LANDOVER, Maryland (Ticker) -- Daniel Snyder announced this past week that Steve Spurrier will return in 2004. He may have second thoughts.
Troy Hambrick rushed for a career-high 189 yards and the Dallas Cowboys forced six turnovers, including three interceptions by rookie cornerback Terence Newman, and rolled to a 27-0 rout of the Washington Redskins.
The Cowboys (9-5) made it look easy in beating their NFC East rivals for the 12th time in the last 13 meetings and solidified their hold on the NFC's first wild-card spot.
Despite playing in a driving rain, Hambrick ran around and through the Redskins and Dallas' defense dominated, holding Washington to eight first downs and 161 total yards, including 37 in the second half.
"I think I've been pressing a lot trying to get the job done, and tonight was my condition and type of weather," said Hambrick, who carried the ball 33 times and had the third-best rushing game in franchise history.
The shutout was the first in the series since a 13-0 victory for Dallas on November 21, 1971. The Redskins were last shut out at home on December 11, 1993 - a 3-0 loss to the New York Jets.
"We got embarrassed," said Redskins cornerback Fred Smoot. "We stunk it up out there. I apologize to all the Redskins fans - every one of them."
Making his third straight start, Tim Hasselbeck completed just 6-of-26 passes for 56 yards with four interceptions.
Spurrier came into the NFL with the reputation of being an "offensive genius" in college, yet the Redskins (5-9) entered ranked 22nd in offense and this was their worst performance yet.
"They kicked our tails pretty good," said Spurrier, who coached a team that went scoreless in a regular season game for the first time since he was with Duke in 1987.
It is not what Snyder, the Redskins owner, envisioned when he lured Spurrier to the NFL with a five-year, $25 million contract. This loss assures Spurrier of his second straight losing season.
Meanwhile, Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, a two-time Super Bowl winner, has instantly transformed a team which went 5-11 each of the last three years. His first draft pick was Newman, who set up 10 points with two of his three interceptions. Nickel back Pete Hunter also starred on defense with two fumble recoveries and an interception.
The Cowboys scored a touchdown on thir first drive for the first time this season. Hambrick broke off runs of 12 and 15 yards before Quincy Carter connected with fullback Richie Anderson on a 21-yard scoring play 5:34 into the game.
Carter, who was just 10-of-24 for 108 yards, scored on a three-yard run in the second quarter.
Billy Cundiff kicked a pair of field goals and Hambrick raced 42 yards on his final carry before rookie Erik Bickerstaff scored on a two-yard run with 4:05 left in the fourth quarter.
