Kicking it around

Monday night's game between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins made history. It may not have been the most exhilarating type of football but it was still one for the record books. Both teams combined for an NFL record-tying nine field goals during the Cowboys' 18-16 win at Cowboys Stadium.

Rookie Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey booted six field goals, including the go-ahead 40-yarder with 1:52 left in the game, while the Redskins Graham Gano connected on three field goal attempts. A new NFL record would have been established had Gano's 36-yard attempt not been blocked in the second quarter.

A total of nine field goals in one game has been accomplished on three other occasions in NFL history. The first time was on Sept. 29, 1996 when San Diego Chargers kicker John Carney (5) and the Kansas City Chiefs Pete Stoyanovich (4) battled in a show of kicking strength. The total would have been 10 but Stoyanovich's fifth attempt was blocked with 28 seconds remaining in the game. The failed kick preserved a 22-19 win for San Diego.

The next nine field goal game came on Oct. 17, 1999 when Miami Dolphins kicker Olindo Mare set a club record with six field goals and Adam Vinatieri chipped in three field goals for the New England Patriots. The Dolphins escaped Foxboro Stadium with a 31-30 victory.

Before last night, the most recent time two teams combined for nine three-pointers was on Oct. 7, 2007 at Reliant Stadium. The Houston Texans' Kris Brown helped lift his team to a 22-19 win over the Dolphins thanks in part to his five field goals. A.J. Feely contributed four three-pointers to bring the total to the record-tying sum.