Joe Gibbs and Bill Parcells matched wits but it was a trick play and timeouts that proved to be the difference in the Dallas Cowboys' 21-18 triumph over the Washington Redskins. Parcells picked the opportune time for a halfback option and Gibbs used the Redskins last timeout on an instant replay review as Dallas edged its longtime rival in a key NFC East Division showdown. Ritchie Anderson threw a 26-yard touchdown pass two minutes into the fourth quarter and the Cowboys hung on late - when a timeout really would have helped Gibbs and the Redskins.
The matchup that featured two legends that have combined for over 300 wins, was a tight affair throughout. "I came back to try and win games for our franchise and for our fans and I'm going to give it every single thing I've got in order to get that done," Gibbs added. Parcells and Gibbs -- whose rivalry during much of the 1980s was marked by close games -- coached their teams to another tight matchup decided in the waning moments. Leading 21-18, the Cowboys converted on third and eight from the Dallas 30-yard line late in the fourth quarter to sustain a drive that helped to eat up valuable time on the clock. The Redskins managed to get the ball back with 21 seconds remaining. But they had no timeouts -- Gibbs had used all three, including one on an unsuccessful challenge of a call -- and time ran out after a 46-yard completion to Rod Gardner that brought the ball to the Dallas 21-yard line. Gardner could not get out of bounds and the final six seconds ticked off on the clock.
Last week, Gibbs said that the rivalry against Dallas was threatened if the Redskins didn't start winning because of the one-sided nature in recent years. Beginning in 1997, Dallas won 10 straight before the streak was halted by Steve Spurrier's Redskins in the 2002 regular season finale. But the rivalry, which dates from 1960, remains as intense as ever, especially because the teams are now coached by Gibbs and Parcells, who have combined for five Super Bowl titles.
Dallas scored first and held a 7-0 lead through most of the first half. The Redskins lost an opportunity to tie the game at the end of the half, however. Laveranues Coles's 20-yard catch gave Washington a first and goal at the 1-yard line with 1:12 left in the first half. Brunell was stuffed trying a quarterback sneak. Portis was halted by a wall of Cowboys while attempting to plow through the right side. On third and goal from the 1, Brunell rolled right and his pass was deflected near the line of scrimmage.
After a slow start, quarterback Mark Brunell was 25 of 43 for 325 yards as Gardner amassed a career-high 167 receiving yards on 10 catches. Clinton Portis added 94 yards rushing. The Redskins won the battle of statistics (384 total yards to 287, time of posseison, and held Dallas to 50 yards rushing) but still lost to the Cowboys for the 13th time in the past 14 games.
No comments:
Post a Comment