Washington Looking For Third Consecutive Win Against Cowboys

MGM NATIONAL HARBOR

The Xs and Os Of What To Expect On Sunday  Football Game Against The Dallas Cowboys  

DALLAS (8-4) at WASHINGTON (6-6)  //  Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox

Introduction By Raoul Dennis

Although the Dallas Cowboys are favored to win the game against their arch-rivals in the nation’s capital, the Washington Football Team would be the first to say the game isn’t played at the new sports gaming tables at MGM National Harbor.

It’s played on the field.

And these days, the WFT has been making quite a statement on the football field. They have won four straight games against formidable opponents and with a number of their own star players out with injuries. The WFT, playing at home and with winning momentum at their backs, will likely play like angry pit bulls against their rivals. Dallas will have to match that ferocity and play more consistent football than they have been in recent weeks if they hope to win.

For Washington football fans, the game against Dallas is the Super Bowl.  No loss goes down as hard as a loss to Dallas. And few wins are as sweet as are those against the Cowboys.

Add to the tone, MGM’s opening weekend for sports betting and from the fans’ point of view, Sunday’s matchup should be epic.

Here are the facts.

By The Associated Press undefined

BETTING LINE: Cowboys by 4, according to FanDuel SportsBook.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Cowboys 9-3; Washington 5-7.

SERIES RECORD: Cowboys lead 73-47-2.

LAST MEETING: Washington beat Cowboys 41-16 on Nov. 26, 2020 at Dallas.

LAST WEEK: Cowboys beat Saints 27-17; Washington beat Raiders 17-15.

COWBOYS OFFENSE: OVERALL (1), RUSH (6), PASS (4), SCORING (2)

COWBOYS DEFENSE: OVERALL (27), RUSH (14), PASS (28), SCORING (14)

WASHINGTON OFFENSE: OVERALL (19), RUSH (9), PASS (20), SCORING (20)

WASHINGTON DEFENSE: OVERALL (18), RUSH (3), PASS (30), SCORING (24)

TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Cowboys plus-7; Washington minus-5

COWBOYS PLAYER TO WATCH: RB Ezekiel Elliott isn't fully healthy and might not be the rest of the season because of his troublesome right knee. Coach Mike McCarthy hinted at resting the two-time rushing champ against the Saints, but Elliott played. It seems clear the Cowboys are hoping the 10-day break before this game will make a difference. Elliott has gone four consecutive games without reaching 50 yards, the longest stretch of his six-year career.

WASHINGTON PLAYER TO WATCH: CB Kendall Fuller will be responsible for minimizing Cowboys QB Dak Prescott's damage throwing the ball. With or without S Landon Collins, Fuller and CB William Jackson III need to continue playing the way they have during this four-game winning streak, or things could get ugly.

KEY MATCHUP: Washington QB Taylor Heinicke vs. Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs. As much as Dallas wants to get Elliott going along with Tony Pollard, and Washington would like to keep the ball on the ground as much as possible, Heinicke will likely face some important throwing downs against a dangerous Dallas secondary. After ending his interception drought at Las Vegas, Heinicke will try to avoid making a costly mistake the way he did during the three previous victories.

KEY INJURIES: Despite Elliott's situation and Pollard's foot injury that likely will make him a game-time decision, the Cowboys will be healthier for this game than any since the opener. DE Randy Gregory (missed the past four games with a calf strain) and DT Neville Gallimore (out all season with a dislocated elbow) are expected to play. Barring a setback, the only missing projected starter is S Donovan Wilson (shoulder and chest injuries). WR Cedrick Wilson could miss another game with an ankle injury. ... Washington will be without TE Logan Thomas because of a left knee injury. RB J.D. McKissic (concussion), rookie LB Jamin Davis (concussion) and Collins (foot) remain question marks. Edge rusher Montez Sweat is out after testing positive for the coronavirus going on the NFL's COVID-19/reserve list.

SERIES NOTES: Washington swept the season series last year and has a chance for a three-game winning streak against Dallas for the first time since a four-victory run from 1986-88. ... These teams are playing twice in three weeks for the first time since the 1970s when the league had a 14-game regular season ... Dallas is 22-10 against the NFC East since the start of the 2016 season. ... Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy is 3-5 in his career against Washington, with all three of those wins coming with Green Bay. ... Washington coach Ron Rivera is 4-1 against Dallas, with two of those wins coming with Carolina. ... Washington is the first team since the 1995 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to finish the season with five division games. The team needs to win three of them to get to five NFC East victories for the first time since 2012.