It took all four quarters and overtime, but the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Washington Redskins on Sunday, 27-24, thanks Dan Bailey's second field goal of the day.
Washington won the coin toss and received the ball at the start of overtime, but failed to capitalize on their good fortune. Graham Gano, though, failed to connect on a 52 yard field goal attempt, setting up the Cowboys with prime field position.
Taking over at his own 42 yard line, Tony Romo immediately put the Cowboys in Redskins territory, completing a first down pass to Martellus Bennett for 14 yards. Two plays later on 3rd-and-15, Romo connected with Dez Bryant on a 26 yard pass to Washington's 23 yard line. The Cowboys played it safe from there, running the ball up the middle twice before attempting a 39 yard field goal on third down. Bailey's kick nearly sailed wide right, but stayed true, giving the Cowboys a much needed 27-24 win.
Dallas had difficulty establishing the running game, managing only 89 yards on the ground on 32 carries. DeMarco Murray led the team with 73 yards on 25 carries, averaging 2.9 yards per rush.
Romo, though, was excellent, completing 23-of-37 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns, including a 59 yard touchdown pass to tight end Jason Witten. Romo completed passes to nine different receivers, with Dez Bryant and Laurent Robinson also hauling in touchdown passes.
Dallas survived Rex Grossman's near heroics. Grossman led the Redskins on touchdown drives at the end of both the first and second halves. Donte Stallworth was the recipient of a four yard touchdown reception from Grossman with just 14 seconds left on the clock, tying the game at 24 and sending it into overtime.
With the win, Dallas improves to 6-4 on the season, remaining in second in the NFC East. Dallas trails the New York Giants now by half a game, as the Giants put their 6-3 record on the line on Sunday night against the desperate Philadelphia Eagles.
The Cowboys will have little time to celebrate the victory, as they now must prepare to take on the Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving day.