Two difficult catches led to Washington's first score. Defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin twice bobbled and then finally secured an interception at the Cowboys 21-yard line; Chris Cooley made the turnover count with a diving eight-yard touchdown catch two minutes later. Dallas place kicker Billy Cundiff, meantime, missed a 38-yard field goal.

Two difficult catches led to Washington's first score. Defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin twice bobbled and then finally secured an interception at the Cowboys 21-yard line; Chris Cooley made the turnover count with a diving eight-yard touchdown catch two minutes later. Dallas place kicker Billy Cundiff, meantime, missed a 38-yard field goal.

The Redskins put the game out of reach on their first drive of the second half, when Ladell Betts rushed for a one-yard touchdown to give the Redskins a 35-0 lead. The Washington defense, meantime, continued to batter quarterback Drew Bledsoe. Defensive lineman Phillip Daniels sacked Bledsoe late in the quarter, Daniels's third of the period.

What should have been 15 minutes of celebration for Washington turned sour with the Redskins losing their shutout and one of their key offensive linemen. Jason Witten had a two-yard catch early in the quarter to put Dallas on the board. Then, a little more than four minutes later, Washington right guard Randy Thomas badly hurt his left ankle. Thomas took a cart into the locker room.