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| Colt McCoy and Redskins beat Tony Romo and Cowboys, 20-17, in overtime in Dallas | Colt McCoy and Redskins beat Tony Romo and Cowboys, 20-17, in overtime in Dallas |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| ARLINGTON, Tex. — A third-string quarterback, a rookie cornerback and a fierce defensive stand combined to pull off a stunning upset in one of the NFL’s more storied rivalries Monday night, as Washington toppled the heavily favored Dallas Cowboys on their home turf, 20-17, in overtime. | ARLINGTON, Tex. — A third-string quarterback, a rookie cornerback and a fierce defensive stand combined to pull off a stunning upset in one of the NFL’s more storied rivalries Monday night, as Washington toppled the heavily favored Dallas Cowboys on their home turf, 20-17, in overtime. |
| Quarterback Colt McCoy was as cool as they come in overtime, not missing a throw as he marched Washington downfield on five completions to Pierre Garcon, Jordan Reed and DeSean Jackson. Kai Forbath capped the drive with a 40-yard field goal that supplied the crucial margin. | Quarterback Colt McCoy was as cool as they come in overtime, not missing a throw as he marched Washington downfield on five completions to Pierre Garcon, Jordan Reed and DeSean Jackson. Kai Forbath capped the drive with a 40-yard field goal that supplied the crucial margin. |
| But Dallas still had a chance to win the game under overtime rules. Its three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo, who had been forced out in the third quarter by a bone-jarring sack, had re-entered the lineup for late-game heroics. They didn’t materialize, with rookie Bashaud Breeland batting away Romo’s final throw and bringing the game to its improbable end. | But Dallas still had a chance to win the game under overtime rules. Its three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo, who had been forced out in the third quarter by a bone-jarring sack, had re-entered the lineup for late-game heroics. They didn’t materialize, with rookie Bashaud Breeland batting away Romo’s final throw and bringing the game to its improbable end. |
| With it, Washington (3-5) won back-to-back games for the first time since the close of the 2012 regular season and snapped the Cowboys’ six-game winning streak. Washington also got its first victory in the NFC East since December 2012. | With it, Washington (3-5) won back-to-back games for the first time since the close of the 2012 regular season and snapped the Cowboys’ six-game winning streak. Washington also got its first victory in the NFC East since December 2012. |
| The notion that the Redskins could actually beat Dallas (6-2) drew laughter Sunday from a CBS NFL Today crew that included football luminaries Bill Cowher, Boomer Esiason and Tony Gonzalez. The entire panel of experts in ESPN’s Monday night pregame show picked against the Redskins. | The notion that the Redskins could actually beat Dallas (6-2) drew laughter Sunday from a CBS NFL Today crew that included football luminaries Bill Cowher, Boomer Esiason and Tony Gonzalez. The entire panel of experts in ESPN’s Monday night pregame show picked against the Redskins. |
| “Everybody really participated in this win,” said first-year Coach Jay Gruden. “It’s a great team win, a big win on the road. But the fact of the matter is we’re still 3-5 and have a long way to go. And we can’t lose sight of that.” | “Everybody really participated in this win,” said first-year Coach Jay Gruden. “It’s a great team win, a big win on the road. But the fact of the matter is we’re still 3-5 and have a long way to go. And we can’t lose sight of that.” |
| It was the latest installment of a rivalry that spans 54 years and was long considered the NFL’s best rivalry for the excellence of both teams, which boast eight Super Bowl championships between them, and the enmity of their rabid fan bases. | It was the latest installment of a rivalry that spans 54 years and was long considered the NFL’s best rivalry for the excellence of both teams, which boast eight Super Bowl championships between them, and the enmity of their rabid fan bases. |
| While Monday night’s game was hardly football at its best — with multiple turnovers and missed tackles — it was wildly entertaining, with dramatic swings of momentum. | While Monday night’s game was hardly football at its best — with multiple turnovers and missed tackles — it was wildly entertaining, with dramatic swings of momentum. |
| And for McCoy, a one-time hero at the University of Texas, it marked the most triumphant of homecomings. McCoy finished 25 of 30 for 299 yards . Sacked three times, he also ran for 16 yards, including a seven-yard touchdown. Running back Alfred Morris (73 yards on 18 carries) rushed for the team’s other touchdown. | And for McCoy, a one-time hero at the University of Texas, it marked the most triumphant of homecomings. McCoy finished 25 of 30 for 299 yards . Sacked three times, he also ran for 16 yards, including a seven-yard touchdown. Running back Alfred Morris (73 yards on 18 carries) rushed for the team’s other touchdown. |
| Washington is on its third quarterback, with McCoy supplanting turnover-prone Kirk Cousins. The Redskins’ running game had been a disappointment. The defensive backfield, cobbled together from aging veterans and inexperienced youngsters, had been easily exploited. | Washington is on its third quarterback, with McCoy supplanting turnover-prone Kirk Cousins. The Redskins’ running game had been a disappointment. The defensive backfield, cobbled together from aging veterans and inexperienced youngsters, had been easily exploited. |
| But the game didn’t get off to the start that pundits expected. | But the game didn’t get off to the start that pundits expected. |
