Cowboys vs. Redskins: 5 things to watch
Tom Orsborn - Express-News
Here’s what Express-News Cowboys beat writer Tom Orsborn says you should keep an eye on during tonight’s game:
1. Cowboys playing for their playoff lives
The level of desperation is sky high for Dallas in this crucial NFC East game. Losing to the hated Redskins (6-3) won’t eliminate the Cowboys (5-4) from playoff contention or even from contending for a second-straight division title, but it would be safe to say the obstacles they would face to achieve those goals would be nearly insurmountable.
For starters, the Redskins would own the head-to-head tiebreaker. A loss would also leave Dallas with a razor-thin margin for error the rest of the way, a bad spot to be in considering games with Pittsburgh, the New York Giants, Baltimore and Philadelphia loom.
But with home games against two of the league’s worst teams — San Francisco and Seattle — later this month, a victory could spark a three-game winning streak that would vault the Cowboys into the thick of the playoff chase. “This is as big a game as we’ve played this year,” tight end Jason Witten said. “Got to be realistic about it.”
Adding to the intrigue is Dallas’ struggles of late at FedEx Field. They haven’t won there since 2004, with two of their three losses coming by 21 or more points.
2. Cowboys doubling Santana Moss
The receiver is a Cowboys killer who has torched them for 381 yards on 25 receptions in three games during the Wade Phillips era. In the first meeting this season, Dallas had no answer for Moss, who finished with eight catches for 145 yards in the Redskins’ 26-24 victory in Week 4. But 53 of those yards came against Terence Newman, who was hobbled by a sports hernia that required surgery and forced him to miss the next five games.
With the Pro Bowl cornerback finally healthy, the Cowboys stand a better chance of slowing Moss, who tweaked his hamstring in the Monday night loss to Pittsburgh two weeks ago. And with the Redskins’ running game hampered by injuries, Dallas should be able to give Newman help with a safety over the top.
3. Cowboys’ offense showing signs of life
With quarterback Tony Romo and left guard Kyle Kosier returning tonight, the offense can’t help but improve. Where it could show up the most is on third down. Over the last two games, the Cowboys converted just nine of 28 third-down attempts.
The running game should also improve. With a quarterback on the field who can actually throw a tight spiral for 20 yards or more, defenses can no longer put an extra man in the box to target running back Marion Barber. Still it won’t be easy against a Redskins defense allowing only 18.7 points per game.
4. Terrell Owens looking for DeAngelo Hall
The Redskins signed Hall after he was released by Oakland last week. In two career games against Hall, the Cowboys’ Owens has caught 12 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns.
In their last meeting in 2006, Owens burned Hall, then with Atlanta, for a 51-yard TD reception. Their rivalry heated up when Owens spit in the cornerback’s face that day. Owens was fined $35,000 for the incident, but he didn’t shy away from commenting on Hall last week, saying, “At the rate he’s playing, I’m looking forward to a big day.”
He may not get his wish, though. Owens is likely to see more of Carlos Rogers, who at 6-foot, 194 pounds has the size to tangle with the 6-3, 218-pound Owens.
5. Redskins struggling to run the ball
Clinton Portis (knee) is a game-time decision for the Redskins. Backup Ladell Betts and left tackle Chris Samuels are also hobbled by knee injuries. The Dallas defense is determined to make amends for allowing the Rams’ Steven Jackson and the Giants’ Brandon Jacobs to run wild in recent games.
Add it all up and you’ve got the Cowboys with an excellent shot at holding the Redskins to less than 100 yards on the ground.
Prediction: Cowboys 24, Redskins 21
Change is coming to our nation’s capital in the form of a desperate Cowboys team rejuvenated by the return of a handful of injured starters. With Romo back under center for the first time since he broke his right pinkie finger in Arizona on Oct. 12, Dallas should have enough offensive firepower to right itself and get back into the playoff race.
Here’s what Express-News Cowboys beat writer Tom Orsborn says you should keep an eye on during tonight’s game:
1. Cowboys playing for their playoff lives
The level of desperation is sky high for Dallas in this crucial NFC East game. Losing to the hated Redskins (6-3) won’t eliminate the Cowboys (5-4) from playoff contention or even from contending for a second-straight division title, but it would be safe to say the obstacles they would face to achieve those goals would be nearly insurmountable.
For starters, the Redskins would own the head-to-head tiebreaker. A loss would also leave Dallas with a razor-thin margin for error the rest of the way, a bad spot to be in considering games with Pittsburgh, the New York Giants, Baltimore and Philadelphia loom.
But with home games against two of the league’s worst teams — San Francisco and Seattle — later this month, a victory could spark a three-game winning streak that would vault the Cowboys into the thick of the playoff chase. “This is as big a game as we’ve played this year,” tight end Jason Witten said. “Got to be realistic about it.”
Adding to the intrigue is Dallas’ struggles of late at FedEx Field. They haven’t won there since 2004, with two of their three losses coming by 21 or more points.
2. Cowboys doubling Santana Moss
The receiver is a Cowboys killer who has torched them for 381 yards on 25 receptions in three games during the Wade Phillips era. In the first meeting this season, Dallas had no answer for Moss, who finished with eight catches for 145 yards in the Redskins’ 26-24 victory in Week 4. But 53 of those yards came against Terence Newman, who was hobbled by a sports hernia that required surgery and forced him to miss the next five games.
With the Pro Bowl cornerback finally healthy, the Cowboys stand a better chance of slowing Moss, who tweaked his hamstring in the Monday night loss to Pittsburgh two weeks ago. And with the Redskins’ running game hampered by injuries, Dallas should be able to give Newman help with a safety over the top.
3. Cowboys’ offense showing signs of life
With quarterback Tony Romo and left guard Kyle Kosier returning tonight, the offense can’t help but improve. Where it could show up the most is on third down. Over the last two games, the Cowboys converted just nine of 28 third-down attempts.
The running game should also improve. With a quarterback on the field who can actually throw a tight spiral for 20 yards or more, defenses can no longer put an extra man in the box to target running back Marion Barber. Still it won’t be easy against a Redskins defense allowing only 18.7 points per game.
4. Terrell Owens looking for DeAngelo Hall
The Redskins signed Hall after he was released by Oakland last week. In two career games against Hall, the Cowboys’ Owens has caught 12 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns.
In their last meeting in 2006, Owens burned Hall, then with Atlanta, for a 51-yard TD reception. Their rivalry heated up when Owens spit in the cornerback’s face that day. Owens was fined $35,000 for the incident, but he didn’t shy away from commenting on Hall last week, saying, “At the rate he’s playing, I’m looking forward to a big day.”
He may not get his wish, though. Owens is likely to see more of Carlos Rogers, who at 6-foot, 194 pounds has the size to tangle with the 6-3, 218-pound Owens.
5. Redskins struggling to run the ball
Clinton Portis (knee) is a game-time decision for the Redskins. Backup Ladell Betts and left tackle Chris Samuels are also hobbled by knee injuries. The Dallas defense is determined to make amends for allowing the Rams’ Steven Jackson and the Giants’ Brandon Jacobs to run wild in recent games.
Add it all up and you’ve got the Cowboys with an excellent shot at holding the Redskins to less than 100 yards on the ground.
Prediction: Cowboys 24, Redskins 21
Change is coming to our nation’s capital in the form of a desperate Cowboys team rejuvenated by the return of a handful of injured starters. With Romo back under center for the first time since he broke his right pinkie finger in Arizona on Oct. 12, Dallas should have enough offensive firepower to right itself and get back into the playoff race.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:24 AM
<< Home