! REDSKINS (6-3-1) VS. COWBOYS (9-1)
THURSDAY, 4:30 P.M. ET, AT&T STADIUM, ARLINGTON, TEXAS uTV: FOX
Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews
is pumped again. A year after he turned “You like that?” into a rallying cry, the Washington quarterback was caught shouting, “How you like me now?” at general manager
after Sunday’s convincing win against the Green Bay Packers. In his past three games, Cousins has completed 68.1% of his passes for 1,095 yards and seven touchdowns with one interception. The team has followed his lead, going 6-1-1 since its 0-2 start.
About the Cowboys: Dallas has won nine in a row for the first time in franchise history due to a balanced offense. Not only do the Cowboys own the league’s No. 2 rushing attack, with rookie RB operating behind a stout offensive line, they also have one of the most efficient passing attacks. Rookie QB 108.6 passer rating trails only those of Tom Brady and Matt Ryan. His chemistry with WR is growing stronger — they’ve connected for three touchdowns in the last two games.
Matchup to watch: Redskins OLBs Ryan Kerrigan and Trent Murphy vs. Cowboys OTs Tyron Smith and Doug Free. Washington’s bookend linebackers have developed into quite the pass-rush combination, racing in from the edge to combine for 15 of the Redskins’ 27 sacks. But there are reasons Dallas has allowed only 14 sacks all season — tied with Washington and the Pittsburgh Steelers for the league’s third fewest — and two of those reasons are named Smith and Free. Last weekend, the Cowboys gave up one sack and dominated Baltimore’s defense in the second half.
Player to watch: Redskins TE Jordan Reed. Cousins likes to spread the ball around, but his athletic tight end is his most trusted target. Reed will test Dallas S and LB In his Week 2 matchup with the Cowboys, Reed led the Redskins with five catches for 70 yards.
Number crunching: Dallas leads the NFL with 33.3 rushing attempts per game. Elliott
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
has a league-best 1,102 yards — he has broken Tony Dorsett’s team rookie record — averaging 4.9 yards per carry. While the Redskins offense skews toward the pass, it hasn’t ignored the ground game lately, averaging 30.2 rushes in its past five games. Rookie RB
has averaged 107 yards per game and 4.8 per attempt over his last three games.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. High-stakes duels: Dallas’ Bryant has posted at least 80 yards and a TD in three of his past four games. He also had a big game against Washington in Week 2 with seven catches for 102 yards, a game in which the Redskins had top CB follow Bryant all over the field for the second half. That matchup will again be worth watching, as will the duel between WR
the Redskins’ explosive slot receiver, and Cowboys rookie CB a sixthround draft choice who has been effective.
2. Big in the clutch: Prescott’s first career fourth-quarter comeback came at Washington, where he led the Cowboys on an 80-yard drive for the winning touchdown. He’s been money in the final period all season, especially lately. In eight fourth-quarter drives over the past two games, Prescott has completed 24 of 26 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns.
3. Play keepaway: The Cowboys’ 33:51 average time of possession leads the league, due in part to their 48.4% third-down conversion rate. Washington’s defense is among the league’s worst on third down, allowing 46% conversions.
Andy Friedlander