It’s an NFC East classic featured on America’s Game of the Week. The Dallas Cowboys (3-3) travel to FedEx Field to face off against the Washington Redskins (3-3) in a battle to stay in the division race.
This will be our national late afternoon game on FOX at 4:25 p.m. EST. I’ll be live blogging it here at GetMoreSports.com so point your computer or mobile device this way and hang out with me. It should be a good one.
The Game: Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins (+1.5)
O/U: 47.0
The History
The Cowboys and Redskins have played 114 games since 1960 with Dallas holding a 68-44-2 advantage in the all time series. They’ve faced off twice in the playoffs in 1972 and 1983. Washington won both games.
Last year the Cowboys swept Washington, winning 27-23 at FedEx Field on September 18, 2016 and 31-26 at AT&T Stadium on November 24, 2016.
Dallas has won four of the last five match ups between the two teams and seven of the last nine. The Redskins haven’t won back to back games against the Cowboys since 2012. Washington won 38-31 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington on November 22, 2012 and 28-18 at FedEx Field on December 30, 2012.
DALLAS COWBOYS (3-3)
As explosive as the Cowboys offense is, they’ll be without one of their best weapons Sunday when Dan Bailey misses the game with a groin injury. He could be out the whole month, so the job now belongs to Mike Nugent. That’s a lot to hang on a guy that was on his couch a week ago.
Dak Prescott carved up the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday to the tune of 16 of 25 for 234 yards and three touchdowns. Dallas was so dominant that both Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott got to sit out in the fourth quarter. Cooper Rush took the field and was 1-of-2 for two yards. Exciting times.
Elliott carried the ball 26 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns. He added one catch for 72 yards and a touchdown. Both Zeke and Dak lit it up to where if you played them in fantasy football of any kind, you won big. Dez Bryant got in on the act too, catching seven passes for 63 yards and a score. Jason Witten had four catches for 54 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, Dallas racked up five sacks and 13 stops in the backfield. They did give up 6-of-13 on third downs to the 49ers and that consistent bad performance on the money down is one Washington can better exploit.
In addition to Bailey, rookie cornerback Chidobe Auzie will likely be out as well as he nurses a hamstring. Everybody else should play.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS (3-3)
First up, here’s the good news. Josh Norman has practiced all week and should be able to renew his suddenly profitable rivalry with Dez Bryant. Mason Foster, Spencer Long and Ty Nsekhe aren’t so blessed and are listed as out.
Washington’s losses this season have been to the Philadelphia Eagles twice and the Kansas City Chiefs. Along the way they’ve beaten the shit out of the Oakland Raiders and held on against the Los Angeles Rams. This is a good team with a front loaded schedule in a division that is just too good for them to compete in. If the Redskins were in the NFC South, they’d be 5-2 right now.
It’s not going to get any easier. After the Cowboys, Washington has the Seattle Seahawks, the Minnesota Vikings and the New Orleans Saints before they finally get a break hosting the New York Giants.
If Kirk Cousins is playing his last season in Washington, he’s making it count on the stat sheet. He’s completed 68.2 percent of his passes for 1,637 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions.
The Pick
It’s time for the Cowboys to make their run to the postseason and Washington is just in the way. The Redskins are better than I thought they’d be this year, but their schedule just works against them. Cowboys 35, Redskins 27
This week
Straight up: 0-1
Against the spread: 0-1
Last week
Straight up: 12-3
Against the spread: 7-8
Season
Straight up: 60-46
Against the spread: 50-56
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