Redskins at Cowboys -- Week 12
Where: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas (turf, indoors/outdoors)
When: Thursday, 4:15 p.m. (Fox)
Spread: Cowboys by 6
Forecast: Clear, temperatures in the mid-70s
Records: Cowboys (Overall: 5-5, NFC East: 2-1); Redskins (Overall: 4-6, NFC East: 1-1)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Nov. 20, 2011: Cowboys 27, Redskins 24 (OT); Sept. 26, 2011: Cowboys 18, Redskins 16 Series record: Cowboys hold 62-40-2 advantage.
What matters: The Cowboys were atrocious on the offensive line last Sunday, yielding seven sacks on Tony Romo, who scrambled out of about five or six more sacks. This week, it doesn’t get any easier against the Redskins, who like to blitz and bring pressure off the edge. How right tackle Doug Free responds will be critical. The Cowboys have issues at left tackle with Tyron Smith, whose high-ankle sprain will likely prevent him from starting, forcing Jermey Parnell into action. Although Smith could be healthy enough to back up both tackle spots. Whoever it’s done, the Cowboys need to be stronger on the line and keep their quarterback off the ground.
Who matters: Linebacker Bruce Carter has emerged here in the last few weeks since Sean Lee’s season-ending toe injury. He possess a rare combination of speed and power for the inside backer position, to go along with great instincts. All of that will be needed to face Washington’s electrifying quarterback Robert Griffin, who can hurt teams with his arm and legs. That college-style speed-option play will be used often and how the defense reacts, especially with Carter and the linebackers, will be a huge key to stopping the Redskins and preventing them from sustaining long drives. Plus, if the Cowboys choose to use a spy for Griffin, Carter and his sideline-to-sideline speed should be a prime candidate.
Key matchups: Redskins OT Trent Williams was drafted so he could face dynamic rushers in the NFC East such as DeMarcus Ware, along with great players on the Giants and Eagles. But the Williams-Ware matchup will be interesting again. Williams has had success against Ware in his career, often forcing Ware to switch to flip sides. This year, it’s not much easier against Anthony Spencer, who has been clutch with three sacks of his 4.5 sacks occurring in the fourth quarter.
Injuries of note: The Cowboys have already ruled out Sean Lissemore, Phil Costa and Kevin Ogletree for Thursday’s game. Ogletree sustained a concussion last week against Cleveland. Center Ryan Cook and RB DeMarco Murray are doubtful to play, while Jay Ratliff, Felix Jones and Danny McCray are listed as questionable. Neither of those three did much in practice this week. Left tackle Tyron Smith is questionable to play and could be in uniform as a backup and swing tackle.
Inside stuff: The Cowboys are 6-0 all-time against the Redskins on Thanksgiving Day, the most victories over any other team on Turkey Day. The Cowboys haven’t played Washington on this holiday game since 2002. The Cowboys have won five of their last six games overall on Thanksgiving and own a 28-15-1 record on Turkey Day games, dating back to 1966.
Stat you should know: Tony Romo improved his November record to 20-3 since becoming the starting quarterback in 2006. But he’s even more impressive at home, winning all 13 games in the month of November at either Cowboys stadium or Texas Stadium. More than the wins, Romo has 32 touchdown passes to eight interceptions.
Looking ahead: The Cowboys will enjoy a 10-day rest following Thanksgiving Day and get their third straight home game against the Eagles, whom they beat 38-23 back on Nov. 11.
Prediction: Cowboys 31, Redskins 27
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