GAME!!!!!

   

I am fortunate to be a fan of a team in two of the greatest rivalries in sports.  In my life, nothing is more intense than a North Carolina-Duke basketball game.  But the Redskins-Cowboys rivalry is a close second.

And like my Tar Heels did earlier this year....my Redskins beat my hated rival in the final moments.  Very improbable. 

All game long, the Skins offense looked like a bad high school team.  Very bland...very boring...very ineffective.  In fact, I was screaming "see, that's why you might as well have Ramsey in there" a few times at the television.  The defense played very well, as usual...but that offense stunk.

Until the final 4 minutes or so. 

Four big plays. 

NUMBER ONE....it is 3rd and 27, and Brunell scrambles for a 25-yard gain.   NUMBER TWO...the very next play, 4th and 2, Brunell tosses a pass to James Thrash ran up a bit for a 20 yard gain.  NUMBER THREE....the 39 yard TD pass to Santana Moss on a 4th and 15 that put the Redskins into the endzone for the first time all season.  NUMBER FOUR....the stunning 70-yard bomb to Moss that put the Redskins ahead for good.

Unprobable.

*I mean, this was a Monday Night Football game against our hated rivals.

*The game was at Texas Stadium...where we've lost our last 9 games.

*We've lost 14 of the last 15 meetings with Dallas.

*We were treated like a homecoming opponent...as the Cowboys inducted Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin into their Ring Of Honor in a halftime ceremony. 

*It was the largest crowd at Texas Stadium in a decade.

*The game was a battle for first place in the NFC East.

*Washington had lost it's last 25 games in which they trailed going into the 4th quarter.

*Bill Parcells was 77-0 when leading by at least 13 points in the 4th quarter.

*Dallas was wearing those God-awful throwbacks [which, thankfully, prevented us from wearing our God-awful burgundy jerseys]. 

*The Cowboys had this game wrapped up.  With a 13-7 lead, Dallas kept throwing the ball instead of running clock....killing momentum for themselves and feeding momentum to the Redskins. 

When the score was 13-0 and the Skins scrambling...I had already written my eulogy of this game in my head.  Screw Brunell.  Screw this offense.  The team will be split in two.  Fingers will be pointed across the line.  The season could get ugly.

Then Brunell took the game over. 

As a Redskins fan...I am so happy.  We are now 2-0.  Sure, a weak 2-0...but undefeated nonetheless.  We have won both of our games by a TOTAL of 3 measly points [heck, combined the score would be 23-20]. Technically, since we beat a division foe, we are in first place in the NFC East.  And we won't lose next week....which is our bye. 

It is amazing how quickly things change in 5 minutes.