As a kid growing up in the DC area, the Redskins-Cowboys was THE rivalry, period. They've been bitter rivals since 1960 when the Cowboys began play. These two have had some epic battles, last minute finishes and battled each other for divisional and conference championships. Now, it's not such big a deal as Steve Czaban points out in his blog. And he's right. The Redskins have won just two playoff games since 1993 and have been mired in mediocrity for a long time.
This is a big game for the Redskins if they want to remain in playoff contention, especially after a very disappointing loss to the Eagles last week. Win, and the Redskins are very much in the postseason hunt at 6-4. If they lose, at 5-5 that will hurt their postseason chances as there are several teams in the NFC playoff chase.
So I wore my Redskins coat to work every day this week, just like I wore my coat to school when I was growing up and I engaged in friendly smack chat with co-workers who are Cowboy fans. Come Sunday I will be front and center as these two battle one another.
So all that said, here are some of my favorite Redskins victories over the Cowboys.
October 19, 1987: The Replacements. The Redskins replacement players signed during the 1987 strike, beat a veteran Cowboy team who had most of their stars playing, 13-7 on Monday Night Football.
October 8, 1973: Ken Houston stops Walt Garrison at the goal line to preserve the Redskins 14-7 victory on Monday Night Football.
November 2, 1975: Kilmer's sneak over Walt Sweeney gives the Redskins a huge OT victory.
December 22, 1996: Last game at RFK Stadium was a Redskins victory over the Cowboys.
October 2, 1978: Joe Theismann holding the ball aloft in the end zone after voluntarily taking a safety rather than risking a punt. Redskins win 9-5.
December 11, 1983: "No, Danny, No!" Redskins and Cowboys battle it out for the NFC East title. The infamous shot of Cowboys coach Tom Landry yelling at his QB Danny White not to try to draw the Redskins defense offsides. Redskins win 31-10 in Dallas.
January 22, 1983: Super Bowl Bound as the Redskins win the NFC Title at RFK Stadium 31-17.
December 31, 1972: Kilmer to Taylor will be forever etched in my mind as the Redskins go to their first Super Bowl with a 26-3 win over the Cowboys at RFK Stadium.
Some tough losses as well.
November 28, 1974: Longley to Pearson ruined Thanksgiving.
December 16, 1979: Season over. Redskins blow a 13 point lead, lose 35-34 and at 10-6, miss the playoffs.
September 5, 1983: Cowboys comeback. Down 23-3 at halftime, Dallas wins 31-30 at RFK. This was the debut of long time Redskin Darrell Green, who raced 70 yards and stopped Cowboy RB Tony Dorsett from scoring a TD.
September 9, 1985: Happy Birthday Joe Theismann. Cowboy fans sing Happy Birthday to Joe following a 44-14 rout.
November 24, 1991: First loss. Redskins enter the game 11-0 but lose to the Cowboys 24-21. Redskins later would win their last Super Bowl.
One thing I'll always remember was getting Sports Illustrated delivered a few days after the win so you could bask in the glory of the victory a little longer. The issues were always keepers and stashed away at Casa Benjamin are these two covers.
Finally, I made my live radio debut in December 2002 when WTEM was giving away a pair of tickets to the Redskins-Cowboys game. They were broadcasting live from Fair Oaks Mall and you had to come up with the best reason why you wanted to go to the game. So I took Weena and she saw what a knucklehead her husband was as I got on the air. I lost out, but felt proud I busted out my Redskins version of Big Bad John that I used to yell at 'Skins games in honor of John Riggins
Thru the blood and guts of this man made hell, walked a giant of a man the Cowboys knew well.
As the huddle broke, they began to moan...Like a giant oak tree he stood there alone. And the Cowboys wished they'd all stayed home...Big John!
1 comment:
It's T.O.'s Show in Dallas
Owens Hauls in Four Touchdowns as Dallas Escapes With Win at Home: Cowboys 28, Redskins 23
IRVING, Texas -- One snap went off Tony Romo's face, two went over his head. Then, coming out of the 2-minute warning before halftime, Romo went to the line and called a timeout.
As disjointed as the Dallas Cowboys were Sunday, they still found a way to beat the Washington Redskins 28-23.
Their secret? Throw it to Terrell Owens.
Owens caught touchdown passes of
4, 31, 46 and 52 yards, marking the first four-TD game of his career, to get the Cowboys to 9-1 for the first time since 1983. They've won four straight since losing to New England, this being the third in a row against division foes.
With Green Bay also winning Sunday, the teams remain tied atop the NFC with one game left before they meet at Texas Stadium a week from Thursday.
It wasn't as easy as it sounds, though. The Redskins (5-5) answered T.O.'s fourth TD with a touchdown, then forced the Cowboys to punt. Jason Campbell had Washington 19 yards from a go-ahead TD, but ruined it with an interception thrown right into the belly of Dallas' Terence Newman with 1:39 left.
Campbell got the ball back one more time. As time expired, he threw a 50-yard pass into the end zone, and guess who broke it up: Owens, who often goes in as a defender in desperation-pass situations. T.O. picked up the loose ball and ran off with it as fans heaved a sigh of relief.
"We keep making the big plays," coach Wade Phillips said. "I just think it shows the character of this team. We've done it all year and we did it again."
The Redskins came in needing a win to legitimize their hopes of remaining in the playoff chase. They were in great shape late in the third quarter, leading 10-7 and taking over on the Dallas 3 following an interception by linebacker Rocky McIntosh.
However, the Cowboys challenged and replay gave them the ball. They moved 51 yards on a pass-interference penalty on the next snap, then a few plays later Romo hit Owens in the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. It was their second TD connection of the game and the 124th of Owens' career, passing Indianapolis' Marvin Harrison for No. 3 on the career list.
T.O. was only warming up.
He capped each of the next two drives with long touchdowns, the first coming down the middle of the field -- with a dunk over the crossbar in celebration, followed by chants of "T! O!" from the crowd -- and the second coming on the right sideline after eluding a defender around the 25.
His last three scores came in a span of 11 plays and were his only catches of the second half. He finished with eight grabs for 173 yards, his fourth straight 100-yard game. His four TDs also tie a club record accomplished only once, by Bob Hayes in 1970. With 12 touchdowns, he tied New England's Randy Moss for the NFL lead, although Moss was playing Sunday night.
"What can you say about a receiver who catches eight passes, four for TDs?" Phillips said.
Romo was 22-of-32 for 293 yards. The four touchdown throws give him 27 this season, third-most in team history.
Campbell was 33-of-54 for 348 yards, the most by a Washington quarterback since 2003. He also lost a fumble.
Santana Moss, playing with a specially rigged cleat to protect a bruised right heel, caught nine passes for 121 yards and a touchdown, all in the second half. His late success conjured memories of a Monday night game two years ago, when the Redskins rallied for a victory with two touchdowns in the final 3:46.
Chris Cooley caught eight passes for 89 yards and a touchdown, and Shaun Suisham kicked three field goals.
Clinton Portis ran for only 36 yards after going over 100 two straight games, but he had only 12 carries as the Redskins opted to throw, throw and throw some more.
Post a Comment