Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys: Full Dallas Game Preview
When the NFL schedule was released this spring, it wasn’t far-fetched to think that the Cowboys’ Week 13 Monday Night Football game against the rival Washington Redskins would be a matchup between an NFC East leader and a bottom-dwelling team likely playing out the string in the last five games of its season.
It would surely surprise most preseason prognosticators that the Redskins are the first-place team, while the Cowboys are in the cellar of the division. Still, games between these two teams are almost always competitive, regardless of the win-loss records.
Here’s what to watch for on Monday night.
Location: FedExField, Prince George's County, Maryland
Time: 8:30 p.m. EST
TV: ESPN
Week 12 Results and Recap
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Tony Romo had his second poor Thanksgiving showing in two years. Against a defense at the level of the Carolina Panthers', he wasn’t good enough for the Cowboys to be competitive, as they fell, 33-14.
However, the final score wasn’t the worst news for Dallas fans, as on the final play of the third quarter, Romo was sacked by Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis and didn’t get up.
As the Cowboys quarterback lay on his back on the AT&T Stadium turf with yet another fractured collarbone injury, the 2015 season, with its dreams of taking the field in Santa Clara, California, in early February, went down the drain.
Even before Romo’s injury, the game had gotten away. Three first-half interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns, built a mountain that few teams would be capable of climbing, and the undefeated Panthers showed their prowess in victory.
NFC East Standings
1. Washington Redskins (5-6)
2. New York Giants (5-6)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (4-7)
4. Dallas Cowboy (3-8)
News and Notes
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Brandon Carr Nominated for Man of the Year
According to the Cowboys' official site, cornerback Brandon Carr is the team's 2015 nominee for the NFL’s annual Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Carr’s teammate Jason Witten was the recipient in 2012.
Carr will be placed in a pool of 32 nominees recognized by their team for on-field achievements and contributions to the community off the field.
Carr has started every game in his eight-year career after being selected in the fifth round from Grand Valley State. According to the Cowboys' site, his foundation Carr Cares works with youth to help them develop into “more responsible and motivated young adults.”
In addition to his foundation, Carr is a regular participant in community events coordinated by the Cowboys, including their annual Thanksgiving meal service and holiday hospital visits.
No IR for Romo?
Since the Cowboys are still not mathematically eliminated from contention for the NFC East title, they have placed Tony Romo on season-ending injured reserve up to this point. According to Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan (h/t Scout.com's KD Drummond), the Cowboys are leaving the door open for a return from Romo, should the team make a playoff run.
The odds of winning five games in a row to finish 8-8 while every other NFC East team fails to get even nine wins are slim. But the coaching staff and front office are clearly doing everything they can to make sure that the team doesn’t get the impression that they’ve given up on the season.
Latest Injury News
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Because of the Monday game, the Cowboys' first practice of the week will be held Thursday, and the first injury report of the week will become available following practice. However, there are a couple of ongoing injury situations worth monitoring as the week goes on.
Morris Claiborne
Claiborne suffered a hamstring injury in the Cowboys' 10-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10 and missed the last two games against Miami and Carolina. According to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News, Claiborne expects to play on Monday night and “can’t wait” to get back out there.
Bryant has appeared on the Cowboys injury report every day of the regular season, whether due to the hamstring injury suffered in training camp, the Jones fracture suffered in Week 1 or the knee injury in Week 9.
Head coach Jason Garrett has acknowledged (per Moore) that Dez is “not quite himself” and that missing so much practice time has hurt the All-Pro receiver’s production in games.
The hope for the Cowboys should be that the 11 days between Thanksgiving and Monday night’s game will provide the opportunity for Dez to feel better, get more practice work and be more impactful on game day.
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X-Factors and Matchups to Watch
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Matchup To Watch: Cowboys Secondary vs. Redskins Pass-Catchers
With Claiborne expected to return to his cornerback position, the Cowboys will have their full stable of available defensive backs ready for Monday night. Concurrently, Washington has only had its full complement of receiving weapons for a few weeks after Desean Jackson missed several games due to injury.
With Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Jamison Crowder and Jordan Reed, Washington produces a multitude of matchup problems for opponents. Between Jackson's deep speed, Crowder and Reed working underneath and Garcon in the intermediate areas, quarterback Kirk Cousins can attack all areas of the field and put defenses in precarious situations.
The Cowboys secondary has done a better job in recent weeks of being physical with receivers and getting their hands on the ball to force incompletions. The Cowboys will need more of the same, along with perhaps their first interception from a cornerback on the year, to keep this Washington passing game under wraps.
X-Factor of the Week: Rolando McClain
Rolando McClain has played his two best games of 2015 in the last two weeks. He has been making plays behind the line of scrimmage, getting his hands on balls in the passing game and playing from sideline to sideline. For the Cowboys to have a chance to win this game, they will need McClain to continue his high level of play, allowing him to contain the Washington running backs.
Alfred Morris, Matt Jones and Chris Thompson present a challenge in both the run game and the passing game, and McClain will need to be on top of those guys all over the field to shut down those vital components of the Washington offense.
Prediction
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The Cowboys defense has been on the verge of producing dominant performances several times in the last few months, and this could be the game in which they push over the hill.
They’ll hold Washington to 10 points and find a way to generate a turnover that scores points, which will be the difference in the game.
Prediction: Cowboys 17, Redskins 10
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