NFL Odds Week 3: Ailing Cowboys Won't Be Able to Cover Spread vs. Redskins

The Dallas Cowboys are hurting, there is no other way to put it. That does not bode well for them heading into Monday night's game against the Washington Redskins, who have played surprisingly well through the first two weeks of the season.

Sports betting website Bodog.com has Dallas listed as a seven-point favorite heading into the game. That number is way too high considering all the questions that the Cowboys have coming into the game, and how the Redskins have played through two weeks.

Quarterback Tony Romo is battling a fractured rib and punctured lung, but has said he is going to give it a go in this game. 

But he will be without the services of Miles Austin, the team's best wide receiver, who will miss at least one week with a hamstring injury. Running back Felix Jones and wide receiver Dez Bryant are listed as questionable, but both players are expected to play.

Given that Bryant is dealing with a leg injury, he will not have the same speed and quickness off the line that he normally does. The Redskins won't have to focus their coverage on him, and instead can put more bodies on Jason Witten.

Jones has been a disappointment in the first two games with only 69 yards on 26 carries with one touchdown. If he struggles early in this game, expect DeMarco Murray to see an increase in the number of touches he gets.

In addition to all those questions that the Cowboys have to answer, Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman has been playing well this season. He had a couple of hiccups last week against Arizona, but played well enough to overcome those mistakes.

The Cowboys secondary has been a problem for this team through two games. Opposing quarterbacks have completed 42-of-68 passes for 447 yards and four touchdown passes thus far.

The defense has given up 51 points and has been unable to get a stop when it has to.

The Cowboys are good enough to keep this game close throughout, but they are not going to win by more than seven points. In fact, considering all the injuries that they are dealing with, it is surprising that the Redskins are not favored.