Continuing their solid play, Washington took apart the hated Cowboys at RFK. Dallas scored first on a Dorsett run, but on the next Dallas possession, LB Monte Coleman returned an interception for a TD to tie the game going into the second quarter. From there, Riggins and the Washington offense took over. Ten more points in the second quarter led to a 17-7 halftime lead.

The Skins made their move to break the game open early in the third quarter, as Theismann hit Calvin Muhammed for a long TD. Muhammed had burned the Redskins as a Raider the previous year, and this was his first hookup with Theismann for a score. Two more second half scores extended the lead to 34-7, and Dallas could answer with a late TD.