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Adding On
Division Series: Aggressive Off-Season Gives Skins More Firepower
Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
June 23, 2006 4:52 PM
(Editor's Note: This is the third of a four-part DallasCowboys.com series analyzing all the teams in the NFC East for the upcoming 2006 season. Today's look will focus on the Washington Redskins.)
By the end of the 2005 season, the entire NFL found out the Washington Redskins were indeed back as contenders for the Super Bowl.
The Cowboys found that out a little earlier than most, having been swept by the Skins in the regular season for the first time since 1995. While the Cowboys still won a Super Bowl title that season, they weren't able to overcome the two losses to the Redskins last year.
Of course, who could forget the Cowboys' fourth-quarter collapse back in Week Two, when they watched a 13-0 lead with four minutes to play turn into a stunning 14-13 loss on Monday Night Football.
Santana Moss, who turned in the best season of his career, single-handedly beat the Cowboys on that hot September night, catching a pair of fourth-quarter bombs to steal a win at Texas Stadium.
While the Redskins snuck out of Dallas with an improbable win, they made sure they left no doubt in the December rematch, pummeling the Cowboys 35-7 at FedEx Field and ending the Cowboys' chances of winning the NFC East.
And in the final week of the season, it was the Redskins who defeated the Eagles to clinch the final playoff spot in the NFC and officially eliminate the Cowboys from contention before Dallas took the field for its season finale against the Rams.
Needless to say, the Redskins-Cowboys rivalry is alive and well.
And it should get even stronger this season as both teams were very aggressive in free agency, signing a slew of big names, especially at the wide receiver position.
While the Cowboys hogged the headlines with the signing of Terrell Owens, the Redskins added a pair of young receivers to the mix. Washington signed Antwaan Randle El (Steelers) and Brandon Lloyd (49ers) to go along with Moss, who had 10 receptions of 40 yards or more last season.
Randle El and Lloyd should give the Redskins even more firepower in their vertical passing game along with Pro Bowl tight end/H-back Chris

ey, who caught 71 passes for 774 yards.
Now they must rely on their quarterback. Despite making a change in Week One, the Redskins got more than they could've expected out of veteran Mark Brunell, who enters his 14th pro season. Washington did draft Jason Campbell in the first round last season, but it's likely they'll wait at least one more season before throwing him to the wolves.
And let's not forget about running back Clinton Portis, who set a franchise record with 1,516 rushing yards, including nine 100-yard games.
Despite all this offensive talk, the Redskins won with defense in 2005.
Washington allowed more than 20 points in a single game only five times, but not once in the final month of the season, including the playoffs.
And the Redskins added some muscle on defense through free agency and the draft, where they used their first four picks on defense.
Miami (Fla.) linebacker Roger McIntosh and Minnesota defensive tackle Anthony Montgomery headlined the Redskins' draft and could contribute immediately.
The Redskins traded up in the second round to land McIntosh, who could start at weak-side linebacker and replace LaVar Arrington, who signed with the Giants in the off-season.
In free agency, the Redskins signed strong safety Adam Archuleta to help in the secondary alongside Sean Taylor, who should get back on the field in 2006 despite his share of off-the-field issues. Together, Archuleta and Taylor could form one of the best safety tandems in the entire league.
The Redskins still have plenty of young but experienced talent on defense in linebackers Lemar Marshall and Marcus Washington, and second-year cornerback Carlos Rogers.
The Redskins were good last year, especially towards the end of the regular season. And they should be even better in 2006.
But does that automatically equate into a better record? Only time will tell.
Here's a closer look at the 2006 Washington Redskins:
2005 Record: 11-5
Playoffs: Defeated Tampa Bay (17-10); Lost to Seattle (20-10) in NFC Divisional Round
2005 NFL Rankings: Offense (11th), Defense (9th)
Key Veteran Additions: SS Adam Archuleta (STL); DE Andre Carter (STL); TE Christian Fauria (NE); WR Brandon Lloyd (SF); WR Antwaan Randle El (PITT); CB Kenny Wright (JAX)
Top Draft Picks: LB Roger McIntosh (Miami); DT Anthony Montgomery (Minnesota); SS Reed Doughty (N. Colorado); DT Kedric Golston (Georgia)
Key Losses: LB LaVar Arrington (NYG); OT Ray Brown (retired); SS Ryan Clark (PITT); QB Patrick Ramsey (NYJ)
All-Time Series Record vs. Cowboys: Cowboys lead series, 54-36-2
Last Year's Meetings: Defeated Dallas, 14-13 (9/19/05, Texas Stadium); Defeated Dallas 35-7 (12/18/05, FedEx Field)
Last 10 Meetings:
2005 - Redskins 35, Cowboys 7
2005 - Redskins 14, Cowboys 13
2004 - Cowboys 13, Redskins 10
2004 - Cowboys 21, Redskins 18
2003 - Cowboys 21, Redskins 14
2003 - Cowboys 27, Redskins 0
2002 - Redskins 20, Cowboys 14
2002 - Cowboys 27, Redskins 20
2001 - Cowboys 20, Redskins 14
2001 - Cowboys 9, Redskins 7
Who Can Forget?
With just one defensive stop, the Cowboys were just a few minutes away from not only beating the Redskins in front of a nationally-televised, Monday Night Football audience, but about to improve to 2-0 on the season.
But just like that, a 13-0 lead in a game the Cowboys had completely dominated got turned around with two long touchdown passes.
Washington's Mark Brunell finds Santana Moss in the end zone for a 39-yard touchdown - on a fourth-and-15 play - to cut Dallas' lead to 13-7. After stopping the Cowboys and forcing a punt, Washington came right back with yet another score - Brunell again finding Moss behind the secondary for a 70-yard touchdown.
Still in shock, the Cowboys couldn't find a way to get into field-goal range and eventually gave the ball back to the Redskins on downs, losing a heartbreaker, 14-13.
What made matters worse was the Cowboys eventually missed the playoffs, getting edged out by the Redskins - by one game.