Robert Griffin III made Washington Redskins history Thursday in Dallas.
In his first year, he managed to do something the franchise had not in its previous 79 seasons — beat the Cowboys on Thanksgiving.
Griffin threw for 311 yards and four touchdowns, en route to a 132.6 passer rating and the Redskins were able to hold off the Cowboys to secure a 38-31 victory.
Washington’s improbable 28-0 run in the second quarter set the plate for the team’s second win in five days. Three of Griffin’s touchdown passes came in the game’s second stanza and Alfred Morris also punched it in from one-yard out.
Tony Romo, who passed for 441 yards with three touchdowns, helped lead the Cowboys second half comeback attempt, twice making it a one-possession game.
After a 10-yard Felix Jones touchdown capped an eight-play, 88-yard Cowboys scoring drive, Griffin was intercepted for the first time since a home win over the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 14. His untimely pick came on a pass intended for Joshua Morgan.
Four plays later, Romo and Dez Bryant connected on an 11-yard touchdown for their second touchdown in 1:36, bringing the Cowboys within seven points of the Redskins.
An all too familiar story seemed to be replaying itself for Mike Shanahan’s club. But a fresh face would write a new chapter in the book this day.
Griffin and the Redskins chewed 5:20 off the clock and Kai Forbath split the uprights from 48 yards out to push Washington’s lead to 10. The 25-year-old Forbath has yet to miss a field goal since replacing the struggling Billy Cundiff on Oct. 9.
Dan Bailey’s 51-yard field goal again pulled Dallas within seven points. However, DeAngelo Hall would nearly return the ensuing onside kick attempt for a touchdown, opting to slide at the two-yard line with 12 seconds remaining. The move sealed the Washington victory as Dallas did not have enough timeouts to stop the clock on kneel downs.
Griffin’s afternoon included long touchdown passes to Aldrick Robinson and Pierre Garcon.
The 68-yard touchdown pass to Robinson was the pair’s second in as many games. Griffin and the second-year receiver found pay dirt on a 49-yard pass in the 31-6 drubbing of the Philadelphia Eagles four days earlier.
Garcon, whose nagging toe injury was a concern entering the contest, showed no signs of being slowed in Dallas. His 59-yard strike gave the Redskins their third score of the second quarter. It was his first touchdown since Griffin found him for an 88-yarder in Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints.
Santana Moss and tight end Niles Paul added touchdowns of six and 29 yards, respectively.
Dallas’ loss was the first for Romo on Thanksgiving. The Cowboys quarterback’s eye-opening passing performance included two interceptions against a Washington secondary that is again without Brandon Meriweather.
Alfred Morris’ 113-yard performance brings him within 81 yards of Reggie Brooks’ franchise-best 1,063 rushing yards by a rookie.
