GAME SET WHAT: Dallas Cowboys (6-3) vs. Washington Redskins (3-6)
WHEN: Sunday, Noon (CT)
WHERE: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
TELEVISION: FOX (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver)
BIG ISSUE: The Cowboys caught a break last Sunday in terms of the division race. Even though they fell to the Packers in Green Bay 17-7, the Cowboys retained their one-game lead in the division with the New York Giants on their bye week and the Philadelphia Eagles losing on the road to the Chargers. The only NFC East team that won last week, actually, was the 3-6 Redskins, whom the Cowboys will welcome not-so-warmly into their new digs at Cowboys Stadium this Sunday. Two weeks ago, this game would have seemed like an easy win, but with Washington handing a loss to the Denver Broncos, the Redskins are now plausibly within shouting distance of getting back into the division race at only three games back and facing the division leader. The Cowboys already have the Giants and Eagles breathing down their necks, so they'll need to beat the Redskins to keep it a three-team competition.
The Redskins need this game to avoid labeling 2009 as a lost season. While the Washington defense has been successful, ranking first in pass defense and fifth overall, the offense has been nothing short of anemic, managing only 308 yards of total offense a game. As the Packers proved last week, though, a fiery offensive outburst isn't necessarily needed to topple the Cowboys as long as the Dallas offense is kept out of sync. If the Redskins want to win, they'll need a dominant performance from their defense. Anything the offense does will just be a bonus.
NUMBERS, PLEASE: The Cowboys better hope they've worked out all of their third down kinks because the Redskins are almost as stingy as the Packers are in that respect, allowing opponents to convert on third down only 37 percent of the time. And don't think that fourth-and-short is a good call if the third down woes continue. Washington is second in the league in fourth down defense, giving up first downs only 12 percent of the time.
Cowboys linebacker Bradie James commented earlier in the week that Dallas always gets the best out of Redskins receiver Santana Moss, and the numbers support his claim. Moss, in his ninth year, has a career average of about four catches, 59 yards and 1/3 of a touchdown a game. But against the Cowboys, the numbers are better - almost six catches, 97 yards and half a touchdown per game. The ailing Cowboys secondary better be ready for an uptick in performance.
ONE-ON-ONE: The last time Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and Cowboys center Andre Gurode met during the regular season, Gurode ended up with 30 stitches in his face after Haynesworth, then a Tennessee Titan, intentionally stomped on his unprotected face. The two players have since made amends, but it would do the Cowboys well if Gurode could channel that altercation if he faces Haynesworth, who is listed as "questionable" with an ankle injury. Haynesworth, who signed a gargantuan deal with the Redskins almost the instant the off-season began, usually demands a double team, so expect Gurode to get some help from left guard Kyle Kosier every now and then.
The Redskins have had some continuity issues on the offensive line this season, yet still manage to field a pair of very experienced tackles. One, right tackle Mike Williams, is in danger of missing the game with an ankle injury, but the other, left tackle Levi Jones, will start Sunday. Jones has only been active for two games this season, and has only started one, but has plenty of experience, having started 89 games with the Cincinnati Bengals before being acquired via trade in Week 7. Jones will draw dreaded DeMarcus Ware duty on Sunday, and while he's a well-traveled tackle, he is a little rusty, having not played since Oct. 28, 2008.
SUPPORTING ROLE: There are two Cowboys who will have much bigger roles this week: safety Alan Ball and tackle Doug Free. Ball will step in at free safety in place of the injured Ken Hamlin (high ankle sprain, 2-4 weeks). In his third year, and first at the position, Ball will make all of the defensive calls in the secondary, although he'll be helped by strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh. Also, if the Cowboys need help at corner, Ball can switch there, with Mike Hamlin or Pat Watkins filling in at safety. Free will start at right tackle after Marc Colombo suffered a high ankle sprain and fractured fibula and tibia. Free played solid football against the Packers last week, and should be more prepared with a full week of starting practice reps. He'd still be the swing tackle, in a sense, since if left tackle Flozell Adams went down, Free would switch sides with Pat McQuistan filling in at right tackle.
For the second time in three weeks, the Cowboys will face a division team that is missing its starting running back due to concussion. This time, that running back is Clinton Portis, who will miss his second consecutive game. Backup Ladell Betts has already proven more than capable, though, racking up 184 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the last two games. The Cowboys haven't been gashed by the run since the season opener at Tampa Bay, but they'll have to be on their toes against the eighth-year back running behind an offensive line that's shown more urgency and aggressiveness in the past two weeks.
HEADSET GAMES: The Cowboys do need to get the run game going to avoid an offensive blackout like last week. As quarterback Tony Romo explained, the Cowboys faced more third-and-long situations because they were unable to get enough yardage on first and second down. If the Cowboys can show more commitment to a run attack that led the league in rushing for the first three weeks of the season - and that averaged 4.4 yards a carry against the Packers last Sunday - they can improve their yards-to-go on third down, or even avoid third downs altogether. Plus, why rely on the pass against the league's best pass defense?
The Redskins are also having trouble with one phase of their offense - the passing game. The difference is, they're not going to keep throwing the ball for the sake of getting it back on track because that leads to interceptions, and quarterback Jason Campbell already has eight of those. Instead, they'll ride the newly prolific run game until the Cowboys prove they can stop it. Only if they have a large deficit to make up will the passing game take priority, and it will be up to the Washington defense to prevent that.
HEALTH WATCH:
Cowboys
The Cowboys' injury report got a little longer in the "out" column this week, with starting right tackle Marc Colombo (ankle and leg) and starting free safety Ken Hamlin (high ankle sprain) joining return specialist Allen Rossum (hamstring) there this week. Colombo will miss at least several weeks, but he could return in time for the playoffs. Hamlin is slated to miss two to four weeks. Starting outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (foot), starting running back Marion Barber (thumb), starting cornerback Mike Jenkins (elbow), starting strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh (thumb) and kickoff specialist David Buehler (right pinky toe) are all listed as "probable." Buehler practiced on a limited basis Thursday but had full participation Friday.
Redskins
The Redskins will definitely be without the services of two normal starters - tight end Chris Cooley (ankle) and running back Clinton Portis (concussion). Starting tackle Mike Williams (ankle), backup tackle Stephon Heyer (knee) and Haynesworth (ankle) are listed as "questionable." Haynesworth did not practice all week. Current starting running back Ladell Betts (ankle) is listed as "probable."
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