Cowboys Trying To Beat 'Skins, Rest Key Starters
Zach Buchanan - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
December 28, 2007 5:42 PM
WHAT: Dallas Cowboys (13-2) at Washington Redskins (8-7)
WHEN: Sunday, 3:15 pm (CST)
WHERE: FedEx Field, Landover, Md.
TELEVISION: Fox (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Pam Oliver)
BIG ISSUE: Contrary to popular belief, winning this game does mean something to the Cowboys. First of all, with a win over the Redskins on Sunday the Cowboys will achieve the best record in club history at 14-2. But, perhaps more importantly, the Cowboys can possibly eliminate the Redskins from the playoffs. If they had the option of which wild-card team they could potentially face in the playoffs, the Cowboys wouldn't want to face a division opponent, much less one that stayed within five points of the Cowboys' prolific offense the first time they met.
The Redskins have the inside track to the final wild-card spot in the NFC. Just win, and they're in. But if they lose, all still is not lost, because if both the Saints and Vikings also lose Sunday, the Redskins are still in, holding the head-to-head tie-breaker against over Minnesota. And while beating the Cowboys may look daunting on paper, if the Cowboys rest any or many of their starters, that task becomes a lot easier.
NUMBERS, PLEASE: If the Cowboys adequately balance resting starters and also winning the game, they better hope the starting offense plays the first quarter, perhaps the only one it will play, like it's the fourth. The Cowboys have only scored 14 percent of their points in the first quarter, barely more than four points per first quarter, as opposed to scoring 29.6 percent of their points in the final frame, more than eight per fourth quarter.
Since attending the early December funeral of safety Sean Taylor following his tragic shooting death, the Redskins have been on a tear, no doubt with the memory of their teammate on their minds and hearts. Washington has put together their longest win streak of the season at three, hoping to extend it to four Sunday. If the Cowboys really do care about winning this game, they better beware of a team that not only has some-thing, such as a playoff berth, to play for, but also some-one.
ONE-ON-ONE: Redskins running back Clinton Portis, despite not making the Pro Bowl this season, is still one of the most dangerous backs in the game. With starting nose tackle Jay Ratliff out nursing a sprained MCL, the Cowboys will turn to Tank Johnson to plug up the middle. Johnson, who started 10 games with the Chicago Bears last year and recorded 26 tackle, is an able backup, and probably would start for any other NFL team. With the Cowboys' depth at defensive end well-recorded in the stat book, Dallas should be able to contain Portis from running outside. Inside, though, Johnson will have to do his best to stop him at the line of scrimmage.
The Redskins aren't known as a sack-happy team, but starting defensive end Andre Carter has flown under the radar with 10½ sacks so far this season. To protect Cowboys starting quarterback Tony Romo while he's in the game, the Cowboys will likely play starter and Pro Bowler Flozell Adams at left tackle. Adams is a tough obstacle to get around, and is a big reason Romo has only been sacked 23 times. If Adams is pulled to rest him for the playoffs, rookie Doug Free, who has yet to play an NFL snap, likely will take his place if active. If not, it will be Pat McQuistan.
SUPPORTING ROLE: Finally, Cowboys wide receiver Terry Glenn looks poised to make his regular-season debut. After missing all 15 regular-season games, the entire preseason, and most of training camp while recovering from two knee surgeries, Glenn took the practice field officially Wednesday, and barring bad field conditions, will get some snaps on Sunday. When Glenn is healthy, his speed makes him extremely difficult to cover, but don't expect the Cowboys to use him a lot in order to prevent him from re-injuring his knee. But while he's in, he should command attention, freeing up other receivers - something the Cowboys had difficulty doing when starting wide receiver Terrell Owens went out last week with a high ankle sprain.
The Redskins are perfect with backup quarterback Todd Collins under center. Collins vaulted into the lineup when starting quarterback Jason Campbell suffered a dislocated kneecap against the Bears, relieving him in that game and then starting his first two NFL games since 1997 the next two games. Collins, while not as mobile as Campbell, is more adept at reading defenses, and has thrown four touchdown passes in his last two games. Not only are Redskins fans singing his praises, but so is Phillips, who was the defensive coordinator in Buffalo he last started that game.
HEADSET GAMES: With Owens out, Glenn untested and Romo's thumb still a little swollen, the Cowboys may shy away from the pass. They'll throw enough to keep the Redskins' defense honest and to get Glenn involved, but expect a heavy workload for running backs Julius Jones, Marion Barber and possibly even third-stringer Tyson Thompson, who could be active for the first time since Week 7.
The Redskins will do what they always do: Run Portis and throw play-action passes to tight end Chris Cooley and wide receiver Santana Moss. The Cowboys know this, so Washington is likely to have a lot of pre-snap shifts to try to confuse the Cowboys' defenders, especially the backups who will play after some of the starters are pulled. That means the Redskins might go with two tight ends to disguise which way Portis is running and to free up Cooley to get out in the pass patterns. They also like to motion out Moss wide from the tight end spot or in the backfield.
HEALTH WATCH:
Redskins
Starting quarterback Jason Campbell (dislocated knee) is still out and did not practice this week. The only other injury question mark for the Redskins is backup tight end Todd Yoder (knee), who practiced fully on Friday and is listed as probable.
Cowboys
Five players are listed as out for the Cowboys: Starting nose tackle Jay Ratliff (knee), starting corner Terence Newman (knee), starting center Andre Gurode (knee), starting wide receiver Terrell Owens (ankle) and nickel safety Patrick Watkins (ankle). On the bright side, wide receiver Terry Glenn (knee), who is listed as probable, likely will make his season debut, although Phillips said he will be a "game-time decision," hinging mostly on the weather and field conditions.
