Cowboys get even with Redskins
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – The feelings were eerily similar.
The only differences Sunday were the Cowboys and Redskins were not in throwback jerseys, and Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith were not being inducted into the Ring of Honor at halftime.
Unlike last year, however, the Cowboys did not crack.
Having spent a week stewing from their opening-day loss at Jacksonville and then waiting all day for Sunday night's kickoff, the Cowboys blew away Washington, dropping their most-hated rivals, 27-10, at Texas Stadium.
But the victory was tempered by the news that Terrell Owens suffered a broken fourth metacarpal in his right hand and is expected to undergo surgery today or Tuesday. Owens said the doctors told him he would miss two to four weeks.
"I feel like I'm a quick healer," Owens said. "It starts tomorrow."
The Cowboys do not play again until Oct. 1 in Nashville, giving Owens time to recover. It will also allow the Cowboys to fix some of the things that went wrong in the win.
For so long Sunday, the Cowboys let slip away some chances that could have helped them put the game away a lot earlier. Too many dropped passes (nine). Too many penalties (nine). Too many missed opportunities (too many to count).
"A lot of mistakes," coach Bill Parcells said. "We played hard, and we were able to make some big plays."
None was bigger Sunday than Roy Williams' interception.
Williams, victimized twice last year by Santana Moss for long touchdown passes in the Redskins' come-from-behind victory, intercepted a Mark Brunell pass at the 1 with 2:12 left in the third quarter. The Redskins were just 21 yards away from a possible game-tying touchdown.
"Things cancel each other out," cornerback Terence Newman said. "We all remember last year, and we knew we had to jump on a chance to make a play. He made it, and I'm happy for him."
The Cowboys took advantage of the interception with a 99-yard touchdown drive – their longest since 2002. It was aided by two Washington penalties and capped by Drew Bledsoe's 40-yard pass to Terry Glenn.
Seizing its moment, the defense forced a punt, and the special teams, hurt by a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, seized its moment when Mike Vanderjagt connected for a 50-yard field goal in his regular-season Texas Stadium debut. He had missed kicks of 32 and 33 yards in his preseason home debut against Minnesota.
"That three points was big right there," Parcells said.
In a matter of 9:29, the Cowboys went from remembering last year's feeling to a 17-point advantage. The Redskins would never recover.
Fittingly, the Cowboys defense closed the door with its sixth sack of the night on the game's final play when Jason Hatcher and Greg Ellis combined to take down Brunell at the Dallas 7.
"We all recognized this was a huge game," said Bledsoe, who rebounded from a three-interception performance in the opener with a two-touchdown, 237-yard effort against the Redskins that would have been better if not for nine dropped passes.
Still, the Cowboys find themselves at 1-1, tied with Philadelphia and the New York Giants, with two weeks to get ready for a winless Tennessee team in Nashville.
And thoughts of last year's losses to the Redskins and last week's loss to the Jaguars were erased momentarily. The focus now is on Owens' health, like it was in training camp when he strained his left hamstring, and fixing the mistakes.
"I told my players after the game they have to play better," said the 65-year-old Parcells. "It's hard on me. I'm feeling ill right now."
But it was better than how he felt after last year's Week 2 loss to the Redskins.
IRVING – The feelings were eerily similar.
The only differences Sunday were the Cowboys and Redskins were not in throwback jerseys, and Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith were not being inducted into the Ring of Honor at halftime.
Unlike last year, however, the Cowboys did not crack.
Having spent a week stewing from their opening-day loss at Jacksonville and then waiting all day for Sunday night's kickoff, the Cowboys blew away Washington, dropping their most-hated rivals, 27-10, at Texas Stadium.
But the victory was tempered by the news that Terrell Owens suffered a broken fourth metacarpal in his right hand and is expected to undergo surgery today or Tuesday. Owens said the doctors told him he would miss two to four weeks.
"I feel like I'm a quick healer," Owens said. "It starts tomorrow."
The Cowboys do not play again until Oct. 1 in Nashville, giving Owens time to recover. It will also allow the Cowboys to fix some of the things that went wrong in the win.
For so long Sunday, the Cowboys let slip away some chances that could have helped them put the game away a lot earlier. Too many dropped passes (nine). Too many penalties (nine). Too many missed opportunities (too many to count).
"A lot of mistakes," coach Bill Parcells said. "We played hard, and we were able to make some big plays."
None was bigger Sunday than Roy Williams' interception.
Williams, victimized twice last year by Santana Moss for long touchdown passes in the Redskins' come-from-behind victory, intercepted a Mark Brunell pass at the 1 with 2:12 left in the third quarter. The Redskins were just 21 yards away from a possible game-tying touchdown.
"Things cancel each other out," cornerback Terence Newman said. "We all remember last year, and we knew we had to jump on a chance to make a play. He made it, and I'm happy for him."
The Cowboys took advantage of the interception with a 99-yard touchdown drive – their longest since 2002. It was aided by two Washington penalties and capped by Drew Bledsoe's 40-yard pass to Terry Glenn.
Seizing its moment, the defense forced a punt, and the special teams, hurt by a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, seized its moment when Mike Vanderjagt connected for a 50-yard field goal in his regular-season Texas Stadium debut. He had missed kicks of 32 and 33 yards in his preseason home debut against Minnesota.
"That three points was big right there," Parcells said.
In a matter of 9:29, the Cowboys went from remembering last year's feeling to a 17-point advantage. The Redskins would never recover.
Fittingly, the Cowboys defense closed the door with its sixth sack of the night on the game's final play when Jason Hatcher and Greg Ellis combined to take down Brunell at the Dallas 7.
"We all recognized this was a huge game," said Bledsoe, who rebounded from a three-interception performance in the opener with a two-touchdown, 237-yard effort against the Redskins that would have been better if not for nine dropped passes.
Still, the Cowboys find themselves at 1-1, tied with Philadelphia and the New York Giants, with two weeks to get ready for a winless Tennessee team in Nashville.
And thoughts of last year's losses to the Redskins and last week's loss to the Jaguars were erased momentarily. The focus now is on Owens' health, like it was in training camp when he strained his left hamstring, and fixing the mistakes.
"I told my players after the game they have to play better," said the 65-year-old Parcells. "It's hard on me. I'm feeling ill right now."
But it was better than how he felt after last year's Week 2 loss to the Redskins.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:02 PM
<< Home