Cowboys Win Without Tony Romo
Published on December 8 2015 6:15 am
Last Updated on December 8 2015 6:15 am
Dez Bryant's tantrum on the Dallas Cowboys' sideline was not a good look. Neither was Darren McFadden's two-fumble performance. Matt Cassel's passes often sailed nowhere near his receivers.
All in all, it was an ugly game, one devoid of any style points or many scoreboard points until the final 1:30. Perhaps fittingly, a fumbled punt return by Washington's DeSean Jackson deep in his own territory led to Dallas' only touchdown.
Yet none of that mattered to Dallas, really, because by beating Washington 19-16 on Dan Bailey's 54-yard field goal with nine seconds left Monday night, the Cowboys somehow kept themselves in the thick of the playoff chase in the woeful NFC East.
"We have everything to gain and everything to lose," Bryant said. "We are still in this thing."
The last-place Cowboys (4-8) won without quarterback Tony Romo for the first time this season and are only one game behind the Redskins, Giants and Eagles, who are all 5-7.
"Our guys don't blink," Dallas coach Jason Garrett said. "We've given ourselves an opportunity to stay in it."
After combining to score 18 points in the first 58 minutes, the teams combined for 17 points the frenzied rest of the way. Dallas scored the game's first touchdown with 74 seconds remaining to lead 16-9 after recovering Jackson's miscue. Washington tied it on Jackson's 28-yard TD catch, and then Bailey hit the go-ahead kick.
"A roller coaster," Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins called it.
Thursday, December 10 Schedule (Time Central)
Minnesota at Arizona, 7:25 p.m.
Sunday, December 13 Schedule (All Times Central)
Buffalo at Philadelphia, noon
San Francisco at Cleveland, noon
Detroit at St. Louis, noon
New Orleans at Tampa Bay, noon
Tennessee at New York, noon
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, noon
Indianapolis at Jacksonville, noon
San Diego at Kansas City, noon
Washington at Chicago, noon
Atlanta at Carolina, noon
Seattle at Baltimore, noon
Oakland at Denver, 3:05 p.m.
Dallas at Green Bay, 3:25 p.m.
New England at Houston, 7:30 p.m.