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Redskins seek to avenge loss to Cowboys

Oct 31, 2006 - 8:52 PM Dallas (4-3) at Washington (2-5) Sunday 1:00 pm EST

LANDOVER, Maryland (Ticker) - Joe Gibbs has stuck with veteran quarterback Mark Brunell through a difficult first half of the season. Bill Parcells has already made the switch from Drew Bledsoe to Tony Romo.

Gibbs and the Washington Redskins seek to snap a three-game losing streak when they host Parcells and the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

Washington, which made the playoffs last season as a wild card with a 10-6 record, resides in last place in the NFC East. The Cowboys are in second place, one game behind the New York Giants.

The teams met on September 17 at Dallas and the Cowboys flustered the 36-year-old Brunell in a 27-10 victory.

Brunell threw for 197 yards with one interception and was sacked six times. But 128 of those yards came on Washington's last two possessions after the outcome basically was decided.

The Redskins were severely hurt by the absence of Clinton Portis, who was sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Bledsoe threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns and Julius Jones rushed for 94 yards on 20 carries. Terry Glenn caught six passes for 94 yards and a touchdown.

But Bledsoe is no longer at the controls for Dallas. Parcells made the move to Romo at halftime of the Cowboys' 36-22 loss to the New York Giants on October 23.

Romo made his first NFL start last Sunday and completed 24-of-36 passes for 270 yards and one touchdown with one interception in a 35-14 win at Carolina. A backup for three full seasons, Romo looked comfortable in the pocket, made smart decisions and even ran for 18 yards, including a couple of scrambles that kept drives alive.

"Tony has more mobility (than Bledsoe) in the pocket," Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens said. "That made the offense flow better."

Owens led the Cowboys with nine grabs for 107 yards and tight end Jason Witten added six catches for 80 yards, including s three-yard TD.

Dallas also ran effectively against the Panthers. Jones produced 92 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries and Marion Barber added 49 yards and a pair of scores on nine rushes.

The Cowboys are on the second leg of a three-game road trip, but they would rather forget last season's visit to the nation's capital.

Brunell passed for four touchdowns, including three to tight end Chris Cooley, and defensive end Phillip Daniels tied a club record with four sacks in the Redskins' 35-7 victory over the Cowboys last December 18.

Linebacker Marcus Washington also starred on defense with two sacks, a 41-yard interception return and a forced fumble.

Bledsoe was sacked seven times and committed four turnovers - three interceptions and a fumble.

Meanwhile, the Redskins' offensive line kept the Cowboys' pass rushers away from Brunell, who was not sacked once, and opened holes for Portis, who rushed for 112 yards on 23 carries.

The Cowboys have won 15 of the last 18 meetings from the Redskins, although Gibbs got a sweep last season. Parcells has won nine of his last 11 matchups with Gibbs.

The coaches have combined for five Super Bowl titles and seven conference championships. As coach of the New York Giants from 1983-90, Parcells got the best of Gibbs, winning 11 of the 17 meetings, including a 17-0 victory in the January 1987 NFC championship game.