SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 22, 2013
Cowboys 24, Redskins 23: DeMarco Murray recorded his second touchdown by catching a 10-yard pass from Tony Romo with 1:08 remaining in the fourth quarter as visiting Dallas overcame a late nine-point deficit to set up a date at Philadelphia next week for the NFC East title.
After his disastrous nine-yard loss on a rush around left end set up a fourth-and-goal from the 10, Murray atoned with his first career touchdown reception that capped the nine-play, 87-yard drive. Dallas (8-7) forced a turnover on downs to snap a two-game skid and hand the reeling Redskins (3-12) their seventh straight loss.
Romo (226 yards, two TDs) ignited the Cowboys on their final scoring drive with a 51-yard pass to Terrance Williams and a 17-yard toss to Dez Bryant, who reeled in a touchdown throw in the second quarter. Bryant has scored in four straight weeks.
Nursing a 14-6 halftime lead, Dallas began the third quarter with a pair of turnovers - including veteran DeAngelo Hall picking off Romo for the latter's 10th interception of the season. Pierre Garcon (11 catches, 144 yards) snared an 8-yard touchdown toss from Kirk Cousins to tie Hall-of-Famer Art Monk's franchise single-season mark with his 106th reception and bring Washington within one. Garcon added one more catch to set the club record and Alfred Morris rumbled in from 4 yards out to give Washington a 20-14 lead.
Kai Forbath extended the lead to nine with his third field goal at the start of the fourth quarter. Romo converted a fourth-and-6 with a 20-yard pass to Cole Beasley before Dan Bailey kicked a 25-yard field goal with 6:09 remaining.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Washington LB London Fletcher, 38, played his final home game as he plans to retire at the end of the season. The 16-year veteran has not missed a game during his career, which began after he was undrafted coming out of Division III John Carroll University. ... Monk originally set the franchise mark with 106 catches during the 1984 season. ... Dallas got out of the blocks in a hurry as Micheal Spurlock returned a punt 62 yards to the Washington 3-yard line. Murray rumbled in two plays later to open the scoring and Romo gave the Cowboys a 14-6 lead by sidestepping blitzing CB E.J. Biggers before finding Bryant in the back of the end zone.