Posted on 09/17/2006 9:04:20 PM PDT by stainlessbanner
IRVING, Texas - Drew Bledsoe and the Dallas Cowboys got a big lift from a receiver in their home opener. No, not by T.O. — it was from their other big-play guy, Terry Glenn. While Terrell Owens botched his home debut with drops and penalties, Glenn set up Dallas' first two touchdowns, then scored a third with a 40-yard catch, sending the Cowboys past the Washington Redskins 27-10 Sunday night.
Bledsoe threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions, and would've had even better numbers had his receivers not missed so many passes that hit their hands. Owens was among the most guilty, starting with a flubbed pass in the end zone on the opening drive. By game's end, he was in the locker room getting his hand X-rayed, his stats sealed at three catches for 19 yards.
Glenn caught six passes for 94 yards. He had a 34-yarder that set up a 4-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Crayton on Dallas' second drive and drew a 41-yard pass interference call against Kenny Wright to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Marion Barber.
Although Bledsoe was 19-of-38, his strong overall performance should quiet talk of a quarterback controversy for the next two weeks, but only because Dallas (1-1) is going into a bye. The Cowboys' defense earned the time off by keeping the Redskins (0-2) without an offensive touchdown, although coach Bill Parcells is likely to put his entire squad to work on reducing penalties.
Washington is off to its worst start since opening 0-5 under coach Marty Schottenheimer in 2001. The good news for the Redskins is that they're only one game out of first place in the NFC East.
Mark Brunell helped Washington avoid that hole last season with a stunning late fourth-quarter rally in a game the Cowboys had been dominating. This game followed a familiar script, at least until Mike Vanderjagt — another highly touted free agent making his home debut — hit a 50-yard field to put Dallas up by 17 with 7:43 left.
Brunell, playing on his 36th birthday, had only 64 yards passing through three quarters, but finished 18-of-33 for 197 yards. He was sacked six times, including the game's final play after Washington reached the the Cowboys 7-yard line.
The Redskins had only 100 yards on offense at halftime and were within 17-10 because of a 100-yard kickoff return by Rock Cartwright. Their only other score, a 39-yard field goal by John Hall, came on a drive boosted heavily by consecutive roughing penalties against the Cowboys.
Without those kind of mistakes, Dallas would've won this game easily. Instead, the Cowboys had to sweat, especially when Redskins safety Sean Taylor stripped the ball from running back Julius Jones and Washington took over only 39 yards from the tying touchdown late in the third quarter.
Cowboys safety Roy Williams answered with a takeaway of his own, snatching an interception at the 1. Bledsoe then took the Cowboys 99 yards in six plays, capped by the 40-yard touchdown to Glenn.
Vanderjagt, inactive last week, made a 26-yard field goal on Dallas' opening drive. But his 50-yarder was more important, and his celebration reflected it.
Owens ran out for warmups and pregame introductions waving his arms, encouraging cheers from fans. That was about the only way he thrilled them as he was called for an illegal block on Dallas' first snap and later was caught lining up in the wrong place.
Jones ran 20 times for 94 yards. Washington, playing without injured Clinton Portis, got 40 yards from Ladell Betts and 24 from T.J. Duckett in his season debut.
T.O. out with broken hand, surgery to follow in next day or so. 2-4 weeks out.
TO: "Happened around first or second play of the game."
I guess the broken hand excuse covers all TO's dropped passes. Convenient that they have a bye week coming up but he'll be ok in two weeks. Truth be told, even a less than stellar TO helps the Dallas offense. Glenn gets open more and the opposition drops more people into coverage.
Boy, TO is certainly a fragile fellow and obviously not tough enough to play football. Jimmy Johnson better have written a clause into his contract cutting his fat paycheck while he's on IR all the time. Terry Glenn, on the other hand, should get paid whatever he asks for because he is definitely The Man this year.
"...Jimmy Johnson..."
Beleive you mean Jerry Jones. The other JJ is no longer affiliated with America's Team.
I have to say this: HOW 'BOUT THEM COWBOYS!!!!!
"...Brunell, playing on his 36th birthday..."
I remeber a Monday night game at Texas Stadium when it was Joe Theisman's birthday. That nigh was worse than last night. The Deadskins were getting the daylights beaten out of them. Joe T had a horrible night. Late in the fourth quarter, the crowd at Texas Stadium did something I've never seen done. They all broke out in song and sung "Happy Birthday" to Joe T. One of the strangest things ever at Texas Stadium. One of the nicest things Joe T ever got from a Dallas crowd.
GO COWBOYS!!!!!
Good thing for the Boys that the Deadskins are so horrible. They won't get away with making so many penalties and dropping passes against the Jints and Iggies.
Brunell got the business last night - that's a rough birthday. Great story about Theisman, sounds like the Cowboys fans respected him.
One word: Plaxico
It was a hard game to watch. Too many penalties. Sloppy. I had to throw in the karate kid. "Get him a body bag!"
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