Gimme That! Redskins 13, dallas 7

"Holding, Number 71."--The referee

"No, you're not allowed to tackle Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo as he's about to hit Romo on the deciding play of the game, even if you play for America's Self-Appointed Team."--Thomas Boswell

This game wasn't so much a game as much as it was a test of emotional endurance. From the freakish euphoria of watching DeAngelo Hall strip Tashard Choice and run the ball back for a touchdown on what should have been a kneel down play at the end of the first half, to taking points off the board due to a dropped field goal attempt snap, to losing on a last ditch scramble and toss touchdown, to having that loss removed due to Al Michaels' announcement of a yellow flag on the field a milisecond later--this was a cardiac event that lasted several hours.

First of all, how great are these uniforms. Bright gold pants with the racing stripes on the sides. The intricate striping on the socks, 70s style. I love it. I don't mind if this is the default home uniform from now on.

The Skins started on defense, showing their new 3-4 style of defense, which often looked weird due to having a whole bunch of former linemen now playing linebacker, standing at the line of scrimmage instead of down in a three point stance.

The Cowboys were able to set up a lot of third and short situations from runs and short passes, and this helped them rack up over 300 yards of offense, but because they had two backups starting on the o-line, they were clearly afraid to go down the field. And drive after drive ended with punts.

The Skins' first drive took a lot of time off the clock, thanks to completions to Moss and Cooley, and a scramble by McNabb. Portis looked quicker, but there was pretty much nothing going on with the running game. It wasn't until late in the game that he was able to get to the second level and run for more than a couple of yards. Larry Johnson came in for a bit, and was pretty much terrible--running out of bounds with 2:32 left in the game to give the Cowboys extra time.

Graham Gano kicked a field goal and it was 3-0. Then nothing much happened.

The Cowboys were trying to get a score late in the first half. They completed a pass to Witten around the 45 and called time out so they could try a hail mary. They were called for a holding penalty with 4 seconds left that the announcers said was declined by the Skins. But I screamed, that doesn't make any sense--its not like the Cowboys would get extra time on the clock by accepting the penalty!

Thankfully, the penalty was enforced. However, the idiot Cowboys didn't change the play call from hail mary to kneel down even though they were back on their thirty-something yard line. Romo went back to pass but got flushed from the pocket. He side-passed a lateral to Tashard Choice who could have ran out of bounds as he saw the 3-4 Skins defenders descend upon him.

DeAngelo Hall got to his right side, slowed him down, and as the other Skins joined the tackle--POP!--the ball bounced loose. Hall scooped it up and run down the sideline into the end zone as time expired.

The Skins had a chance to put Dallas away--they kicked a field goal, but Dallas jumped offsides. And we went ahead and took points off to continue the drive--which I totally approved of. However, with 3 plays inside the 10, it looked like Jim Zorn and Sherman Smith had abducted Kyle Shanahan for one more round of let's ruin everything and not score a touchdown.

McNabb threw 2 fade routes to Anthony Armstrong that were close, but fell incomplete. The second one may have been interference, but those are low percentage plays. They couldn't have done some crossing routes with big targets like Sleepy Davis or Idiot Thomas? Those were the best plays Shanahan could think of?

And then, like clockwork, holder Josh Bidwell dropped the snap on the FG attempt and we got 0 points. Holy %$*#.

The Cowboys didn't get on the board until new punter Josh Bidwell made a lousy punt, setting Dallas up at the 32 yard line. Romo threw to Miles I Don't Know Why I'm Good Austin for a short td catch.

The Skins had a nice drive late in the game in an attempt to run out the clock. A nice throw over the middle to Cooley, a 12 yard run by Portis. But they couldn't get any further then the 32. Instead of punt, with less than 2 minutes left, they brought in Gano, who kicked it perfectly, right down the middle. 13-7.

The Cowboys last drive shouldn't have been that exciting, but on third and long from midfield, the defense decided not to cover Miles My Leg Muscles Aren't as Big as Cris Collinsworth Thinks They Are Austin, who took the ball down to the 13. After a couple of incomplete passes, Dallas had one last try with 3 second left.

Romo went back to pass, no one was open. He stopped, moved up in the pocket, then slid to the right and lofted an easy pass to a wide open Roy Williams in the end zone. Touchdown. Marion Barber ran over to jump on his back in celebration. The Skins defenders looked lifeless. For a split second, that old sinking feeling....

But Wait--the miracle on ice voice, Al Michaels piped up, and said there is a flag down. Because, once again, Orakpo beat Alex Barron and Barron had to grab him by the neck in order to keep Romo upright.

So, the game was over, we won. And it was a crazy effing game. Scoring a freaky touchdown like that, and having a last second touchdown taken away due to a penalty? That kind of good fortune has evaded this team for a long time.

"Stupid doesn't live here anymore. He's moved to Dallas."--Boswell

And this one goes out to Alex Barron who deprived us of the chance to see Orakpo put Tony Romo on his ass as time expired:

So Hold

(Hold)

Me Tight

(Me Tight)

Tonight

(Tonight)

Tonight

(Tonight)

Its you-uuuuuu

You, You, youuuuuuu uuuuuu (Alex Barron!)--The Beatles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MqoOyaQ85w