NFL game summary for 11/18/1979:
Joe Theismann completed 15 of 24 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns as the Redskins moved into a first place tie in the NFC East with Dallas and Philadelphia. Theismann threw touchdown passes of 4 yards to John McDaniel, 10 yards to Clarence Harmon, and 11 yards to Ricky Thompson. The Redskins' defense forced five turnovers and recorded six sacks.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 151.2 (8) | 222.0 (3) | 373.2 (2) | 25 |
| DEFENSE | 128.8 (10) | 154.2 (7) | 283.0 (6) | 20 | |
 | OFFENSE | 143.4 (13) | 142.4 (23) | 285.7 (21) | 20 |
| DEFENSE | 141.2 (20) | 171.7 (14) | 312.9 (13) | 35 |
Line: Cowboys by 3½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys (8-4-0) | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 20 |
| Washington Redskins (8-4-0) | 7 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 34 |
( 0- 7) WAS John McDaniel 4 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick) ( 3- 7) DAL Rafael Septien 34 yard field goal ( 3-14) WAS John Riggins 3 yard rush (Mark Moseley kick) ( 6-14) DAL Rafael Septien 37 yard field goal ( 6-21) WAS Clarence Harmon 10 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick) ( 6-24) WAS Mark Moseley 46 yard field goal (13-24) DAL Drew Pearson 19 yard pass from Roger Staubach (Rafael Septien kick) (13-31) WAS Ricky Thompson 11 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick) (20-31) DAL Drew Pearson 9 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) (20-34) WAS Mark Moseley 45 yard field goal
DAL WAS
First Downs: 27 19
Rushes-yards: 28-85 33-104
Yards/rush: 3.0 3.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 29-49-350-3 15-24-210-0
Sacked-yards: 6-52 2-8
Net pass yards: 298 202
Net yards/pass: 5.4 7.8
Total net yards: 383 306
Total plays: 83 (33% run) 59 (55% run)
Yards/play: 4.6 5.2
Fumbles-lost: 3-2 1-0
Turnovers: 5 0
Penalties-yards: 7-60 8-99
Attendance: 55,031
Passing:
DAL: Roger Staubach, 23 of 38 for 276 yards and 1 TD (3 int); Danny White, 6 of 11 for 74 yards and 1 TD WAS: Joe Theismann, 15 of 24 for 210 yards and 3 TDs
Rushing:
DAL: Tony Dorsett, 14 for 43 yards; Robert Newhouse, 6 for 18 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 3 for 17 yards; Ron Springs, 2 for 6 yards; Roger Staubach, 2 for 4 yards; Preston Pearson, 1 for -3 yards WAS: Benny Malone, 14 for 21 yards; John Riggins, 12 for 40 yards and 1 TD; Clarence Harmon, 4 for 22 yards; Joe Theismann, 2 for 6 yards; Ike Forte, 1 for 15 yards
Receiving:
DAL: Drew Pearson, 8 for 134 yards and 2 TDs; Tony Dorsett, 8 for 61 yards; Tony Hill, 6 for 92 yards; Ron Springs, 2 for 18 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 2 for 11 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 1 for 21 yards; Preston Pearson, 1 for 7 yards; Robert Newhouse, 1 for 6 yards WAS: Danny Buggs, 5 for 111 yards; Ricky Thompson, 3 for 49 yards and 1 TD; Ike Forte, 2 for 24 yards; Clarence Harmon, 2 for 14 yards and 1 TD; John McDaniel, 2 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Don Warren, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
DAL: Ron Springs, 6 for 119 yards; Steve Wilson, 1 for 21 yards WAS: Ike Forte, 1 for 37 yards; Bobby Hammond, 1 for 24 yards; Clarence Harmon, 1 for 2 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Steve Wilson, 3 for 17 yards WAS: Bobby Hammond, 1 for 3 yards
Interceptions:
WAS: Mark Murphy, 1 for 16 yards; Neal Olkewicz, 1 for 4 yards; Brad Dusek, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
DAL: Danny White, 2 for 70 yards WAS: Mike Bragg, 5 for 208 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Rafael Septien, 2/2 WAS: Mark Moseley, 2/3
DAL: Roger Staubach, 23 of 38 for 276 yards and 1 TD (3 int); Danny White, 6 of 11 for 74 yards and 1 TD WAS: Joe Theismann, 15 of 24 for 210 yards and 3 TDs
Rushing:
DAL: Tony Dorsett, 14 for 43 yards; Robert Newhouse, 6 for 18 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 3 for 17 yards; Ron Springs, 2 for 6 yards; Roger Staubach, 2 for 4 yards; Preston Pearson, 1 for -3 yards WAS: Benny Malone, 14 for 21 yards; John Riggins, 12 for 40 yards and 1 TD; Clarence Harmon, 4 for 22 yards; Joe Theismann, 2 for 6 yards; Ike Forte, 1 for 15 yards
Receiving:
DAL: Drew Pearson, 8 for 134 yards and 2 TDs; Tony Dorsett, 8 for 61 yards; Tony Hill, 6 for 92 yards; Ron Springs, 2 for 18 yards; Scott Laidlaw, 2 for 11 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 1 for 21 yards; Preston Pearson, 1 for 7 yards; Robert Newhouse, 1 for 6 yards WAS: Danny Buggs, 5 for 111 yards; Ricky Thompson, 3 for 49 yards and 1 TD; Ike Forte, 2 for 24 yards; Clarence Harmon, 2 for 14 yards and 1 TD; John McDaniel, 2 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Don Warren, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
DAL: Ron Springs, 6 for 119 yards; Steve Wilson, 1 for 21 yards WAS: Ike Forte, 1 for 37 yards; Bobby Hammond, 1 for 24 yards; Clarence Harmon, 1 for 2 yards
Punt returns:
DAL: Steve Wilson, 3 for 17 yards WAS: Bobby Hammond, 1 for 3 yards
Interceptions:
WAS: Mark Murphy, 1 for 16 yards; Neal Olkewicz, 1 for 4 yards; Brad Dusek, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
DAL: Danny White, 2 for 70 yards WAS: Mike Bragg, 5 for 208 yards
Field Goals:
DAL: Rafael Septien, 2/2 WAS: Mark Moseley, 2/3