IRVING, Texas - When quarterback Tony Romo, cornerback Terence Newman, left guard Kyle Kosier and rookie running back Felix Jones all went down with injuries last month, this Redskins game became much more than just a rivalry game. With three of the four players expected to return this Sunday in front of a national television audience on Sunday Night Football, and Jones a possibility, the Cowboys will finally have a healthy team when they head to Landover, Md., to play the Washington Redskins at 7:15 p.m. (CST) at FedExField.
What's Up?
After a 23-6 beat-down at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football the previous week, the Redskins may have lost more than just a game in the NFC standings. One-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Santana Moss injured a hamstring and didn't practice Monday. Meanwhile, the NFL's second-leading rusher, Clinton Portis, suffered a knee sprain and a bone bruise on his femur. While Portis' chances of playing Sunday have already been called "50-50" by head coach Jim Zorn, Moss' status clearly is still up in the air.
Unlike the Redskins, the Cowboys used last weekend's bye to actually get healthy. With Romo, Newman and Kosier all expected to play Sunday, the Cowboys should be the healthiest they have been since playing the Redskins the first time around in Week 4. Rookie tailback Felix Jones' hamstring issues still prevented him from practicing on Monday, and a final decision likely won't be made until later in the week. The Cowboys will need all hands on deck for this Sunday Night Football matchup because a Cowboys' win vaults the team from tied for third in the NFC East standings to tied for second with at least the Redskins, and quite possibly the Eagles, too.
Statistical View
Part of the reason the Redskins defense is only allowing 18.7 points per game this season is keeping opposing offenses off the field. The Redskins own a 32:09 to 27:51 time of possession advantage over their nine opponents.
While the Redskins have given the ball away only eight times this season - the second fewest in the NFL - they have committed seven turnovers in the past four games. Quarterback Jason Campbell's two interceptions against the Steelers two weeks ago marked the first time the Redskins had thrown an interception in 12 games, dating back to last season.
Defensive end Jason Taylor might play Sunday after sitting out three games because of the calf injury he suffered against Arizona in Week 2. The six-time Pro Bowler has one career sack in three games against the Cowboys, but Dallas has given up seven sacks in the past three games to pass rushers of Taylor's mold (Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, Gaines Adams and Leonard Little).
If cornerback DeAngelo Hall wants to make a good first impression on his new teammates, he better stay away from Terrell Owens this Sunday. In two career games against the Redskins' newest cornerback, Owens has torched Hall for 181 yards and two touchdowns on 12 catches. The last time these two Pro Bowlers met in December of 2006, Owens hauled in a 51-yard touchdown from Tony Romo in a game in which Owens allegedly spat on Hall.
Chalk Talk
No one ever roots for a player to miss a game, but one would have to think the Cowboys are hoping Portis doesn't play this Sunday. Portis, who is second in the NFL with 995 rushing yards, has been a pain to the Cowboys, compiling 635 yards and three touchdowns on 154 carries in the eight games he's faced them and owns 100-yard rushing performances in the past two games against them. Portis' backup, Ladell Betts is also a question mark with knee issues of his own, meaning Shaun Alexander would carry the load if Portis couldn't go Sunday. In four career games against the Cowboys, Alexander has rushed for 57.3 yards per game and 3.2 yards per carry. With the Cowboys giving up 107.1 rushing yards per game - good for 18th in the NFL - Portis' absence would help the Cowboys tremendously.
With names like Shawn Springs, Carlos Rogers, DeAngelo Hall, Fred Smoot and LaRon Landry lurking in the Redskins secondary, the Cowboys will need to rely heavily on Pro Bowl running back Marion Barber. The problem with that is in six career games against the Redskins, Barber has just 177 yards and one touchdown on 54 carries. With Kosier expected to be back at left guard, though, the Cowboys are certainly hoping Barber will find a bit more room to run on Sunday.
Connections
Redskins defensive end Demetric Evans, who filled in for an injured Jason Taylor in the earlier meeting this season, played with the Cowboys for two seasons (2001-02) . . . In just two seasons with the Redskins (1999-00), Cowboys backup quarterback Brad Johnson recorded 6,510 yards passing and 35 touchdowns . . . Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham made 67 percent of his kicks with the Cowboys in 2005-06. . . Washington guard Jason Fabini was active in 15 games for the Cowboys in 2006 . . . Redskins head coach Jim Zorn was actually cut by the Cowboys in the 1975 preseason.
Miscellaneous
Terrell Owens' fumble against the New York Giants two weeks ago marked the first time the Pro Bowler has lost a fumble since 2004. In his 12-year career, Owens has only lost seven fumbles . . . The Cowboys minus-6 turnover differential ranks 27th in the NFL . . . Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas share a deeper connection than their playing days with the Miami Dolphins; the two are actually brothers-in-law, Taylor married to Zach's sister . . . With a combined record of 24-12 - 18-6 outside of division play - the NFC East has the highest winning percentage of any of the NFL's eight divisions . . . The Redskins last swept the Cowboys in 2005, and that's been the only time since 1995.
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