Texas-sized task for backup McCoy
ARLINGTON, TEXAS — Colt McCoy silenced his phone knowing he was coming back to his home state for his first National Football League start in four years, in the stadium where he helped lead the Texas Longhorns to a shot at a national title as their star quarterback and where he last won a game as a pro.
The longtime Washington backup also knows what’s most important as he takes over following Alex Smith’s seasonending leg injury. Washington (6-4) can control the NFC East by beating the rival Dallas Cowboys (5-5) in the most traditional of Thanksgiving games Thursday.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity, but I think it’s even more than that,” McCoy said. “It’s time to just go play and put everything else aside. We have a huge game this week. It’s a huge game.”
McCoy is 2-0 at AT&T Stadium, beating Nebraska for the 2009 Big 12 championship and a spot in the BCS championship game, which Texas lost to Alabama when McCoy got hurt early. The smalltown Texas kid beat the Cowboys five years later, completing 25 of 30 passes for 299 yards in a 20-17 overtime win for Washington.
He’s 32 now, and hasn’t started since the last of three straight defeats late in the 2014 season, a little more than a month removed from that win against the Cowboys. McCoy, a third-round pick by Cleveland in ’10, has a career record of 7-18.
McCoy is in his fifth year as Washington’s backup and has played just four games over four seasons, including when he replaced Smith in the third quarter of Sunday’s 23-21 loss to Houston. A potential winning drive stalled near midfield, and Dustin Hopkins’ 63-yard field goal try fell short with three seconds left.
“It’s been a while since he’s
played in a significant game. That’ll be the challenge,” coach Jay Gruden said.
“I know he’s excited as heck, man. He hated to get the opportunity the way he got it with Alex getting hurt. I understand that. But deep down inside, he’s been waiting for this.”
Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott has been waiting for another Thanksgiving game since he had to miss last year on his six-game suspension over domestic violence allegations. In his Thanksgiving debut against Washington two years ago as a rookie, he jumped into the giant Salvation Army red kettle after a touchdown in a 31-26 Dallas win.
The Cowboys have a chance to tie Washington for the division lead thanks to their first winning streak of the season, a pair of victories on the road after they were winless in their first four away from home.
“We said this a couple weeks ago, though; we knew that the
division was still in front of us,” quarterback Dak Prescott said. “Our backs are still against the wall. We know what this game means. We know how important this game is.”
Big returns
Washington could get a major boost if any combination of left tackle Trent Williams, running back Chris Thompson, wide receiver Jamison Crowder and cornerback Quinton Dunbar can return from lengthy injury absences.
Williams just needs to feel comfortable blocking after surgery for a dislocated right thumb, and Thompson said his injured ribs feel markedly better this week. Dunbar, who’s dealing with nerve damage as part of a shin injury, feels “pretty close” but isn’t sure if he’ll make the problem worse.
Elliott’s work
It just so happens that Elliott’s
season high in touches — 30 in a 22-19 win against Atlanta — came on the Cowboys’ annual short week. In road wins against the NFC’s past two Super Bowl participants in Philadelphia and Atlanta, Elliott had 55 touches (42 carries, 13 catches) for 388 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns.
“If that’s what it has to be then that’s what it’s going to be,” said Elliott, who needs 91 yards rushing to overtake idle NFL rushing leader and MVP contender Todd Gurley. “I’m definitely not afraid of that.”
Balancing act
Part of Washington’s challenge in helping McCoy succeed is getting Adrian Peterson going on the ground.
Peterson had just 16 carries for 51 yards in the loss to Houston, but ran for two touchdowns.
The 33-year-old Peterson had 99 yards in the earlier win over the Cowboys.