LANDOVER, Md. — After the game’s 10th drive finally resulted in the evening’s first points, Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant stalked around the sideline, cursing and yelling and, oddly, even removing his shoes.

He was upset that the football wasn’t being thrown his way.

On the game’s final scoring drive, Matt Cassel’s only two completions both went to Bryant, helping set up Dan Bailey’s 54-yard field goal with 9 seconds left Monday night that gave Dallas a 19-16 victory over the Washington Redskins and allowed the Cowboys to somehow keep themselves in the thick of the playoff chase in the woeful NFC East.

“I was frustrated,” Bryant said of his first-half tantrum. “But then I had to calm down and understand that this is the game. Everybody wants to make plays and be there for their team.”

At halftime of a game that was dull until the last 90 seconds, Bryant had zero catches and had been targeted twice. He finished with three receptions for 62 yards, including a diving 42-yard grab that led to — what else? — a field goal.

“I have to do a better job of giving him more opportunities,” said Cassel, who is now 1-4 as a starter.

The last-place Cowboys (4-8) won for the first time this season without Romo and now are only one game behind the Redskins, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles, who are all 5-7.