were offset by the two interceptions.
The Cowboys had multiple opportunities to rest their best. Instead, they kept scrapping. Up 20-7, Dallas tried an onside kick and recovered to start its next drive on Washington’s 49. Washington scored on its opening possession, with wide receiver DeSean Jackson electrifying the crowd of 80,897 with a 69-yard catch-and-run that put his team up, 7-3.
Dallas met only mild resistance on its nine-play opening drive, which produced a 36-yard field goal. The Redskins then fell silent on consecutive three-and-outs, while its poor-tackling defense allowed Dallas to reel off 20 consecutive points.
Washington countered with Jackson’s 69-yard touchdown reception, made possible by a crushing block delivered by Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams. Jackson had such an edge on the nearest defender that he strolled in for the score. “Our fans deserve better than that; our coaches deserve better than that,” a disgusted Ryan Kerrigan said afterward. “We as players got to do better than that — than what that crap was we put on film. Especially the first half. That was totally just a butt-kicking.”
In a flash, Dallas exacted revenge. Romo hit Dez Bryant, who wrong-footed cornerback David Amerson and streaked for a 65-yard touchdown that reclaimed the lead, 10-7. After taking a 20-7 lead, the Cowboys kept scrapping rather than rest their best. They recovered a nicely executed onside kick to their next drive on Washington’s 49-yard line. It was on that drive, midway through the second quarter, that Washington’s defense appeared to flat-out concede.
Washington went three and out, with Griffin throwing for five yards on a crucial third and nine. From Washington’s 9, Murray caromed off a series of lackluster tackles into the end zone to extend Dallas’s lead to 27-7 with more than eight minutes remaining before the half.
Murray surpassed the Cowboys’ single-season rushing mark set by Emmitt Smith on the next drive. Romo hit Bryant with a 23-yard throw in the end zone that was initially ruled an incompletion. Review showed Bryant got both feet in against Amerson’s coverage, and Dallas extended its lead, 17-7. Despite playing with a broken hand, Murray finished the game with 100 yards, bringing his season total to 1,875, shattering Emmitt Smith’s single-season franchise record.
Yet again, Washington’s offense sputtered on a three and out. With a chance to narrow Washington’s deficit as the first half ticked down, Griffin threw two incompletions inside the 10. So Gruden tapped Kai Forbath on fourth down for a 25-yard field goal that made it 27-10 at the break.
Amerson’s struggles continued, with a pass interference call helping Dallas to an easy field goal. Once Washington fell behind by 17, Gruden all but abandoned the ground game — a decision he conceded may have been premature.
Ahead 20-7, Dallas pulled off the onside kick. It was on the next drive, midway through the second quarter, that Washington’s defense conceded. From Washington’s 9, Murray caromed off half-hearted tackles into the end zone to take a 27-7 lead with more than 8 minutes remaining before the half. After Gruden’s halftime rant at the defense, the unit played with more spirit in the second half.
With a chance to narrow the deficit as the first half ticked down, Griffin threw two incompletions inside the 10. So Gruden called up Kai Forbath on fourth down for a 25-yard field goal that made it 27-10 at the break. And the offense put together a promising drive late in the third quarter. Griffin got completions of 47 and 17 yards to Pierre Garcon and Jackson, respectively, to march Washington inside the red zone again. But from the Dallas 7, he threw directly into the hands of linebacker Bruce Carter, who returned it to the Dallas 40 before being brought down by Trent Williams.
Washington’s offense came out the aggressor in the second half. Early in the fourth quarter, Washington reserve linebacker Jackson Jeffcoat intercepted an underthrown Romo pass and ran it back nine yards to the Dallas 16. An apparent touchdown reception by Jordan Reed was negated because his helmet was ripped off just before he crossed the goal line and the play was whistled dead. So Griffin carried for the two-yard score, with 6:45 remaining. With it, Washington cut Dallas’s lead to 10 at 27-17.
Griffin got completions of 47 and 17 yards to Pierre Garcon and Jackson, respectively, to march Washington inside the red zone again. But from the Dallas 7, he threw directly into the hands of linebacker Bruce Carter, who was brought down by Trent Williams. It was the last thing that went well for the hosts.
Dallas took over on its own 40 but was forced to punt. Romo again exploited Amerson for a 51-yard completion to Terrance Williams that took the Cowboys to Washington’s 9, and Dallas added a field goal.
Early in the fourth quarter, Washington reserve linebacker Jackson Jeffcoat intercepted an underthrown Romo pass and ran it back nine yards to the Dallas 16. An apparent touchdown reception by Jordan Reed was negated because his helmet was ripped off just before he crossed the goal line and the play was whistled dead. So Griffin carried for the 2-yard score, with 6:45 remaining. With it, Washington cut Dallas’s lead to 10 at 27-17.
But it was the last thing that went well for the hosts.
Garcon was slapped with a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness for a block during the scoring play.
Romo again exploited Amerson for a 51-yard completion that took the Cowboys to Washington’s nine, and Dallas added a field goal.
Griffin was sacked, then fumbled to commit his third turnover. Dallas’s Anthony Spencer picked the ball up on the 5 and ran it in for a score.Griffin was sacked, then fumbled to commit his third turnover. Dallas’s Anthony Spencer picked the ball up on the 5 and ran it in for a score.
The final indignity took just nine seconds. On the first play of its next drive, Dallas’s third-string running back, Joseph Randle, ran 65 yards for the touchdown that supplied the final margin. The final indignity took just nine seconds. On the first play of its next drive, Dallas’s third-string running back, Randle, ran 65 yards for the touchdown that supplied the final margin.
Asked to critique Griffin’s day, Gruden said: “I think he’s out there trying his best. . . . There are some plays I think he wishes he had back, as do I wish I had back calling them.”