Redskins at Cowboys matchup on NBC has it all
By John Madden
Each week, NBC Sunday Night Football analyst John Madden breaks down the best NFL matchups.
Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys (Coverage begins at 7 ET on NBC)
This game has everything and it starts with one of the things that I have always liked about the NFL and that is traditional rivalries. When we can keep them, I think the league is better.
And when you talk about traditional rivalries I think the number one game has to be the Redskins and Cowboys. On top of that rivalry you have two of the all-time great coach's in the NFL with Joe Gibbs and Bill Parcells.
I think there is going to be a little feeling that we better start getting going here because both teams started out with a loss. I'm not saying that you have to press or panic, and it is just the second game of the season, but after this game on Sunday night one of these two teams are going to be 0 and 2.
This division is so tough and all four teams are thinking about the playoffs… maybe more, and I think that is part of what is going to make it very difficult to go real deep in the playoffs.
Since they are playing each other twice during the regular season they are really going to beat each other up and it is going to be difficult. The team that does win the division is going to kind of limp into the playoffs.
Cowboys Offense
When you look at the Dallas Cowboys offensively, you start with the quarterback and I just feel that a guy like Drew Bledsoe is going to bounce back from a performance like last week. I watched the beginning of the Cowboys against the Jacksonville Jaguars before we got to the Stadium last Sunday night and the Cowboys are winning 10-0. I think Bledsoe is looking sharp, the defense is looking good and then everything fell apart on them.
Even in the loss, Bledsoe did have some good things early and he did throw a touchdown pass that was called back due to penalty and then he forced a few things. But he is smart enough to eliminate the things that he did poorly and keep doing the things that he did well, and I think that he did more things well last week than he is given credit for.
Redskins Offense
They need to make more plays in the passing game. If you look at the offense as a whole they have a good offensive line, good receivers and a very good running game when Clinton Portis is healthy, but he's out this week. Which will put even more emphasis on the passing game. And a definite question is the quarterback. Is Mark Brunell capable of making those plays throughout the game?
For the Dallas defense I would look for them to have a good game on Sunday night. They have really adjusted to that three-man line now and the front seven is strong and tough to move against.
They get a quick pass rush and it boils down to whether they cover and that won't come up unless they get pass blocked. That means the question is whether the Redskins block the Cowboys defense well enough that the defensive backs of the Cowboys will come into play because if you have time you can do some damage against that defense.
That brings the question back to Brunell and his ability to stand back there and do things. To be honest, I just don't think he can.
Each week, NBC Sunday Night Football analyst John Madden breaks down the best NFL matchups.
Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys (Coverage begins at 7 ET on NBC)
This game has everything and it starts with one of the things that I have always liked about the NFL and that is traditional rivalries. When we can keep them, I think the league is better.
And when you talk about traditional rivalries I think the number one game has to be the Redskins and Cowboys. On top of that rivalry you have two of the all-time great coach's in the NFL with Joe Gibbs and Bill Parcells.
I think there is going to be a little feeling that we better start getting going here because both teams started out with a loss. I'm not saying that you have to press or panic, and it is just the second game of the season, but after this game on Sunday night one of these two teams are going to be 0 and 2.
This division is so tough and all four teams are thinking about the playoffs… maybe more, and I think that is part of what is going to make it very difficult to go real deep in the playoffs.
Since they are playing each other twice during the regular season they are really going to beat each other up and it is going to be difficult. The team that does win the division is going to kind of limp into the playoffs.
Cowboys Offense
When you look at the Dallas Cowboys offensively, you start with the quarterback and I just feel that a guy like Drew Bledsoe is going to bounce back from a performance like last week. I watched the beginning of the Cowboys against the Jacksonville Jaguars before we got to the Stadium last Sunday night and the Cowboys are winning 10-0. I think Bledsoe is looking sharp, the defense is looking good and then everything fell apart on them.
Even in the loss, Bledsoe did have some good things early and he did throw a touchdown pass that was called back due to penalty and then he forced a few things. But he is smart enough to eliminate the things that he did poorly and keep doing the things that he did well, and I think that he did more things well last week than he is given credit for.
Redskins Offense
They need to make more plays in the passing game. If you look at the offense as a whole they have a good offensive line, good receivers and a very good running game when Clinton Portis is healthy, but he's out this week. Which will put even more emphasis on the passing game. And a definite question is the quarterback. Is Mark Brunell capable of making those plays throughout the game?
For the Dallas defense I would look for them to have a good game on Sunday night. They have really adjusted to that three-man line now and the front seven is strong and tough to move against.
They get a quick pass rush and it boils down to whether they cover and that won't come up unless they get pass blocked. That means the question is whether the Redskins block the Cowboys defense well enough that the defensive backs of the Cowboys will come into play because if you have time you can do some damage against that defense.
That brings the question back to Brunell and his ability to stand back there and do things. To be honest, I just don't think he can.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:33 AM
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