The Washington Redskins saw their losing streak extended to six games for the first time since 1998 as they fell to the Dallas Cowboys 27-24 in overtime Sunday afternoon at FedEx Field.
Dan Bailey's 39-yard field goal with 5:39 left in overtime spoiled a dramatic rally by the Redskins, who drove 89 yards in 12 plays and 5:21, tying the game 24-24 when Rex Grossman found Donte' Stallworth on a fade pattern from four yards away with 14 seconds to play in regulation.
The Redskins had a chance to win the game after winning the coin toss in overtime. Washington drove as far as the Dallas 33-yard line, but couldn't get any closer before Graham Gano missed a 51-yard field goal attempt to the right.
For Dallas, the win capped a fine performance by quarterback Tony Romo, who completed 23 of his 37 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns while leading a fourth-quarter comeback of his own.
Trailing 17-10 and facing a third-and-goal on the third play of the final quarter, Romo hit Laurent Robinson with a 7-yard touchdown pass on third-and-goal after scrambling to his left to elude pressure.
Dallas took over possession at their own 12-yard line after a Washington punt and advanced to their own 41-yard line before Romo scrambled to his left and found Jason Witten for a 59-yard catch-and-run that gave Dallas a 24-17 with 8:48 to play.
The Cowboys appeared to have the game sewn up when Grossman was intercepted by Orlando Scandrick on the first play after Dallas' go-ahead score. But Washington's defense forced a punt to set up the Grossman-led game-tying drive.
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Dallas struck first on a 22-yard pass from Romo to Dez Bryant halfway through the first quarter. The touchdown came three plays after Redskins tight end Fred Davis was stripped of the ball while trying to stretch for a first down.
Dallas added to their lead on a 37-yard field goal by Bailey with 10:23 to go in the first half that made the score 10-0.
Washington's first score came about in large part due to a 23-yard punt by Mat McBriar that set the Redskins up at the Dallas 31 yard-line. After Grossman hit David Anderson with a 23-yard pass on a third-down play that put the ball at the Dallas 6, Grossman called his own number on a quarterback draw and hauled the ball over the line to make the score 10-7 with 3:59 to go before halftime.
After Washington forced a Dallas punt on the ensuring possession, Brandon Banks' 32-yard return set the Redskins up at the Dallas 43. From there, Grossman drove the home team to the go-ahead score, finding Jabar Gaffney with a 16-yard touchdown pass with 14 seconds to go in the first half to give Washington a 14-10 lead at halftime.
Washington made the score 17-10 on the first possession of the second half as Gano nailed a 40-yard field goal. The Redskins had a chance to go up two scores on their next possession after Banks ripped off a 55-yard punt return to the Dallas 34. But Washington's offense could only manage three more yards before Gano pushed a 49-yard field goal attempt to the right.
