Redskins.com recaps Sunday night's 27-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium:
First Impressions:
#### Revealing Moment:
The Redskins trailed most of the game, but at 17-10 late in the third quarter, it seemed possible that another Texas Stadium comeback was in the offing. The Redskins had the ball deep in Dallas territory, at the Cowboys' 21-yard line. On 3rd-and-9, Mark Brunell tried to fire a pass to Chris Cooley at the goal line. His throw was intercepted by a leaping Roy Williams. Dallas proceeded to go on a 6-play, 99-yard touchdown drive that sealed the win for the Cowboys.
Redskins Play of the Game:
#### Redskins Player of the Game:
After Dallas went ahead 17-3, Rock Cartwright took the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Cartwright found ample running room to the right, then followed a key block by Mike Pucillo and Demetric Evans into open field. Cartwright broke a tackle at midfield by kicker Shaun Suisham and defender Jacques Reeves and showed impressive speed in outracing the Cowboys to the end zone.
Redskins Unsung Hero:
#### What Went Right
-- The Redskins' secondary rose to the challenge against Terrell Owens, who caught three passes for 19 yards and was not much of a factor in the outcome. Sean Taylor was an intimidator, leveling several punishing hits on Owens. Carlos Rogers had a solid game, despite dropping a sure interception in the second half.
-- Mike Rumph had two big plays in the first half: he knocked the ball out of Owens's hands in the end zone, preventing a touchdown; later, he tackled Terry Glenn for a 4-yard gain on a 3rd-and-five play.
-- John Hall connected on a 39-yard field goal in the second quarter.. He had been eager to get back on the field after missing a game-tying field goal attempt last Monday night against Minnesota.
-- T.J. Duckett made his Redskins debut, and had 24 yards on five carries. His longest run was for 15 yards.
-- Adam Archuleta and Vernon Fox, two newcomers to the Redskins' special teams this year, combined for five tackles on punt and kickoff returns.
What Went Wrong
#### What's Next:
The Redskins begin a two-game stretch of AFC contests starting next Sunday against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. Look for plenty of discussion this week about the Redskins' struggles against AFC opponents. Washington has lost 10 consecutive games to AFC opponents and head coach Joe Gibbs is 0-8 against the AFC the last two years. The last AFC team the Redskins beat? The New England Patriots, back in September 2003.
Stats Geek:
#### Quote:
"We're not clicking right now. There's nothing we've changed, but somewhere along the line we have to get it going. We have to get back the magic we had last year. It's early right now and we feel there's no way but up for us. We're going to get it back. We're determined. It starts on the practice field. It's football. It's about having fun. We don't want the other team to have all of the fun. We just have to come in, work hard, and get this thing turned around." -- Renaldo Wynn
Lasting Impressions:
Since last January, the Redskins have been basking in their five-game winning streak and Wild Card playoff victory in the 2005 season. With the Redskins at 0-2 now--0-6 if you count preseason--it's time to put last year's success in the rear-view mirror and realize that the 2006 Redskins are a different team now. The offense is adapting to Al Saunders' system without Clinton Portis and the defense is keeping games close without Shawn Springs.
