The Redskins promised a new era. They didn’t promise a pretty one. And it’s clear that no one is ready to argue with their aesthetics, not when they beat a hated rival. Style points don’t matter; the only points that mattered were this: six.
Washington opened the Mike Shanahan era by gutting out a 13-7 victory over Dallas in front of 90,670 fans — the largest opening day crowd in franchise history.
“You have to find a way to win in this business,” Shanahan said. “That’s what our team did.”
The Redskins scored all their points in the first half — including a last-second defensive touchdown — then hung on for the upset in the season opener over a team many think will contend for a Super Bowl.
“That’s a devastating loss,” Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said.
Though the Redskins’ offense didn’t produce a touchdown, it did manage a four minute, 24-second drive late in the game that produced a 49-yard Graham Gano field goal.
The defense then held on, stopping Dallas at the 13-yard line with no time remaining — after the Cowboys had converted a fourth and 10 from the 43. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo threw an apparent touchdown pass to Roy Williams, but a holding penalty on right tackle Alex Barron vs. Brian Orakpo nullified the score and ended the game.
“They had been holding Rak all game,” Redskins defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth said. “He was killing them on the pass rush.”
The Redskins could have added to a 10-0 halftime lead about five minutes into the third quarter, but failed. They opted for a first down at the 13 after a Dallas offsides on a 35-yard field goal. Later, on fourth and goal, holder Josh Bidwell couldn’t handle the snap on a that field goal try and Dallas survived the threat.
Bidwell’s shanked a 27-yard punt to the Dallas 27 that led to a Cowboy touchdown, a four-yard Tony Romo pass to Miles Austin.
Dallas dominated the first half, with 177 total yards to 117 for Washington. But the Redskins held them scoreless while scoring 10 points of their own. The touchdown came in dramatic fashion and symbolized a change in what the Redskins have focused on the entire summer: turnovers.
With 4 seconds left in the first half, the Redskins pressured Romo. He flipped a pass to running back Tashard Choice. Skins cornerback DeAngelo Hall raced up for the tackle and started to strip Choice as linebacker Lorenzo Alexander hit him. The ball came free, Hall scooped it up and ran 32 yards for a touchdown – the Redskins’ first against Dallas since Nov. 16, 2008.
The Redskins also managed a 29-yard field goal on their opening possession of the game, a drive that featured a 17-yard run by quarterback Donovan McNabb on third and seven to the Dallas 27-yard line. Early in the second quarter, the Cowboys had a chance to tie the game, but David Buehler missed a 34-yard field goal.
And the Redskins defense took over.
“That’s huge,” Redskins tight end Chris Cooley said. “They keep playing like that and it’ll be fantastic. Hopefully we can pick ‘em up in the next couple weeks and we can start putting points on the board. I really believe we’re good enough to put points on the board. It’s not a slump, we can start moving the ball and scoring.”