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
December 28, 2007 5:42 PM
WHAT: Dallas Cowboys (13-2) at Washington Redskins (8-7)
WHEN: Sunday, 3:15 pm (CST)
WHERE: FedEx Field, Landover, Md.
TELEVISION: Fox (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Pam Oliver)
BIG ISSUE: Contrary to popular belief, winning this game does mean something to the Cowboys. First of all, with a win over the Redskins on Sunday the Cowboys will achieve the best record in club history at 14-2. But, perhaps more importantly, the Cowboys can possibly eliminate the Redskins from the playoffs. If they had the option of which wild-card team they could potentially face in the playoffs, the Cowboys wouldn't want to face a division opponent, much less one that stayed within five points of the Cowboys' prolific offense the first time they met.
The Redskins have the inside track to the final wild-card spot in the NFC. Just win, and they're in. But if they lose, all still is not lost, because if both the Saints and Vikings also lose Sunday, the Redskins are still in, holding the head-to-head tie-breaker against over Minnesota. And while beating the Cowboys may look daunting on paper, if the Cowboys rest any or many of their starters, that task becomes a lot easier.
NUMBERS, PLEASE: If the Cowboys adequately balance resting starters and also winning the game, they better hope the starting offense plays the first quarter, perhaps the only one it will play, like it's the fourth. The Cowboys have only scored 14 percent of their points in the first quarter, barely more than four points per first quarter, as opposed to scoring 29.6 percent of their points in the final frame, more than eight per fourth quarter.
Since attending the early December funeral of safety Sean Taylor following his tragic shooting death, the Redskins have been on a tear, no doubt with the memory of their teammate on their minds and hearts. Washington has put together their longest win streak of the season at three, hoping to extend it to four Sunday. If the Cowboys really do care about winning this game, they better beware of a team that not only has some-thing, such as a playoff berth, to play for, but also some-one.
ONE-ON-ONE: Redskins running back Clinton Portis, despite not making the Pro Bowl this season, is still one of the most dangerous backs in the game. With starting nose tackle Jay Ratliff out nursing a sprained MCL, the Cowboys will turn to Tank Johnson to plug up the middle. Johnson, who started 10 games with the Chicago Bears last year and recorded 26 tackle, is an able backup, and probably would start for any other NFL team. With the Cowboys' depth at defensive end well-recorded in the stat book, Dallas should be able to contain Portis from running outside. Inside, though, Johnson will have to do his best to stop him at the line of scrimmage.
The Redskins aren't known as a sack-happy team, but starting defensive end Andre Carter has flown under the radar with 10½ sacks so far this season. To protect Cowboys starting quarterback Tony Romo while he's in the game, the Cowboys will likely play starter and Pro Bowler Flozell Adams at left tackle. Adams is a tough obstacle to get around, and is a big reason Romo has only been sacked 23 times. If Adams is pulled to rest him for the playoffs, rookie Doug Free, who has yet to play an NFL snap, likely will take his place if active. If not, it will be Pat McQuistan.
SUPPORTING ROLE: Finally, Cowboys wide receiver Terry Glenn looks poised to make his regular-season debut. After missing all 15 regular-season games, the entire preseason, and most of training camp while recovering from two knee surgeries, Glenn took the practice field officially Wednesday, and barring bad field conditions, will get some snaps on Sunday. When Glenn is healthy, his speed makes him extremely difficult to cover, but don't expect the Cowboys to use him a lot in order to prevent him from re-injuring his knee. But while he's in, he should command attention, freeing up other receivers - something the Cowboys had difficulty doing when starting wide receiver Terrell Owens went out last week with a high ankle sprain.
The Redskins are perfect with backup quarterback Todd Collins under center. Collins vaulted into the lineup when starting quarterback Jason Campbell suffered a dislocated kneecap against the Bears, relieving him in that game and then starting his first two NFL games since 1997 the next two games. Collins, while not as mobile as Campbell, is more adept at reading defenses, and has thrown four touchdown passes in his last two games. Not only are Redskins fans singing his praises, but so is Phillips, who was the defensive coordinator in Buffalo he last started that game.
HEADSET GAMES: With Owens out, Glenn untested and Romo's thumb still a little swollen, the Cowboys may shy away from the pass. They'll throw enough to keep the Redskins' defense honest and to get Glenn involved, but expect a heavy workload for running backs Julius Jones, Marion Barber and possibly even third-stringer Tyson Thompson, who could be active for the first time since Week 7.
The Redskins will do what they always do: Run Portis and throw play-action passes to tight end Chris Cooley and wide receiver Santana Moss. The Cowboys know this, so Washington is likely to have a lot of pre-snap shifts to try to confuse the Cowboys' defenders, especially the backups who will play after some of the starters are pulled. That means the Redskins might go with two tight ends to disguise which way Portis is running and to free up Cooley to get out in the pass patterns. They also like to motion out Moss wide from the tight end spot or in the backfield.
HEALTH WATCH:
Redskins
Starting quarterback Jason Campbell (dislocated knee) is still out and did not practice this week. The only other injury question mark for the Redskins is backup tight end Todd Yoder (knee), who practiced fully on Friday and is listed as probable.
Cowboys
Five players are listed as out for the Cowboys: Starting nose tackle Jay Ratliff (knee), starting corner Terence Newman (knee), starting center Andre Gurode (knee), starting wide receiver Terrell Owens (ankle) and nickel safety Patrick Watkins (ankle). On the bright side, wide receiver Terry Glenn (knee), who is listed as probable, likely will make his season debut, although Phillips said he will be a "game-time decision," hinging mostly on the weather and field conditions.
posted by The Gryphon at 1:07 PM
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