The Washington Redskins have had their share of problems this season, but they still manage to remain alive in the wild-card race in the NFC. The Dallas Cowboys are sinking fast, and without their star running back there are hard-pressed for answers. These teams will get together on Thursday night at 8:25 PM ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. It will be televised by both NBC and NFL Network, and it will likely leave the loser without much in the way of playoff hopes.
The Redskins won ugly, but won nonetheless against the New York Giants last week, dealing them a 20-10 defeat on Thanksgiving. But there's a potential monster problem in that the offensive line has completely broken down physically. By the end of the game, right tackle Morgan Moses had to leave because of a left leg injury, and that left the Redskins with only one offensive line starter who was there at the beginning of the season. Kirk Cousins suffered six sacks and also threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown by Janoris Jenkins. So yes, there are some trouble signs for this team that has had to put 15 different players on injured reserve.
The Cowboys seem lost on offense without Ezekiel Elliott, and their Thanksgiving game was a real turkey, so to speak, as they lost 28-6 to the Los Angeles Chargers. Yes, the result could have been much worse, because among other things, the Chargers took a knee inside the five yard line in the final moments, but there are other opportunities they missed out on, because of injuries in the kicking game. The Dallas secondary allowed Philip Rivers to throw for 434 yards, and as things stand right now, the Cowboys have scored less than 10 points three times in a row for the first time in the history of their franchise. Both these teams are 5-6, both straight-up and against the points.
In the Thursday night NFL betting odds posted on this game, Washington is the short favorite on the road:
Washington Redskins -2
Dallas Cowboys +2
Over 45.5 points -110
Under 45.5 points -110
In the three games where they have been missing Elliott, the league's leading rusher last season who has to sit out this game and two more, the Cowboys have scored a grand total of 22 points, and it didn't even help all that much that they got All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith back into the lineup last week. Dak Prescott does not seem so super anymore without the protection being offered by the threat of his elite back, as he's gone without a touchdown pass but with five interceptions in these last three games, also committing a fumble that got returned for a touchdown. So are there any solutions on the horizon? Well, it's hard to say about that, and we are not sure we are interested in guessing. Could it be the play-calling? Well, some have brought that up, but head coach Jason Garrett has voiced a lot of confidence in his offensive coordinator, Scott Linehan, so we assume things are going to continue going in that direction. But how long will Jerry Jones tolerate it, with his team being outscored 72-6 in the second half of these last three defeats. Naturally opposing coaches are making the right adjustments to snuff out Dallas, which doesn't have a "Plan B."
And there are other injuries to worry about. As Smith returned, All-Pro guard Zach Martin has been put into the concussion protocol, and remember that this is a short week, so that might compromise him here. Linebacker Sean Lee has reportedly already been ruled out of this contest, and this is certainly a different defense without him. Meanwhile, the Redskins may get some good news on the injury front, as left tackle Trent Williams, who has been dealing with a knee injury, will be a game-time decision, and if he plays, he will be of immeasurable help against DeMarcus Lawrence, who has 11.5 sacks but only one in the last four games.
Cousins at least has some mastery over a system that can produce consistent, short gains. He uses the tight end position well, and Jamison Crowder has become his favorite target at the wide receiver spot (46 catches, 561 yards),. Yes, Washington is handicapped somewhat by not having Chris Thompson or Rob Kelley available in the backfield, but Samaje Perine, the rookie out of Oklahoma who at one time held the one-game rushing record in Division I football, has had 217 yards on the ground over the last two weeks.
--Charles Jay
The Redskins won ugly, but won nonetheless against the New York Giants last week, dealing them a 20-10 defeat on Thanksgiving. But there's a potential monster problem in that the offensive line has completely broken down physically. By the end of the game, right tackle Morgan Moses had to leave because of a left leg injury, and that left the Redskins with only one offensive line starter who was there at the beginning of the season. Kirk Cousins suffered six sacks and also threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown by Janoris Jenkins. So yes, there are some trouble signs for this team that has had to put 15 different players on injured reserve.
The Cowboys seem lost on offense without Ezekiel Elliott, and their Thanksgiving game was a real turkey, so to speak, as they lost 28-6 to the Los Angeles Chargers. Yes, the result could have been much worse, because among other things, the Chargers took a knee inside the five yard line in the final moments, but there are other opportunities they missed out on, because of injuries in the kicking game. The Dallas secondary allowed Philip Rivers to throw for 434 yards, and as things stand right now, the Cowboys have scored less than 10 points three times in a row for the first time in the history of their franchise. Both these teams are 5-6, both straight-up and against the points.
In the Thursday night NFL betting odds posted on this game, Washington is the short favorite on the road:
Washington Redskins -2
Dallas Cowboys +2
Over 45.5 points -110
Under 45.5 points -110
In the three games where they have been missing Elliott, the league's leading rusher last season who has to sit out this game and two more, the Cowboys have scored a grand total of 22 points, and it didn't even help all that much that they got All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith back into the lineup last week. Dak Prescott does not seem so super anymore without the protection being offered by the threat of his elite back, as he's gone without a touchdown pass but with five interceptions in these last three games, also committing a fumble that got returned for a touchdown. So are there any solutions on the horizon? Well, it's hard to say about that, and we are not sure we are interested in guessing. Could it be the play-calling? Well, some have brought that up, but head coach Jason Garrett has voiced a lot of confidence in his offensive coordinator, Scott Linehan, so we assume things are going to continue going in that direction. But how long will Jerry Jones tolerate it, with his team being outscored 72-6 in the second half of these last three defeats. Naturally opposing coaches are making the right adjustments to snuff out Dallas, which doesn't have a "Plan B."
And there are other injuries to worry about. As Smith returned, All-Pro guard Zach Martin has been put into the concussion protocol, and remember that this is a short week, so that might compromise him here. Linebacker Sean Lee has reportedly already been ruled out of this contest, and this is certainly a different defense without him. Meanwhile, the Redskins may get some good news on the injury front, as left tackle Trent Williams, who has been dealing with a knee injury, will be a game-time decision, and if he plays, he will be of immeasurable help against DeMarcus Lawrence, who has 11.5 sacks but only one in the last four games.
Cousins at least has some mastery over a system that can produce consistent, short gains. He uses the tight end position well, and Jamison Crowder has become his favorite target at the wide receiver spot (46 catches, 561 yards),. Yes, Washington is handicapped somewhat by not having Chris Thompson or Rob Kelley available in the backfield, but Samaje Perine, the rookie out of Oklahoma who at one time held the one-game rushing record in Division I football, has had 217 yards on the ground over the last two weeks.
--Charles Jay
