FRISCO, Texas – The 3-3 Dallas Cowboys face a 3-2 divisional rival Washington Redskins team on Sunday at FedExField. The two teams have met 116 times, Dallas winning 70, Washington winning 44, and the two teams tying twice. The Cowboys have faced only one team more times than the Redskins (Eagles – 118). Dallas has scored 30-or-more points in each of the last three games against Washington, all ending in victories.
Last week the Cowboys’ defense held the Jaguars to one score throughout the game and will need a similar performance on Sunday against the Redskins new and improved ground game, due to the addition of explosive running back Adrian Peterson. He has amassed 77 carries for 339 yards and a 4.4 average in just five games. Against the Saints, he played through a hurt shoulder and knee still averaging over five yards a carry.
“ He is an elite and rare football player; One of the best of his generation at the running back position, “ Jason Garrett remarked on Peterson. “ He is physically talented, explosive, and has tremendous will – Great football player and a heck of a challenge for us. “
The Cowboys’ defense has limited opponents to only allowing 16 plays of 20-plus yards through six games, the second fewest in the league. The ‘hotboyz’ will have their work cut out for them on Sunday as they face the challenge of stopping Peterson, the Redskins biggest threat in their offense and ground attack.
Offensively, the running and passing game aligned for Dallas last week at home, but can they continue the momentum on the road against the Redskin’s 3-4 defensive front and defensive coordinator Greg Manusky’s aggressive philosophy and love for blitzing?
Dak Prescott rushed for a career high 82 yards against the Jaguars on Sunday, the second-highest total by a Dallas QB since Roger Staubach in 1990, and the most by a quarterback in a single-game in 2018. Ezekiel Elliott rushed 24 times for 106 yards and a touchdown. Elliott is currently the second leading rusher in the NFL with 586 total rushing yards, behind Todd Gurley with 623. He is tied for second in the NFL for “big play” runs recorded of 10-plus yards in 2018 with Melvin Gordon. On Sunday, it seemed Prescott only had eyes for Cole Beasley in the passing game, targeting him on third down critical situations. Of his nine receptions against Jacksonville, seven were on third downs. Beasley is now tied for 15 other players for the most by an NFL receiver in a single game since 1991.
The Cowboys’ offense has struggled on the road this season and needs to get into a rhythm and break out of the slump. Hopefully the aggressiveness fans saw from the deep downfield passes will continue over against the Redskins on Sunday. The majority of the offensive success came from the Cowboys’ offensive line doing a better job protecting Dak and allowing him plenty of time to access the field and throw the football. They will have to show up on Sunday with a similar performance, or the Cowboys are looking at a 3-4 record and the fourth straight loss on the road!
