Dallas Cowboys vs Washington Commanders Box Score on Dec 07, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Dec 8, 2015

WASHINGTON -- Dan Bailey kicked a 54-yard field goal with nine seconds left to cap a furious final two minutes, and the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Washington Redskins 19-16 Monday night.

With the score tied at 16, the Cowboys' Lucky Whitehead returned a kickoff 45 yards to the Dallas 43, and two completions from quarterback Matt Cassel to wide receiver Dez Bryant picked up 20 yards.

Two incompletions followed, but Bailey's kick was good with a few yards to spare.

The Redskins (5-7) saw their five-game home winning streak end and fell into a first-place tie with the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants in the NFC East.

Washington tied the score at 16 on a 28-yard pass from quarterback Kirk Cousins to wide receiver DeSean Jackson with 44 seconds left.

Jackson's fumble on a punt return with 1:26 left gave the Cowboys a first down on the Washington 15. Two plays later, running back Darren McFadden scored from 6 yards out, and Dallas led 16-9.

Washington's Rashad Ross returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards, and a facemask penalty moved the ball to the Dallas 43-yard line. Four plays later, Jackson scored.

Cassel finished 16-for-22 for 222 yards for Dallas (4-8). Bryant caught three passes, all in the fourth quarter, for 62 yards.

Cousins completed 22 of 31 passes for 219 and a touchdown.

Jackson caught six balls for 80 yards.

In a battle of field goals, the teams were tied 3-3 halftime and 6-6 after three quarters.

It was Washington kicker Dustin Hopkins' turn on the second play of the fourth quarter, this time from 46 yards out.

After Dallas lost its third fumble of the game, Hopkins missed a 43-yarder with 7:26 left in the game.

The Cowboys appeared ready to take the lead in the final five minutes after Cassel found Bryant for a 42-yard completion down the left sideline to the Washington 3-yard line. However, Dallas couldn't punch it in, and Bailey hit a 20-yard to tie it, 9-9.

McFadden fumbled on the Cowboys' second play from scrimmage, and Washington safety Dashon Goldson recovered at the Dallas 38, but the Redskins were forced to punt.

The teams ultimately combined for just two first downs and 43 yards of offense during an inept first quarter. Cassel completed just two-of-six passes during the first 15 minutes, while Cousins was sacked three times.

Midway through the second quarter, Cassel strung together two completions -- seven yards to tight end Jason Witten on third-and-7 and 38 yards down the right sideline to wide receiver Terrance Williams -- setting Dallas up on the Washington 21.

After Cassel's third-down pass fell incomplete, Bailey's 38-yard field goal gave Dallas a 3-0 lead.

Washington responded with a 14-play, 58-yard drive as Cousins completed third-down passes to tight end Jordan Reed (12 yards), Jackson (17) and wide receiver Pierre Garcon (14).

However, an offensive pass interference call on Garcon erased another first-down catch by Jackson, and Hopkins' 45-yard field goal on the final play of the half made it 3-3.

NOTES: The teams evenly split their previous 16 Monday night appearances. ... With his 7-yard reception in the second quarter, Dallas' Jason Witten became the second tight end in NFL history to reach 1,000 career catches. ... Cowboys CB Morris Claiborne (hamstring) returned after missing two games. ... Redskins LB Keenan Robinson (shoulder) was back after missing three games.