Impact player Dallas quarterback Tony Romo got off to a quiet start, but his ability to keep plays alive resulted in several huge gains, including on two of his touchdown passes as well as the pivotal third down in overtime. He’s playing at a high level right now.
Under the radar
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Quarterback Rex Grossman had big numbers and threw in rhythm all day, but give credit to his offensive line. Left tackle Trent Williams had one of his best games and right tackle Jammal Brown, though beaten on one sack, was a major upgrade over injured backup Sean Locklear.
Did you notice?
In the first half, Brandon Banks’ 32-yard punt return led to a touchdown. Another time Dallas punter Mat McBriar punted out of bounds at his own 32 rather than kick to Banks. It led to a touchdown. Banks also had a career-best 55-yard punt return.
From the sidelines
Dallas defensive coordinator Rob Ryan’s unit was carved apart by a struggling offense. For some reason, the Cowboys tried to rush the Redskins with three defenders a couple times and allowed big plays when they did.
The Redskins couldn’t run, but offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan was aggressive against the Dallas secondary. It paid off, nearly resulting in an upset. Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett’s unit stopped the run but were stung by big pass plays.
– John Keim
