After seeing Kirk Cousins break the Redskins single-season passing yards record, Colt McCoy filled in to play the entire second half Sunday against the Cowboys.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins did what he needed to do on Sunday. He stayed in the game to break the team's single-season record for passing yards and threw three touchdowns in the process. It was enough of a foundation for backup quarterback Colt McCoy to receive an ample opportunity to play in the Redskins' 34-23 victory over the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.

McCoy played one drive near the end of the first half along with the entire second half, completing 7-of-11 passes for 128 yards a touchdown, a 71-yard strike to Rashad Ross that was the longest pass play in McCoy's career.

"I'm thankful that I got to play a little bit and knock a little rust off in the first few series," McCoy said. "Once I got the ball in my hands for the tenth or eleventh time today, I felt back in the zone. Took me a little longer to get there but it's understandable. I haven't practiced with these guys and hadn't taken any snaps, so it was sure a lot of fun in that second half though."

McCoy nearly connected with Ross for a big touchdown during his first drive when the wide receiver escaped free down the sideline. McCoy overthrew him – there was the rust – and was sacked on the next play.

But the Texas product eventually found a rhythm in the third quarter and made sure he found Ross on another try after the wide receiver once again broke free down the sideline thanks to both cornerbacks biting on a Jamison Crowder out route.

"I think you can look at our offense and we have unbelievable talent," McCoy said. "I think we're very underrated, and when teams want to play man to man like they did today, we're just going to make it work. If you want to take away Crowder, want to take away Jordan [Reed], Pierre[Garcon], or DeSean [Jackson]…We've got weapons. I think [offensive coordinator] Sean [McVay] does an unbelievable job at putting us in the right situations and having a feel for calling a game. He and Kirk are on the same page right now and it's been fun to watch."

Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said, "overall, I'm happy with the way Colt played."

"It was good to see Colt play well," Gruden told Larry Michael and Sonny Jurgesen on the ESPN980 postgame show.

Before Sunday's game, McCoy took limited reps in practice and approached playing the Cowboys as a preseason game, a chance to get in quality snaps while trying to establish a rapport with a patchwork of offensive weapons.

And yet, unlike a preseason game, McCoy had the benefit of handing the ball off to running back Alfred Morris, who carried 19 times for 100 yards, the brunt of which came in the second half. It was just enough to keep the Cowboys at bay and continue momentum into the playoffs.

"It's been fun to watch," McCoy said. "We've had the ball bounce our way over the last month or so and it's been really nice to be on that side of the ball. We just have to continue to keep going, keep working. We have a huge game coming up this week. It's fun being in the playoffs -- first time in my six years that I'm a division champ, and I'm glad to be a part of that. I've been to the playoffs and I've been to an NFC Championship game, but this team is special. I hope we can keep it rolling."

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