OPINION:
As Washington Football quarterback Taylor Heinicke prepares to start his first Washington-Dallas game, I found myself pondering who has been the rivalry’s all-time greatest player.
Redskins fans could argue Bobby Mitchell, Charley Taylor, Chris Hanburger, John Riggins or Dexter Manley, while Cowboys fans might say Don Meredith, Drew Pearson, Larry Cole or Emmitt Smith. But one player in this rivalry always made the biggest plays: Washington safety Ken Houston.
In 1973 Houston made his legendary stop of Walt Garrison on the one-yard line to preserve a 14-7 victory in a Monday Night classic. In 1974 he returned a Dallas punt 58 yards for a touchdown in a 28-21 victory. In 1975 he intercepted a Roger Staubach pass in overtime; 10 plays later, Billy Kilmer scored to give Washington a 30-24 win.
In 1978, in another Monday Night classic, Houston’s fourth-quarter interception of Staubach in the end zone preserved a 9-5 win.
Finally, in Week 12 of 1979, Houston made three huge plays to vault Washington into a tie for the division lead. First, just before the half, with the Redskins leading 14-3 but Dallas at Washington’s three-yard line, Houston blitzed and sacked Staubach, causing a fumble that the Redskins’ Coy Bacon recovered. Later, on back-to-back plays in the fourth quarter, with Washington leading 24-13, Houston made a one-handed tackle of Tony Hill to prevent a touchdown, then tipped a Staubach pass that Brad Dusek intercepted. On the ensuing drive, Joe Theismann hit Ricky Thompson with a game-clinching touchdown pass. The Redskins won 34-20.
In 1980 my dad took me to Washington’s final home game, where Houston was honored before his penultimate game. Inspired, Washington rallied to beat the Giants, 16-13.
STEPHEN SILVER
San Francisco
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