Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys: Complete Week 8 Preview for Washington
Now that their four-game losing streak is behind them, the Washington Redskins' focus will now turn to ending their yearlong drought on the road in their Monday night matchup with the rival Dallas Cowboys.
After posting a 19-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans, all signs point to Washington turning to its third different starting quarterback in its bid to end a nine-game road losing streak.
Riding an upset victory over the defending Super Bowl champs, the Cowboys averted a letdown and defeated the New York Giants 31-21 in Week 7.
Sporting a 2-2 record against Dallas the past two seasons, can the Skins pull the upset?
Let's find out. Here is the complete Week 8 preview for Washington.
Week 7 Recap
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The writing was on the wall for yet another Redskins loss. Kirk Cousins was turning the ball over, and the running game was nonexistent.
Sparked by backup Colt McCoy, though, Washington ended its four-game losing streak with a 19-17 win over the Tennessee Titans. Behind their third-string quarterback, the Redskins gained 351 total yards to Tennessee's 236.
Trailing 10-6 at the half, McCoy promptly connected with Pierre Garcon for a 70-yard touchdown on his first throw of the game. For the game, McCoy completed 11 of 12 passes for 128 yards and that touchdown.
After allowing an average north of 30 points per game in the last four outings, Washington's defense put the clamps on the Titans offense. Averaging just 4.8 yards per play, Tennessee only reached its point total because of two turnovers from Cousins.
Speaking of which, ranking last in the NFL in takeaways entering the contest, the Skins defense matched its season total with two forced turnovers.
Washington's (2-5) upcoming schedule presents the team with an opportunity to climb back to respectability. Sandwiched around its bye week are matchups with the hapless Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings.
First things first, though. Next up is Dallas.
News and Notes
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Brian Orakpo's Final Chapter?
Brian Orakpo was designated as the team's franchise player in the offseason, and lofty expectations accompanied the $11.45 million salary he was set to make in 2014. With just a half-sack in seven games, he's done little to justify his contract.
Worsening matters, he failed to prove that his injury-prone label was a misnomer. Orakpo was first hampered by injuries to his ankle and finger. Capping things off, he suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in Week 7.
But after selecting Trent Murphy with its first pick in the 2014 NFL draft, Washington has a contingency plan in place. Although his impact has been limited, the cost certainty Murphy provides makes him a better fit than Orakpo, especially with Ryan Kerrigan due an extension in the near future.
While the possibility of Orakpo returning on an incentive-laden contract is feasible, in all likelihood, he's played his last down in Washington.
Seller's Remorse?
The Redskins have to be kicking themselves for not trading Cousins in the offseason, don't they? According to CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora, they were offered a fourth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns around the NFL draft for the quarterback, and Washington has watched his trade stock plummet ever since.
After throwing for five touchdowns and 677 yards his first two games of the year, Cousins has tossed five touchdowns and eight interceptions since.
A free agent after the 2015 season, Cousins' stay in D.C. is already indefinite. So why not shop him again?
It may be a pipe dream to expect opposing teams to duplicate Cleveland's offer, but if Ryan Mallet's trade from earlier in the season tells us anything, it's that Cousins still has some value on the trade market.
Changes to the Offensive Line
Long a weak spot of the team, Washington's offensive line finally was shuffled against Tennessee. Both Tyler Polumbus and Tom Compton rotated in at right tackle in the second half.
While Jay Gruden reiterated to ESPN 980 after the game that Polumbus was hampered by a knee injury, the head coach has nonetheless opened up the starting job:
"Gruden says Tom Compton could start at RT this week. Tyler Polumbus...struggled on Sunday. Will compete in practice.
— Brian McNally (@bmcnally14) October 20, 2014"
With the likes of Shawn Lauvao and Chris Chester also struggling, the starting debuts of Josh LeRibeus and Spencer Long very well could be on the horizon if the troubles up front continue.
Injury Report
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| Player | Position | Injury Status |
| Alfred Morris | RB | Questionable |
| Robert Griffin III | QB | Questionable |
| Tracy Porter | CB | Questionable |
| Brian Orakpo | LB | Out |
| Perry Riley | LB | Questionable |
*All injury statuses from ESPN.com.
