The following is the third installment of TheHogs.net’s 2004 NFL season simulation using the ESPN 2K5 football game on the Playstation 2 console:
NFL WEEK 3
Dallas Cowboys (0-2) at Washington Redskins (0-2)
Note – This is a continuation of the simulated 2004 NFL season using the ESPN NFL 2K5 video game.
Welcome to Monday Night Football’s marquee match-up with one of the league’s most storied rivalries. Oh, and Joe Gibbs gets to face off against “The Tuna” Bill Parcells.
On a night better suited for ducks and spawning salmon, the Redskins play their second straight bad weather game as heavy rain fell throughout the game with kickoff temperature coming in at 59 degrees.
The Redskins started the scoring off on their second drive of the game. After a punt, the Redskins started their drive at their own 11. After two rushes by RB Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts, QB Mark Brunell hooks up with WR Laveranues Coles for a 60 yard TD after Coles got past the secondary that had been playing the run. Redskins 7 – Cowboys 0.
The Cowboys then evened the score after taking the kickoff; QB Vinny Testeverde hit WR Keyshawn Johnson down the middle of the defense on the first play for an 81 yard touchdown. Redskins 7 – Cowboys 7.
Later in the 1st quarter, after forcing the Redskins to punt, the Cowboys took over on their own 38. The Cowboys would also push the Redskin defense around as they use a 9 play drive, capped off with a 1 yard touchdown plunge by RB Julius Jones, to go ahead of the hometown Redskins. The key play on the drive was on a 3rd and 11, the Redskins allowed RB Richie Anderson to get open for a 43 yard reception across the middle of the defense. Cowboys 14 – Redskins 7.
The Redskins then took the kickoff back 48 yards (McCants) but penalties stalled the drive. K John Hall connected on a 37 yard field goal to cut into the lead. Cowboys 14 – Redskins 10.
The second half opened with the Cowboys taking the ball but being forced to punt after a four and out stand by the Redskin defense. However on the second play of the ensuing drive, Brunell is intercepted by S Roy Williams. Williams returns the ball to the Redskin 36.
The Cowboys took the ball and looked to be stalled at the 30 yard line with the rain coming down harder. But on an incomplete pass on 3rd and 4, Redskins rookie safety was flagged for a personal foul which gave the Pokes a 1st down at the 15 yard line. Julius Jones would score on the next play on a 15 yard touchdown run. Cowboys 21- Redskins 10.
The Redskins would have 4 offensive possessions in the third quarter. Of those 4, 3 of them would result in four and out drives. The last drive of the third, ended in a punt which instead of pinning the Cowboys deep in their own territory, results in the Cowboys returning the ball to the Redskins 37. Seven plays later, after a nice mix of pass and run, Julius Jones scores his third touchdown of the game, this one coming from 1 yard out. Cowboys 28 – Redskins 10.
The final quarter was an interesting one, to say the least. With the field conditions deteriorated to a point which FedEx Field has never seen before, the fun started when the Cowboys LB Dat Nguyen blocked a punt which was recovered at the Redskins 47 by Roy Williams. The Cowboys, however, were unable to drive the ball and were forced to punt. That punt was blocked by CB Walt Harris. Sean Taylor recovers the loose ball for the Redskins.
The Redskins take over at the Cowboys 40 with plenty of time left in the game. On the first play of the drive, Brunell drops back and delivers the ball directly into the hands of Cowboy CB Terence Newman.
The Cowboys would then fumble the ball back to the Redskins after Testeverde scrambles and is blindsided by LB Khalid Abdullah. LB Lavar Arrington recovers the ball and returns it to the Cowboy 33.
Starting the drive at the Cowboy 33, the Redskins drive to the 1 yard line but Portis fumbles. Roy Williams recovers the loose ball and lugs it out to the Cowboy 27. The Cowboys then use up the remainder of the clock to secure the win over their long-time NFC East.
Final score:
Dallas Cowboys 28 (1-2)
Washington Redskins 10 (0-3)
Redskins game leaders:
Passing: Mark Brunell 15-35 for 177 yards (44.6 QBR) 1 TD 2 INT 4 sacks
Rushing: Clinton Portis 16 rushes for 66 yards and 1 fumble
Ladell Betts 5 rushes for 47 yards
Receiving: Laveranues Coles 5 receptions for 94 yards and 1 TD
James Thrash 3 receptions for 37 yards
Defense: Cornelius Griffin 8 tackles and 1 sack
Lavar Arrington 5 tackles 1 sack and 1 fumble recovery
Walt Harris 2 tackles and 1 blocked punt
INJURIES: LB Marcus Washington remains sidelined with migraines.
Power rankings: The Redskins have dropped to 29th in the league. The Vikings are number one, followed by the Broncos and Patriots. Next weeks opponent, Cleveland, sits in 6th.
With the loss, the Redskins drop to 0-3 and into last place in the NFC East. The first place Giants lost to Cleveland 24-10 to drop to 2-1. The Cowboys and Eagles both improved to 1-2, the Eagles earned their first win by beating the Lions 21-14.
The Redskins will look to pick up their first win of the season on the road against a tough Cleveland Brown team that remains undefeated at 3-0. They have only allowed 32 points this season and the weather could again be a factor as early weather forecasts have called for rain. That, in addition to playing in the hostile “Dawg Pound” should prove to be a huge challenge for the struggling Redskins.
Tune in next week for the recap of the game.
-Wingman
Edit: This blog was archived in May of 2016 from our original articles database.It was originally posted by Les Barnhart