Dallas needs win to stay in playoff hunt

ARLINGTON, Texas — Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys had to abandon any realistic hope of defending their NFC East title while losing three straight games without suspended star running back Ezekiel Elliott.

A fourth straight defeat when Washington visits Thursday night would hand the crown to Philadelphia with the Eagles still having five games left.

Even if they find a way to win without last year’s NFL rushing leader, the Cowboys carry faint playoff hopes at best along with the team that shares second place in the division at 5-6 — the Redskins.

“It’s frustrating, it’s shocking,” Prescott said. “You look around and you see the Pro Bowlers and the talent you have, it’s almost a loss for words on why it’s happening. But it just shows you this game is tough.”

Made tougher without Elliott, who was climbing the rushing list during a three-game winning streak when he finally ran out of legal options to avoid the six-game suspension for alleged domestic violence.

The Cowboys haven’t had 300 yards in a game since then, the longest such stretch since the last four games in 2002.

“I’m sure it has a little bit to do with it,” Washington coach Jay Gruden said. “But they’ve had some issues. When you lose a game, you can’t finger-point the offensive side of the ball.”

The absence of All-pro linebacker Sean Lee (hamstring injury) hasn’t helped, with the Cowboys getting outscored 72-6 in the second half of their current losing streak. Lee is out against Walshington.

It’s been more about the volume of injuries for Washington, which has 15 players on injured reserve and was eliminated in the division race in Week 12 despite beating the New York Giants.

Three starters have been ruled out against the Cowboys — tight end Jordan Reed (hamstring), center Chase Roullier (hand) and safety Montae Nicholson (concussion). A key reserve, former Dallas defensive lineman Terrell Mcclain, will sit with a toe injury.

“You take away all the dust and the smoke and everything else that people really say about this team and you see what type of fighters and guys we get off the street and come in and play and still win games, it’s pretty great,” said cornerback Josh Norman, set for another showdown with struggling Dallas receiver Dez Bryant.