It Wasn't Pretty, But.....

Tony Romo didn’t really look too much different than Brad Johnson, but his mere presence in the huddle gave the Dallas Cowboys a boost they really needed in a grinding 14-10 victory over the Washington Redskins. His highly anticipated return from injury was from ideal -- he threw two dumb interceptions, both on promising drives in the first half -- but the game-winning 25-yard touchdown pass to rookie Martellus Bennett was perfect, if only because it helped keep Dallas out of last place. The Cowboys were essentially playing for their season, and managed to grab a crucial division game. The game left both teams at 6-4, and creates a lot more traffic in the NFC wildcard chase.

More importantly for Romo and the Cowboys, it was a lesson in winning ugly, a trait that can take you very far in the NFL. Any team can win when they are playing their best; the great teams beat you with their C+ game. Dallas has the talent to be a great team, but hasn't had the intangibles to match. That's why the New York Giants were able to win what might be the last playoff game in Texas Stadium history last winter and the reason why they are the division leader by three games now. Wade Phillips finally got to see some of those traits in last night's victory, especially on defense, which kept Dallas in the game all night when its offense was struggling to score.

The Redskins could only rack up 228 yards against the same Cowboys defense they ran circles around in Week 4. Washington used a great game plan that controlled the clock for 38 minutes and had 381 total yards of total offense to win 26-24. There was no such luck this time around. Dallas made it a point to control Clinton Portis, who torched Dallas in the first game with 121 yards on the ground. He was held to 74 yards from scrimmage, his lowest of the season. Portis got off to a quick start, but has really gotten shut down by Pittsburgh and now Dallas in the last two weeks. The Cowboys got production on defense from old faces and new, their defensive studs as well as unknown quantities. DeMarcus Ware had his 11th sack of the season, which brings him a little closer to his career of 14 from last year. He could get to that number in two weeks with the 49ers and Seahawks coming to town in the next 10 days. Unheralded Jay Ratliff had his best game of the season, getting two sacks in a game for the first time in his career. He really stepped up to join Ware in creating a great pass rush on Jason Campbell all night.

Offensively, Dallas did just enough to win, that's it. This has become a frustrating theme for one of the league's most talented offensive units. The Cowboys haven't broken 20 points in over a month, a streak that's lasted four games. Brad Johnson did start three of those games, but it’s not simply as easy as putting Tony Romo back under center. Defenses are pressing on Terrell Owens and putting two guys on him, and forcing other receivers to step up. Once again, T.O. was rather pedestrian with five catches for 38 yards. With the game hanging in the balance, it was a rookie who took charge. Martellus Bennett is a freak at 6’6”, 265 lbs and his length was responsible for catching Romo’s floater over fellow rookie Chris Horton of the Redskins. Bennet’s touchdown catch was his second of the year, which gives him the same number as Pro-Bowler Jason Witten. Ironically, two plays before the touchdown, Witten dropped a routine pass that would have given Dallas a first down and instead put them in a third and long situation. The second round pick from Texas A&M definitely chose a good time for the old pick me up.

From there, Romo and his heavily wrapped pinkie handed the ball off and let Marion Barber close the game out. Barber is truly one of the underrated backs in the league, and his playing style is something his teammates can really admire. I don’t think there is ever a moment when his toughness and effort is ever questioned. Say what you will about Romo or Terrell Owens, but they weren’t the ones who accounted for all the yards in Dallas’ 11-play drive that clinched the game. It was all Barber, who had his first 100-yard rushing game since October 19 and was responsible for the Cowboys first touchdown.

Last night’s win in Washington wasn’t about the usual glamour and glitz that surrounds this franchise. It was about avoiding last place in the division, creeping back into the playoff picture, and salvaging an underachieving season. The remaining task at hand is manageable, but still includes road games against New York and Philadelphia as well as a game at home against 6-4 Baltimore in the team’s final home date. There’s lots of work to do, but plenty to praise Dallas about as they leave the nation’s capital.