The Washington Redskins defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 20-17, at FedExField on Sunday in a pivotal Week 7 NFC East matchup. The Redskins now hold a firm two-game lead in the division and will have a chance to extend their lead when they travel to New York on Sunday to face the disappointing Giants.
Yesterday’s game between the two longtime rivals was another nail-biter for fans in a series all too familiar with close endings. Among the 115 games played between the Redskins and Cowboys, there have been 59 games decided by seven points or less. In fact, 26 of those contests have been decided by three or fewer points.
With the victory, the Redskins re-wrote several historical statistics and individual players put their names in the team record books.
Here are a few feats accomplished in the 20-17 win.
With the victory, the Redskins improved their regular season record to 4-2 and mark their best start to a season since starting 4-2 during the 2016 campaign.
Yesterday’s game was the Redskins first against an NFC East opponent this season.
The Burgundy and Gold are now 3-1 at home and gives them their best home record to start a season since 2015.
The Redskins now hold a 4-1 record against the NFC giving the team its best start against teams in the NFC since 2010.
With the win, the Redskins captured their first victory over the Dallas Cowboys since 2016 and their first home win over their division rival since 2012. The last time the Redskins defeated the Cowboys was Week 17 of the
team’s NFC East championship season in 2015.
The Redskins forced two turnovers (two forced fumbles) and now have forced at least one turnover for the 10th consecutive week dating back to last season. Washington currently has the second-longest active streak in the NFL.
The Redskins defense recorded four sacks and has now recorded four or more sacks in two games this season.
Running back Adrian Peterson rushed for 99 yards (4.1 avg.) on 24 attempts and had one catch for eight yards. Peterson (12,714) now needs to rush for 26 yards to pass Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett (12,739) for
ninth on the NFL’s all-time list for career rushing yards.
Peterson finished with 107 scrimmage yards (14,873) and has now passed Jim Brown (14,811) for 26th on the NFL’s all-time list in career yards from scrimmage. He now needs 19 yards from scrimmage to pass
Ricky Watters (14,891) for 25th on the NFL’s all-time list.
Tight end Jordan Reed hauled in two receptions to tie a team-high 43 receiving yards (3,081) and now need 39 receiving yards to pass No. 13 Roy Jefferson (3,119) on the Redskins all-time list.
With his two receptions, Reed (297) now needs three more receptions in the next two regular season games to become the second fastest tight end in NFL history to 300 career receptions in 60 games. Kellen Winslow, Sr. set the NFL record with 300 career receptions in 57 games.
Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan recorded five tackles (four solo), two sacks for a loss of 15 yards, one pass defensed, and a forced fumble. The last time Kerrigan finished with two sacks in one was Dec. 31, 2017, at the New York Giants.
After registering 2.0 sacks today, Kerrigan (10.5) joins Hall of Famers Michael Strahan (18.0), Reggie White (17.0) and Lawrence Taylor (15.0) and former Eagles DE Clyde Simmons (11.5) as the only players in NFL history to record 10-plus sacks against the Dallas Cowboys. With the two sacks, Kerrigan now needs 8.0 sacks to pass No. 2 Charles Mann on the Redskins all-time list in career sacks.
Kerrigan started his 118th consecutive regular season game, the longest active streak among active NFL linebackers. Kerrigan has not missed a start in his NFL career.
Linebacker Preston Smith scored his first career touchdown on the fumble recovery late in the fourth quarter off of the Ryan Kerrigan strip sack. Smith added one tackle, two quarterback hits and one
pass defensed.
Kicker Dustin Hopkins connected on two field (20, 25) and two PATS scoring eight points in the game. Hopkins (360) has now tied Jerry Smith (360) for seventh on the Redskins all-time scoring list.