While it seems implausible at this juncture that he'd play, the Cowboys are a favorable matchup for Robert Griffin III to make his return. Since his health is always an issue, Dallas having just seven sacks on the year has to be quite comforting. Furthermore, the Cowboys have allowed opposing passers to complete more than 64 percent of their throws.
Shifting to defense, the status of Perry Riley looms large. Although Will Compton has played well in his absence, the Skins will need all hands on deck in the front seven if they're to stymie Dallas' running game.
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X-Factor and Matchups to Watch
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Washington's Front Seven vs. RB DeMarco Murray
The league's leading rusher, DeMarco Murray has reinvigorated a downtrodden Dallas franchise. The owner of seven consecutive 100-yard rushing games, Murray has carried the team to a 6-1 record.
A unit that hasn't allowed a 100-yard rusher since the season opener—at running back, anyways—Washington is equipped to neutralize Murray. While the lines they've run behind pale in comparison to the Cowboys', top-tier backs LeSean McCoy and Marshawn Lynch were held in check by the Redskins defense. Carrying the ball 36 times between them, this duo combined to rush for just 94 yards.
For the year, the 'Skins are surrendering just 3.8 yards per carry. With Murray averaging 4.9 yards per rush, something has to give. While his porous secondary may give him hesitation in doing so, defensive coordinator Jim Haslett will have to commit extra defenders and utilize blitzes to stop the run. This may isolate his defensive backs into unfavorable one-on-one matchups with Dallas' receivers, but with the ball in Tony Romo's hands, the possibility for self-destruction is always present.
LB Keenan Robinson vs. TE Jason Witten
Fresh off winning the NFC's Defensive Player of the Week, Keenan Robinson will have the task of neutralizing one of the NFL's top tight ends, Jason Witten.
In his first season as a starter, Robinson has already emerged as Washington's top cover linebacker. Facing the likes of Darren Sproles, Andre Ellington and Delanie Walker, he's demonstrated why that is.
He's also had his warts, though. Robinson was one of the many Redskins players who were undressed by Larry Donnell back in Week 4.
While Witten is having a down season by his standards, he's long been Romo's safety blanket. If Robinson can take away Witten and force Romo to hold the ball longer, he would help increase the likelihood that Washington's pressure will get to the quarterback. Since Washington has a porous secondary, this is the lone method the team has to stop the Cowboys offense.
X-Factor of the Week: Alfred Morris
Don't let Alfred Morris' standing as the league's sixth-ranked rusher fool you. As his fantasy owners can surely attest to, Morris has been a disappointment in 2014. Owning a career average of 4.6 yards per carry, his average has dropped to 3.8 yards per rush this season.
Facing a Dallas defense that's allowing 4.9 yards per carry on the year, the Skins are looking for Morris to turn this statistic around, especially considering his history against this opponent.
In four career games, Morris has tallied 482 yards and six touchdowns against the Cowboys. With McCoy likely to be under center, Washington will only pull off the upset if he returns to form.
Prediction
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The win over the Titans may have brought about a positive change to the team's record, but the outlook for the Skins' 2014 season remains bleak.
Already decimated in the secondary, the team has also been hit by injuries at linebacker and along the defensive line. With or without RG3, this isn't a game Washington can win. But it is one that Dallas can lose.
There's little doubt as to who is the better team here. In a battle between a 6-1 team and a 2-5 group, it's Dallas all day. But this is a Cowboys team that features many of the same pieces from past seasons that crumbed under the weight of expectations.
Boasting the NFL's best record and under the spotlight in a nationally televised game, Dallas faces pressure once again.
Competitive in last year's matchup, if Washington is to challenge Dallas, it will need its running game to kick into gear, in addition to its defense forcing some turnovers.
It won't be enough, though. The familiarity the teams have with each other will keep the game relatively close, but expect the Redskins' winless streak on the road to reach 10 games.
Prediction: Cowboys 27, Redskins 16
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