Surging Cowboys overwhelm Redskins on way to playoffs

On a day when running back DeMarco Murray broke Emmitt Smith’s single-season team rushing record, receiver Dez Bryant set a eam record for touchdown catches in a season and quarterback Tony Romo continued his best season ever, it was Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett who shone the brightest.

For as much as the 2014 season has been about the Cowboys stars, namely the new triplets of Romo, Bryant and Murray, having career years and leading the team to the NFC East title, it’s been more about Garrett coming into his own and taking ownership of this team in his fourth full and most successful season.

That was never more evident than in Sunday’s 44-17 blowout victory against the Washington Redskins in the season finale at FedEx Field.

It was a clear and decisive referendum on Garrett’s control on the Cowboys in a game that could have been considered a meaningless exhibition.

The Cowboys (12-4) had already clinched the NFC East title and were all but locked into the third seed in the playoffs, barring the longshot possibilities out of their control.

The pregame scenarios were later reaffirmed with the Seattle Seahawks (12-4) winning the NFC West to clinch the No. 1 seed and the Green Bay Packers (12-4) winning the NFC North to claim the No. 2 seed. The Cowboys will host the Detroit Lions (11-5) in the wild card playoffs next Saturday/Sunday at AT&T Stadium as expected.

However, Garrett shunned thoughts of playing it safe and keeping the Cowboys healthy, promising “to play to win.”

The Cowboys left no doubt from the outset, scoring three touchdowns and two field goals on their first five possessions to blow it open early.

“I was so pleased to see our guys come out with everything that you want in a football game to have it from the time they walked out there,” owner Jerry Jones said. “That’s a credit to the head coach and in a big way that’s a credit to the staff, but the players.

“We all know if you want to see if somebody can reach down when it isn’t necessarily a must relative to what our goals are, you saw it out there today. This team has got a lot of pride. To me, everything about today says this is the character of the team. It starts with Jason Garrett, building it, but then he’s got it and he’s passing it along to the players.”

The biggest example of Garrett’s mentality came early in the second quarter.

Following a Dan Bailey 32-yard field goal to make the score 20-7, Garrett called for an onside kick. Safety Barry Church recovered.

Six plays later, Murray scored from 9 yards to make the score 27-7.

“We came in to win this ball game and we were going to do what we need to do to win the game,” Garrett said. “We understand the implication of playing guys and the risk of injury. We get all that. Our job was to control what we can control. There’s no meaningless standard or meaningless plays. It’s an opportunity for our team. I believe we got better today.”

Garrett got his 41st win as Cowboys coach, surpassing Barry Switzer for third place in team history.

The Cowboys won 12 games for the 12th time in team history and the first time since they went 13-3 in 2007.

The Cowboys finished a perfect road record for just the second time in team history, joining the 1968 team that finished 7-0. They are the sixth team in NFL history to go a perfect 8-0 on the road, the first in franchise history.

Even more impressive, the Cowboys finished December with a perfect 4-0 record and will head into the playoffs playing their best football of the season.

In four December games, the Cowboys have jumped out to leads of 27-7, 42-0, 21-0 and 35-7 in double-digit wins over Washington, Indianapolis, Philadelphia and Chicago.

“We felt like we were playing in the playoffs this month,” Romo said. “Four weeks ago we felt like if we lost a game we were going to be out. We are going to keep the same approach we have been having. Put your head down. Go to work. Attack the team we play and go play.”

It was that attacking style that allowed Murray and Bryant to move into Cowboys history on back-to-back plays on the same drive.

Murray, who won the NFL rushing title this season, came into the game needing just 29 yards to run past Smith. He got the record with a 32-yard run with 3:49 left in the first quarter.

Bryant followed with an acrobatic 23-yard touchdown catch on the next play. He was initially ruled out of bounds but Garrett challenged the call and replays showed Bryant getting both feet in bounds.

It was the back end of a record-setting quarter from Bryant. He tied Owens’ previous mark with his 15th touchdown of the season when he took a hitch, made a defender miss and sprinted 65 yards to the end zone.

Bryant, who had four catches for 99 yards in the game, stands alone in team history with 16 touchdown receptions.

“Oh, man, it feels good, but that’s not what I want,” Bryant said. “We’ve worked too hard, man, and have got an opportunity to do something special. That’s on my mind. That’s what my mind is focused on.”

Murray finished with 20 carries for 100 yards, marking the 12th time this season he rushed for at least 100 yards, setting a team record. He was tied with Smith for 11.

“It feels good, you know,” Murray said. “Obviously a lot of people had a lot of helping hand in this. Coaches, obviously the offensive line a huge factor and the tight ends, quarterbacks, receivers, fullbacks. It’s an honor for us to take the record, and we’re excited about it.”

Smith released a statement through the team, saying Murray deserved the record.

“I couldn’t be happier for him. He is very deserving of this recognition. This is something that I know DeMarco will share with the whole team, because he knows that they all had a hand in his success,” Smith said. “He deserves to have this record. I want him and the whole team to keep up this level of play and carry it into the playoffs.”

Romo completed 22 of 34 passes for 299 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He has 12 touchdowns and 1 interception in four December games as the leader of one of the most prolific offenses in team history.

“There is no question I’m playing at a level I’m proud of and I’m continuing to get better,” Romo said.

The Cowboys are getting better as they prepare for the playoffs for the first time in five years.

The offense set a team record with 10 games of at least 30 or more points. They are the first team in team history to score 35 points or more in four consecutive games. And their 469 points on the season are the second most in team history, just behind the 479 in 1983.

The maligned defense got in the act with two interceptions by linebacker Bruce Carter and two fumble recoveries, including a fumble return for a touchdown by defensive end Anthony Spencer. The defense now has 13 turnovers in four December games.

The Cowboys finished the season strong, but they refuse to be satisfied. Garrett wants more and the players have the same mindset.

“The division title is great. Where I’m at, I think you have bigger aspirations,” said Romo, who won two previous division titles, but has just one career playoff victory. “We’ve done the division title thing. Any time you can get 12 wins it’s hard in the National Football League. We’re proud of that. At the same time we understand we’re just getting started and we’re excited about the opportunity in front of us.”

This story was originally published December 28, 2014 at 1:31 PM with the headline "Surging Cowboys overwhelm Redskins on way to playoffs."