How bout them…Redskins!?

LANDOVER, MD - On the eve of Halloween, all of the Dallas Cowboys' hopes of winning their Week 8 matchup turned into a nightmare in the most bizarre way possible.

The game was played at Washington, where the Redskins came in as heavy underdogs after winning just one of their first seven games. For most of the night, it looked like Dallas was on its way to another win. But in the second half, special teams mistakes, turnovers, and one of the wildest momentum swings of the season helped Washington stun the Cowboys, 32-26.

Cowboys Build Early Lead

Things were not looking good for Washington early. Dallas took control in the first half, building a 10-0 lead behind a late touchdown from Cowboys wide receiver Terrance Williams and a last-minute field goal by kicker Dan Bailey.

The Cowboys defense kept Washington quiet for most of the opening half, and the Redskins struggled to find any rhythm on offense. With Dallas leading by double digits and controlling the pace, it looked like the Cowboys were on their way to taking care of business against a one-win team.

Washington Starts The Comeback

Late in the third quarter, Washington finally managed to put three more points on the board, cutting the deficit to four. But on the ensuing kickoff, Ryan Switzer gave the Cowboys what looked like the play that would put the game away.

Switzer fielded the kick and returned it 108 yards for a touchdown, giving Dallas an 11-point lead after the extra point. At that moment, Washington looked all but finished.

Then everything changed.

As the third quarter was coming to a close, free safety D.J. Swearinger intercepted a pass intended for Dez Bryant, giving Washington the spark it needed.

Redskins Special Teams Flips The Game

Following the turnover, Washington wasted no time. Just three plays later, halfback Chris Thompson scored his first rushing touchdown of the season to cut the Cowboys' lead to five.

Dallas had a chance to answer on its next drive, but Washington's defense came up with a huge stop. Middle linebacker Ryan Kerrigan deflected a screen pass intended for Ezekiel Elliott that looked like it could have gone for a first down or more. Then, on third down, cornerback Kendall Fuller made the tackle to force Dallas to punt.

That punt never got away cleanly.

Washington LOLB Junior Galette blocked Chris Jones' punt attempt, and strong safety Deshazor Everett scooped it up and returned it for a touchdown. The score gave Washington a one-point lead, and the Redskins chose to go for two.

The two-point try was good, giving Washington an unbelievable three-point lead.

Everett Strikes Again

The Cowboys' confidence looked shaky as they came back onto the field with just over five and a half minutes remaining. Dak Prescott opened the drive with a five-yard run, then completed a pass for a 14-yard gain.

But on the third play of the drive, Prescott overthrew tight end Jason Witten, and once again, Deshazor Everett was in the right place at the right time. Everett intercepted the pass and returned it for a touchdown, giving Washington a nine-point lead. After the extra point, the Redskins were suddenly up by 10.

Cowboys head coach Andres Perez was livid on the sideline and could be heard yelling for his team to wake up.

For a moment, the message seemed to work.

Dallas responded by driving 31 yards on just three plays. On the fourth play, Prescott found second-string tight end James Hanna wide open for a 35-yard touchdown reception, cutting Washington's lead to four.

Blocked Extra Point Adds To The Chaos

Dan Bailey lined up for the extra point, which would have made it a three-point game with four minutes remaining. But once again, Washington's special teams delivered a massive play.

This time, cornerback Quinton Dunbar blocked Bailey's kick. Strong safety Su'a Cravens picked it up and returned it 85 yards for a defensive two-point conversion.

Instead of trailing by three, the Cowboys now trailed by six.

Washington took full advantage on its next possession, working the play clock down under two minutes and adding a field goal to extend the lead to 32-24 with 1:52 left in the game.

With no timeouts and under two minutes to play, Dallas did everything it could to get back into the end zone. But the Cowboys had to settle for a field goal with 37 seconds remaining, cutting the deficit to 32-26.

Their onside kick attempt was unsuccessful, and Washington escaped with one of the most stunning wins of the season.

Coach Perez Reacts

"This is what happens when you get cocky," Cowboys head coach Andres Perez said. "It's ridiculous what happened out there just now. Every single one of us should be ashamed at the piss-weak effort we put out there."

Perez did not hold back after watching his team collapse in a game it appeared to have under control.

"This should be a wake-up call for all of us," Perez said. "No lead is safe, and no team is just going to roll over when they're being beaten."

Noteworthy

• Ryan Switzer's 108-yard kickoff return was the longest in league history.
• The Redskins set a new record for special teams plays. No other team has ever blocked a punt and an extra point in the same game and returned both for touchdowns.
• Going into this game, the Redskins had lost five straight games against the Cowboys. Their last win against the Cowboys came in Week 13 of Season 7.
• Cowboys HB Ezekiel Elliott might have a long time to think about this loss. His suspension, which was set to take effect earlier in the season, is expected to go into effect this week depending on what a judge in a New York court decides.

Up Next

The Redskins will be on the road next week to take on the Seattle Seahawks, while the Cowboys will head home to face the Kansas City Chiefs.

Final Thoughts

For Washington, this was the kind of win that can change the feel of a season, even for a team that entered the game with only one victory. The Redskins made plays in every phase, capitalized on Dallas mistakes, and turned a game that looked out of reach into a shocking comeback win.

For Dallas, this was a brutal reminder that no opponent can be taken lightly. The Cowboys had control, momentum, and the lead, but a blocked punt, a defensive touchdown, a blocked extra point return, and multiple late mistakes turned a comfortable win into a Halloween nightmare.