End of 3rd: Redskins 23-20 over Cowboys

By Staff - The Washington Times - Sunday, September 18, 2016

After lurching through much of the game, the Redskins took a third-quarter lead when Kirk Cousins placed a nice touch pass right into the hands of Jamison Crowder. The 11-yard score put the Redskins in front for the first time Sunday.

The 17-13 Washington lead did not last. Dallas moved right back down the field, ending another 5-minute-plus drive with a 6-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Dak Prescott. During the drive, the Cowboys converted a third-and-11 to wide receiver Dez Bryant, who, like Antonio Brown earlier in the week, was lined up across from Bashaud Breeland, not Josh Norman.

Fantastic field position helped the Redskins tie the game with 2:06 remaining in the third. Dallas tried an onside kick following Prescott’s touchdown. The Cowboys recovered the ball, but it did not travel the required 10 yards, enabling Washington to start its drive at the Dallas 38-yard line. Though, it only produced a 29-yard field goal from Dustin Hopkins, his second field goal of the day.

Then, the biggest play of the afternoon to this point hit: Norman stripped Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliot, nickel back Dashaun Phillips recovered, and the Redskins were again in a prime position, starting their drive at the Cowboys’ 34-yard line. Yet again, the Redskins could not score a touchdown. Hopkins’ 22-yard field goal gave the Redskins a 23-20 lead entering the fourth quarter.