RANDOM OBSERVATIONS : REDSKINS @ COWBOYS, SECOND HALF EDITION

by Davey, Blown Coverage

That first half was pretty lame. There were 2 touchdowns, 2 missed field goals and about 18 bad snaps by Andre Gurode. Well, those did add some excitement but everything else has been pretty flaccid.

The 'Skins are without Sean Taylor and Carlos Rogers in that secondary and I'm still waiting for Dallas to really take advantage of that.

Either way, Terry Bradshaw is done screaming and we can continue with the second half..

• Good start for the Cowboys here in the second half. DeMarcus Ware forces a Jason Campbell fumble and Chris Canty recovers the ball for Dallas. Ware probably did more on that play than Jevon Kearse has done all season for the Eagles.

• I wonder what would happen if Sean Taylor tried to tackle Marion Barber. I guess that someone would die in the process and Fred Taylor would get a torn groin just because...

• There were some reports before the game that Santana Moss would not be playing but he's in there and he just made his third catch of the second half. If I'm Jason Campbell, I'd be pretty happy about that considering the fact that Keenan McCardell is lining up on the other side.
  

• It just hit me that Cedric Benson has a 43-yard touchdown run for the Bears against Seattle today. That should automatically eliminate the Seahawks from reaching the play-offs.

• Romo tries to force a throw to Jason Whitten and Rocky McIntosh makes a great interception. He just flies in there, picks it off, and returns it deep into Dallas territory. Ah, correction. Dallas challenges that the ball hit the ground and the refs agree. Cowboys dodge a big bullet there.

• And Dallas goes deep on the very next play. Romo lets one fly for Patrick Crayton and he gets tackled by Reed Doughty and that is pass interference. White guys should not play running back and they should not play anywhere in the secondary. If I was a head coach, I wouldn't let any white guy play in my secondary...

• What a turnaround here. Romo hits T.O. for a 31-yard touchdown pass and Dallas suddenly leads. It went from Washington ball inside the Dallas 10, to a Dallas touchdown in about 4 plays. Cowboys up 14-10.

• T.O. is pretty fired up on the sideline. He's been screaming and acting a fool for about 5 full minutes now and I think that he might have assaulted someone in the process. Mat McBriar might not be alive anymore.

• Great work by the FOX cameras. They pick up Tony Romo "high fiving" Wade Phillips after the touchdown pass and he ended up hurting Wade with the sheer force of his high five. Wade is still shaking his hand in pain and I'm not sure how he's going to eat his Buffalo Wings tonight.

• Holy crap. Santana Moss just reminded us that he's a pretty good receiver himself. Moss makes a one-handed catch at full speed while being covered pretty decent. I thought that only Randy Moss could make a play like that...

• I kinda zoned out and suddenly I see Shaun Suisham kick a field goal for the 'Skins. It's now a 14-13 lead for Dallas and this game has become pretty interesting now.

• Washington just does not have an answer for T.O. Romo connects with Owens for a 46-yard touchdown pass and it's number 3 for Owens today. That Redskin secondary needs Sean Taylor like I need a shower right now. Cowboys 21, 'Skins 13.

• Another Redskin drive that ends in a field goal attempt and Suisham connects again. This time it's a 39-yard field goal and it's Dallas 21, Washington 16.
  

• Wow. Shaun Springs is getting beaten out there like Brett Myers' wife. Romo finds Owens again and this time it's a 52-yard touchdown connection. Dallas leads 28-16. Springs thought he had safety help, but apparently that was not the case. Owens' jockstrap is firmly strapped around Springs' neck right now.
  

• Jason Campbell is quietly having a great game here. He methodically leads the offense down the field and finishes the drive with a touchdown pass to Santana Moss. He's 30-44 for 317 yards and two touchdowns so far. The 'Skins are back in it, down only 28 to 23.

• The Jets and Steelers are going to overtime, tied at 13. I have no explanation for that.

• Oh, and Campbell messes up right when his team needed him the most. Washington got the ball back and drove pretty deep in Dallas territory but Campbell gets picked off by Terence Newman. The Cowboys are a first down away from ending this thing.

• And the Jets beat the Steelers in overtime. I mean, if we're going to eliminate Seattle from the play-off race for giving up a long touchdown run to Cedric Benson, then we should definitely eliminate the Steelers for losing to the Jets. Be ashamed Pittsburgh...

• Looks like Campbell will get one more shot at this. Dallas could not get that first down and they will have to punt it. Washington will get the ball back with less than 40 seconds to go.

• Nope, he can't get it done. The 'Skins try a Hail Mary there at the end, and wouldn't you know it, it's T.O. that knocks the pass down and ends the game. I think it's safe to say that he's the player of the game today. Dallas holds on to win 28-23 and are tied again with Green Bay at 9-1.