Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) lands on top of Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) after Bryant caught a pass for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, in Arlington, Texas.
(AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
AP Photo/Ron Jenkins
Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws a pass under pressure from Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Richard Ash in the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, in Arlington, Texas.
(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth
Dallas Cowboys fullback Keith Smith (41) and running back Alfred Morris (46) celebrate a touchdown scored on a run by Morris in the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, in Arlington, Texas.
(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Switzer (10) returns a Washington Redskins punt for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, in Arlington, Texas.
(AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
AP Photo/Ron Jenkins
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Switzer (10) leaps into the end zone after returning a Washington Redskins punt for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, in Arlington, Texas.
(AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
AP Photo/Ron Jenkins
Washington Redskins wide receiver Josh Doctson (18) reaches over Dallas Cowboys safety Byron Jones (31) to catch a pass for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, in Arlington, Texas.
(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth
Washington Redskins’ Josh Doctson (18) comes down with a touchdown catch in front of Dallas Cowboys safety Byron Jones (31) and Chidobe Awuzie (33) in the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, in Arlington, Texas.
(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth
Dallas Cowboys running back Alfred Morris (46) looks for running room as he carries the ball against the Washington Redskins in the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, in Arlington, Texas.
(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth
Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) scrambles out of the pocket escaping pressure from Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence in the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, in Arlington, Texas.
(AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
AP Photo/Ron Jenkins
Dallas Cowboys safety Jeff Heath (38), Washington Redskins wide receiver Jamison Crowder (80), Josh Doctson (18) and Matt Ioannidis (98) along with others get into a scuffle late in the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, in Arlington, Texas.
(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth
Washington Redskins wide receiver Josh Doctson (18) and Dallas Cowboys’ Jourdan Lewis (27) get into a scuffle late in the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, in Arlington, Texas.
(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) greet each other at midfield after their NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, in Arlington, Texas.
(AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
The competitive part of the Redskins season ended in Dallas Thursday night with a 38-14 loss to the Cowboys dropping them to 5-7. This was the biggest game of the season and the Redskins failed to show up.
They had a chance to put a stamp on the game early in the first quarter, but self-inflicted wounds hurt this team again and gifted the Cowboys some life before Dallas put the Redskins away with ease.
It was inevitable that the injuries were going to catch up with this team eventually. They had been playing with fire the last few weeks as players were coming and going through the revolving door at Redskins Park. The Redskins used their 21st different linuep along the offensive line last night — 21st!
To add insult to injury, they lost Morgan Moses to an ankle injury. Moses had been the only lineman yet to miss a game.
There are a number of things that went wrong in this game, and it was a total team loss that everyone shares some of the blame.
It started early with Jamison Crowder dropping a pass that would have set up a first and goal, instead it was a Cowboys interception. Crowder then went back and fielded a punt, returned it a few yards and fumbled. Cowboys’ ball.
Kirk Cousins threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. The Redskins turned over the ball four times.
Ryan Switzer returned a punt for 83 yards, untouched, for a touchdown.
Enough said.
This was a Cowboys team that had been outscored 93-22 in their three-game losing streak, and the way the game started, it looked like more of the same. The Redskins defense forced four straight three-and-outs to start the game and should have had a lead at that point.
The Cowboys got a little momentum in the first quarter from Redskins mistakes, and then the Cowboys were off and running, literally.
Former Redskins running back Alfred Morris had his first 100-yard rushing game since he left the Redskins. Washington’s defense could not stop him, or the Cowboys offense, when it needed to.
It was an all-around bad night for the Redskins. They now have four games left with nothing to play for but pride and jobs.
Every team in the NFL suffers from injuries, and the Redskins have had their share. When healthy, this team could compete with anyone in the NFL, and we saw that early on this year.
They could still win their final four games and finish with a 9-7 record, but there are too many scenarios to overcome to make the playoffs a reality.
The Redskins are now 2-6 against Dallas under Jay Gruden and have been swept by the Eagles and Cowboys this season.