| Washington took a 3-0 lead on a 44-yard field goal by Forbath. | Washington took a 3-0 lead on a 44-yard field goal by Forbath. |
| Strong safety Brandon Meriweather flew in for a sack that dropped Romo for a 12-yard loss and snuffed out the Cowboys’ opening drive. Romo fared no better on the Cowboys’ second drive, which ended on another sack. | Strong safety Brandon Meriweather flew in for a sack that dropped Romo for a 12-yard loss and snuffed out the Cowboys’ opening drive. Romo fared no better on the Cowboys’ second drive, which ended on another sack. |
| The Cowboys’ third series ended with Meriweather forcing a fumble that rookie Trent Murphy recovered on the Dallas 25. But it went for naught, with McCoy intercepted by J.J. Wilcox. | The Cowboys’ third series ended with Meriweather forcing a fumble that rookie Trent Murphy recovered on the Dallas 25. But it went for naught, with McCoy intercepted by J.J. Wilcox. |
| A Dallas drive of improvisation and grit followed. Romo lofted a desperation toss to Murray, who outran Murphy for a 24-yard gain. On third and five, Romo threw to Dez Bryant, who grabbed the ball with one hand and dragged free safety Ryan Clark into the end zone with him for the Cowboys’ first score. With it, Dallas took a 7-3 lead into halftime. | A Dallas drive of improvisation and grit followed. Romo lofted a desperation toss to Murray, who outran Murphy for a 24-yard gain. On third and five, Romo threw to Dez Bryant, who grabbed the ball with one hand and dragged free safety Ryan Clark into the end zone with him for the Cowboys’ first score. With it, Dallas took a 7-3 lead into halftime. |
| McCoy proved a quick study. After under-throwing Jackson early in the game, he caught up to the wideout’s rare speed in the second half. And after failing to convert a single third down in the first half, Washington finished a respectable 6 of 14 on third downs. | McCoy proved a quick study. After under-throwing Jackson early in the game, he caught up to the wideout’s rare speed in the second half. And after failing to convert a single third down in the first half, Washington finished a respectable 6 of 14 on third downs. |
| “I’ll take a ton of the blame early in the game,” McCoy said. “In the second half, we just dug our cleats in, and believed in each other, trusted each other and found a way to win,” McCoy said. | “I’ll take a ton of the blame early in the game,” McCoy said. “In the second half, we just dug our cleats in, and believed in each other, trusted each other and found a way to win,” McCoy said. |
| Morris, held to 11 yards in the first half, capped an 80-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown that reclaimed the lead, 10-7. | Morris, held to 11 yards in the first half, capped an 80-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown that reclaimed the lead, 10-7. |
| Romo, just 10 months removed from back surgery, was shaken up on his fourth sack of the night and after several minutes’ delay was helped off the field. Dallas was forced to punt. | Romo, just 10 months removed from back surgery, was shaken up on his fourth sack of the night and after several minutes’ delay was helped off the field. Dallas was forced to punt. |
| A quick three and out by Washington brought the Cowboys’ offense back, under the direction of backup quarterback Brandon Weeden. Murray more than compensated for any dropoff in talent, breaking a run for 51 yards, helped along by Clark, who all but stepped aside to clear a path rather than tackle him. Breeland made another big stand in breaking up a touchdown pass. Dallas had to settle for a 21-yard field goal that knotted the score at 10. | A quick three and out by Washington brought the Cowboys’ offense back, under the direction of backup quarterback Brandon Weeden. Murray more than compensated for any dropoff in talent, breaking a run for 51 yards, helped along by Clark, who all but stepped aside to clear a path rather than tackle him. Breeland made another big stand in breaking up a touchdown pass. Dallas had to settle for a 21-yard field goal that knotted the score at 10. |
| McCoy hit Jackson in stride for a 45-yard completion as the third quarter expired, then bored in for a seven-yard touchdown and 17-10 lead. | McCoy hit Jackson in stride for a 45-yard completion as the third quarter expired, then bored in for a seven-yard touchdown and 17-10 lead. |
| The Cowboys stormed back with an eight-play, 80-yard drive. Weeden hit tight end Jason Witten with a 25-yard touchdown pass, Breeland diving at his feet, to pull even again, at 17, with 9 minutes 27 seconds remaining. | The Cowboys stormed back with an eight-play, 80-yard drive. Weeden hit tight end Jason Witten with a 25-yard touchdown pass, Breeland diving at his feet, to pull even again, at 17, with 9 minutes 27 seconds remaining. |
| With the score still knotted and less than two minutes remaining, Romo re-entered the game, but it was fruitless. | With the score still knotted and less than two minutes remaining, Romo re-entered the game, but it was fruitless. |
| More coverage: | More coverage: |
| Summary: Redskins 20, Cowboys 17 (OT) | Summary: Redskins 20, Cowboys 17 (OT) |
| Jenkins: Finally, a big victory — over the Cowboys no less | Jenkins: Finally, a big victory — over the Cowboys no less |
| Reid: McCoy finishes strong to pick up the big win | Reid: McCoy finishes strong to pick up the big win |
| Bog: Redskins-Cowboys best and worst | Bog: Redskins-Cowboys best and worst |
| Gallery: Images from the upset at Dallas | Gallery: Images from the upset at Dallas |
| Every ESPN analyst picked the Cowboys to beat the Redskins | Every ESPN analyst picked the Cowboys to beat the Redskins |
| Redskins PR official to reporter: ‘No means no’ | Redskins PR official to reporter: ‘No means no’ |
| The Insider: Latest Redskins updates | The Insider: Latest Redskins updates |
| NFL Power Rankings: Cowboys fall from Top 5 |