Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys
One of the most storied rivalries in the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins have been entrenched in a number of fantastic matchups throughout the years. Earlier in the season when the two teams met, it was Dallas who won on the road, 33-19. However, things are much different for both teams as they head into a Week 13 matchup on Thursday Night Football.
Washington has been bitten by the injury bug, seemingly multiple times. Almost the entirety of their offensive line is banged up. Meanwhile, several key contributors on the defense are also under the weather, proverbially speaking. Thus, they’ve been the kings of showing up well, but not ultimately being able to get wins as they sit at 5-6 on the year.
After starting 5-3, though, Dallas also now sits at 5-6 after they lost their last three games. The Ezekiel Elliott suspension has been a big factor, but they’ve also seen key injuries to guys like Tyron Smith and Sean Lee. As such, they’ve failed to score 10 points in any of their trio of defeats. However, they’d love to turn things around against their bitter NFC East rivals in primetime.
Keys to Victory
The Cowboys have to find a way to generate offense with Elliott out of the lineup. With linebacker injuries for the Redskins, though, they might be able to have a bit more success. They need to get Alfred Morris and Rod Smith moving the ball consistently on the ground. Doing so will open up the field for Dak Prescott and allow them to move the ball how they please.
Defensively, Dallas has to take advantage of what is a good matchup. From Trent Williams to Brandon Scherff, the Washington offensive line is all beat to hell. Even if key guys play, they will be doing so at less than 100 percent. As Demarcus Lawrence and the pass rush have taken a step back in recent weeks, they need to control the game where they should have success.
Meanwhile, Kirk Cousins has to be great for the Redskins. That’s obviously a tall ask, even against the porous Cowboys defense. However, with the running game looking suspect and their stars at the position banged up, there is a ton of pressure on the quarterback to carry the load. If he’s unable to, the team as a whole could struggle tremendously.
Betting Odds
Point Spread: Washington -1.5
Moneyline: Washington -125, Dallas +105
Over/Under: 45
Next: NFL: 5 Teams on upset alert in Week 13
Prediction
When you think about what these two teams are supposed to be, the phrase offensive powerhouses comes to mind. However, due to injuries for both Washington and Dallas and then the suspension of Elliott, they have been far from that of late. Thus, this could come down to which team can simply make the most plays on Thursday night. Given the current state of each team, that leaves the advantage with the Cowboys at home.
Final Score: Washington Redskins: 13, Dallas Cowboys: 20