Going into Sunday’s game at Dallas, there seemed to be two opposing forces pulling at ‘Skins fans. Common wisdom, most pundits, and the Vegas oddsmakers said Washington would return to D.C. humbled by an offensive juggernaut just getting warmed up. But if you looked hard enough, there were calls for optimism: fantasy experts talked up Jason Campbell’s surging value, while others talked about the ‘Skins’s recent success against their hated rivals. And in press conferences this week, Santana Moss and others spoke with a subtle confidence and a hint of disdain for the 11 point line favoring Tony Romo and Co.

They did not disappoint. In the last game of this great rivalry to be played in dry Texas Stadium, Jim Zorn became the first Washington coach since George Allen to beat the Cowboys in his first try as head coach, 26-24. It wasn’t exactly easy, but it was easier than the slim 26 – 24 scoreline indicates. After Jason Whitten blew by an obviously still ailing Marcus Washington to grab a 25 yard pass from Romo and give Dallas an early lead, the rest of the half was all ‘Skins. Campbell and his charges responded well with three methodical drives that saw the young QB finally begin to step away from pressure and buy time in the pocket. With plenty of dinks and dunks mixed with a new patience in the face of the fearsome Cowboy pass rush, Campbell showed yet more progress over the past couple weeks. He went 20-31 for 231 yards and 2 scores, helped by a monster day from Santana Moss (8 catches, 145 yards), a man looking like one of the best at his position at the moment.