« Zorn’s So Stoked He’s Punching Buges | Home | Tank Johnson Is the Smartest Man Alive »
Redskins-Cowboys Winners & Losers
By Jamie Mottram | September 28, 2008
Handing out labels following Skins games. Today: a 26-24 win over Dallas …
WINNERS: Jim Zorn and Jason Campbell – Their success and growth is intrinsically linked, and, for each of them, this is the first win against Dallas. It came in Washington’s final game at Texas Stadium to boot, a victory fit for inclusion among the new classics. To Zorn’s credit, they keep producing TD drives with perfect-yet-unorthodox playcalling. To Campbell’s credit, he keeps evading the rush to find secondary and even tertiary receivers for big gains. And, again, no turnovers, as well as a brilliantly played 4th quarter. Let’s hope this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
The defense – Dallas had scored 96 points through three games, and Tom Jackson even compared them to the ‘07 Patriots on NFL Countdown. Then the Skins held them to 44 yards rushing and 24 points (seven of which came during garbage time). What an effort.
Chris Horton – His interception was a great play, and a huge factor in the outcome of this game. The 7th-round rookie’s now starting, has three INTs and a fumble recovery in parts of four games and is a new fan favorite.
Santana Moss – Another All-Pro day (8 catches, 145 yards, repped 21), and has had a mighty fine quarter-season (421 yards, 3 TD).
Clinton Portis – Six yards per carry, 135 total yards, and one bow-and-arrow-themed TD celebration that was all for naught (thanks, Rabach!).
The Dirtbags – Dominated Dallas’ defensive line every which way, and helped to lead time of possession by 16 minutes. (Shout-out to Jansen.)
Antwaan Randle El – Actually had some positive-yardage punt returns. Also caught a TD.
Shawn Springs – Was all over TO, who was mostly a non-factor, and as soon as he came out Dallas immediately went after Rogers.
James Thrash — Always good to see a seldom-used guy catch a TD pass.
London Fletcher – Forced a fumble that caused a 3rd-and-14, then a punt.
Durant Brooks – Solid (on punts and holds), and boomed a 60-yarder.
Skins fans in Dallas – Every time Cooley caught one you could hear “COOOOOL” loud and clear.
Updated winner: Rock Cartwright is TEH AWESOME!!!11!!
LOSERS: Joe Buck & Troy Aikman – Buck needs to go, and Aikman needs to stay away from Dallas games, because, regardless of how objective he tries to be, he’s not objective. And nice puff piece on Jay Novacek. What the hell was that? Where’s our Clint Didier feature?
Lorenzo Alexander – Brought in as the sixth lineman on 3rd-and-1 on the opening drive, only to false start. Skins failed to convert, punted.
Carlos Rogers – Committed a needless defensive holding on a 3rd-down Romo throwaway that gave Dallas a first. Next play: TD to Witten.
Marcus Washington – Was outmatched in man coverage on Witten’s TD, and Aikman later called him out for losing a step.
Danny Smith – Why the short pop-up kickoff to start the 2nd half? Dallas started on the 42, and scored real quick.
Casey Rabach – Brought not one but two touchdowns back with penalties … in the same series.
NEXT: Washington at Philly Sunday 10/5, 1 p.m. ET
Topics: Dallas Sucks, Redskins, TV Photography, Winners & Losers | 16 Comments »
September 28th, 2008 at 10:05 PM
Monster win. Awesome win. F Dallas.
September 28th, 2008 at 10:29 PM
That Novacek thing did come out of nowhere. Random, but I created the Clint Didier WP article a couple years ago. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clint_Didier
September 28th, 2008 at 11:31 PM
Jay Novacek did have cool hair. And hell yeah to Durant Brooks, what a boot.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:33 PM
Okay, so as a non-Skins fan:
1. Congrats.
2. Moss’ awesome tribute to 21 also looks like a “W” gang sign. Which would be equally as awesome, but I suppose adopting it that way might take away from the tribute nature of what he’s doing.
3. Portis was mocking TO right? It looked like he signed something like “T-O-arrow-my butt” but that makes little to no sense. Then again, neither does Portis.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:40 PM
“You know Jay was a decathlete. Thought he was going to the Olympics.”
Really Troy? What backwoods, hee-haw Olympics is Jay Novacek donning the red white and blue for?
Hay balin’
Horsey-wranglin’
Lassoin’
Moonshinin’
Cow tippin’
Sister kissin’
‘Lectric fense jumpin’
Hooten’-n-Hollerin’
Chaw spitin’
Stampin’
Also, Moss’s salute to 21 confused and concerned the white folks I was watching the game with.
September 29th, 2008 at 12:58 AM
Agreed on all but one: I’d only dispute your take on Aikman. Yeah, he’s biased, but considering the number of ex-Cowboys Fox throws at us (Baldinger, Moose, Coach Hairspray), you have to concede he’s a step above in terms of fairness. I think he’s the best color guy working today.
September 29th, 2008 at 12:58 AM
AWESOME.
September 29th, 2008 at 1:26 AM
What’s wrong with chaw spittin’?
September 29th, 2008 at 8:01 AM
Great game.
Fuck Joe Buck for pretending anyone wanted their football interrupted by baseball “highlights”.
September 29th, 2008 at 8:08 AM
Moss has been doing the “21″ hand sign every game since Taylor died. Brinson and Terps77’s white friends need to watch more Redskins football.
September 29th, 2008 at 8:44 AM
Great game, and great comments. I could read about this win forever.
As for Aikman, I do think he’s a good announcer. I just don’t want him — or Moose or anyone else associated with Dallas — calling Redskins games. That’s all.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:54 AM
Nice win, boys. When Dallas loses, everyone wins!
September 29th, 2008 at 10:10 AM
I guess you could call Randle El a winner. I’m not totally sure why he was fielding two punts at the five though. Loser: Tank Johnson. Clearly.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:51 AM
Who cares if no one understood the Portis thing, it was making fun of TO and that is always great. But it probably has something to do with the fact that TO made fun of Ray Lewis’s dance a few years back and all those guys from DA U are boys and stick together.
September 29th, 2008 at 11:19 AM
You sure the “COOOOOOOOL” chant wasn’t for Lupe Fiasco?
September 29th, 2008 at 6:20 PM
Life long Redskins fan here, and I hated Aikman when he played for the ‘Boys, but honestly he is one of my favorite announcers for Redskins games. The guy is always high on Portis, Moss and Cooley. I think they are the best announcers on Fox.