The Dallas Cowboys made a curious decision. DeAngelo Hall made a decisive play — and it gave the Redskins enough of a cushion to hold off the Cowboys.
Hall’s 32-yard fumble return for a touchdown at the end of the first half was his biggest moment in a Redskins uniform. It also happened to give the Redskins a 10-0 lead at halftime.
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It also begged the question: What were the Cowboys thinking? The Dallas offense had the ball on their own 36-yard line with four seconds left in the half. They could have been content to enter halftime down 3-0.
“We should have taken a knee,” Dallas coach Wade Phillips said.
They didn’t. Instead, quarterback Tony Romo hit running back Tashard Choice on a short pass. Hall came up and hit him while also trying to strip him of the ball. As he did so, Lorenzo Alexander hit Choice. The combined effort popped the ball free and Hall returned the fumble for the score.
“I’ve made big plays in my career, but I don’t think I’ve ever had that big play when I’m a Redskin,” Hall said. “It felt good. It felt real good.”
“It was just a heads-up play by DeAngelo Hall,” Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. “And it worked in our favor.”
The Redskins have emphasized turnovers since camp opened. And it’s a basic play for someone to try and strip the ball when others are also around. It’s why defenses must swarm to the ball.
“I don’t think we’re going for it more, but if the opportunity presents itself we’re definitely being taught to strip the ball,” Hall said. “The guys were around there and I was able to get my hands on it.”
And provide a jolt.
“That was huge man,” said Redskins end Phillip Daniels. “That was the game right there.”
