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FINtastic · 11-16-2008, 02:58 AM

Source: http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/ne...859CB174516AC9

GAME SET
WHAT: Dallas Cowboys (5-4) at Washington Redskins (6-3)
WHEN: Sunday, 7:15 p.m. (CST)
WHERE: FedExField, Landover, Md.
TELEVISION: NBC (Al Michaels and John Madden)

BIG ISSUE: The time the Cowboys have been waiting for has finally come - the game after the bye week. Over the past two weeks, key players - quarterback Tony Romo, left guard Kyle Kosier, cornerback Terence Newman - have been able to get healthy. The team has been able to get away from its recent chaos and refocus on the difficult uphill climb towards a playoff berth with a game at Washington. But despite all the normal advantages of a bye week, the Cowboys won't have the benefit of having one more week of practice than the other team since the Redskins had a Week 10 bye as well. The Cowboys know this is a must-win game, even if they're hesitant to say it, because if they drop to 5-5 and last place in the NFC East, they'd need to run the table over the last six games to get to 11-5, which this season may be the worst record a team could get and still guarantee postseason play.

Unfortunately for the Redskins, the bye week hasn't helped their key offensive player, running back Clinton Portis, return to full health. Portis, who sprained his knee two weeks ago in Washington's loss to the Steelers, did not practice all week and is listed as questionable for the game. According to head coach Jim Zorn, the running back was only able to extend his knee fully on Wednesday. Still, Redskins fans have to feel confident about the situation they're in - at home, against a team that's been in the tank for the past few weeks, with only one key player possibly missing the game. Win, and they're 7-3 and in the drivers seat when it comes to securing a wild-card spot in the playoffs.

NUMBERS, PLEASE: Newly-acquired Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams may have high hopes for his first game catching passes from Romo, but those hopes must be tempered by his past lack of success against the Redskins. In two career games, Williams has averaged only three catches for 34.5 yards and no scores, significantly less than his career per game average of 4.35 catches for 64.6 yards and half a score.

If the Redskins call upon Ladell Betts and Shaun Alexander to run the ball, it makes sense to look at how both runners have fared against the Cowboys in the past. In the five games against Dallas in which Betts has received 10 or more carries, he's averaged four yards per carry, 50 yards a game, and has scored only once in five games. In Alexander's career, he's averaged 2.9 yards per carry, 55 yards per game, and one score per game.

ONE-ON-ONE: His consecutive-games-with-a-sack streak may have ended a while back, but Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware is still one of the best in the business. He'll be bumping heads with a left tackle who's one of the best, Chris Samuels Last year after the Cowboys' victory over the Redskins at Texas Stadium, Ware said Samuels was one of the best tackles he'd ever faced, wearing him out so much that he needed to take an IV when he wasn't on the field. With Portis likely out, getting pressure on quarterback Jason Campbell will be the Cowboys' main focus, and as always, pass rushing and creating pressure in Dallas starts with Ware.

The Redskins may have effectively taken Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens out of the game in the first half last time around, but this time, with Roy E. Williams set to start on the other side of Owens, the task becomes much more difficult. Redskins corners Shawn Springs and Carlos Rogers will no longer be able to bump Owens at the line of scrimmage and keep a safety over the top, leaving the other receiver in man coverage. Now there's a legitimate No. 1 threat on either side of the field. Even Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said earlier in the week that he'll be interested in seeing how the Redskins defend the new Cowboys passing attack, since no one has seen Tony Romo play with both receivers on the field at the same time.

SUPPORTING ROLE: Calm down, Greg Ellis. You're still the starter opposite Ware at outside linebacker. But, you are 33, so the Cowboys are going to play second-year linebacker Anthony Spencer for a few more snaps than usual. Spencer will also relieve Ware at times, although it's difficult to justify taking your best defensive player off the field. Spencer impressed coaches in training camp, but until two weeks ago against the Giants, he has been dealing with a series of nagging injuries. Against New York he was finally healthy, and head coach Wade Phillips said he has the lone bright spot on the defense. Spencer will also be working into pass-rush situations with Ellis and Ware, as well as providing much-needed support on special teams with Bobby Carpenter ruled out for the game.

There is still a chance that Portis could play, but that seems to be less than 50 percent since the running back hasn't practiced all week and is listed as questionable. If he can't go, the Redskins will use a combination of Ladell Betts, Shaun Alexander and Rock Cartwright in his stead. Betts and Alexander have starting experience - Betts two years ago with the Redskins and Alexander in Seattle - but Alexander is a shadow of his former self, and Betts is just returning from a knee injury of his own. The Redskins will likely need all three to fill the gap left by Portis, since a productive run game will be essential in beating the Cowboys.

HEADSET GAMES: Despite all the players the Cowboys have returning from injury, the biggest strategic void is left by the one player who won't play Sunday - rookie running back Felix Jones. Jones, still rehabbing the partially torn hamstring he suffered against Arizona last month, provided the change of pace the Cowboys run game desperately needs, as can be seen by starter Marion Barber's diminished production in the three games Jones has been out. The Cowboys still want to put emphasis on the run game, although likely not as much as in the past month since Romo will be back to revitalize the passing game, so rookie running back Tashard Choice may also get some looks on offense to keep Barber fresh and effective.

With Portis likely out, the Redskins offense will center around one person - wide receiver Santana Moss. Moss has always seemed to play well against the Cowboys, beating the secondary deep for a few big gains every game. Despite the return of Newman in the Cowboys secondary, the Redskins will still go to Moss often, probably trying to get him lined up against the bigger and slower Anthony Henry on the left side of the field. If the Cowboys are forced to keep a safety deep to shade Moss, that will create more room for Washington's backup running backs to gash them up the middle.

HEALTH WATCH:

Cowboys
Three Cowboys have ruled three players out for Sunday night's game - rookie running back Felix Jones (hamstring), backup wide receiver Isaiah Stanback (shoulder) and backup linebacker Bobby Carpenter (groin). All the other players on the injury report are probable - starting quarterback Tony Romo (finger), starting left guard Kyle Kosier (foot), starting corner Terence Newman (abdomen), starting right guard Leonard Davis (foot) and starting tight end Jason Witten (broken rib).

Redskins
Only one player has been ruled out by the Redskins, backup defensive tackle Anthony Montgomery (Achilles). Two starters, running back Clinton Portis (knee) and cornerback Shawn Springs (calf) are listed as questionable. Portis has not practiced all week, and Springs practiced only a limited amount on Friday. Everyone else on the injury report is listed as probable - backup running back Ladell Betts (knee), rookie backup wide receiver Malcolm Kelly (knee), starting left guard Pete Kendall (knee), starting wide receiver Santana Moss (hamstring), starting left tackle Chris Samuels (knee), starting defensive end Jason Taylor (calf), backup wide receiver Devin Thomas (illness), and starting linebacker Marcus Washington (shoulder).

11-16-2008, 02:58 AM	#2
FINtastic Diamond Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 8,668	Source: http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/ne...859CB174516AC9 GAME SET WHAT: Dallas Cowboys (5-4) at Washington Redskins (6-3) WHEN: Sunday, 7:15 p.m. (CST) WHERE: FedExField, Landover, Md. TELEVISION: NBC (Al Michaels and John Madden) BIG ISSUE: The time the Cowboys have been waiting for has finally come - the game after the bye week. Over the past two weeks, key players - quarterback Tony Romo, left guard Kyle Kosier, cornerback Terence Newman - have been able to get healthy. The team has been able to get away from its recent chaos and refocus on the difficult uphill climb towards a playoff berth with a game at Washington. But despite all the normal advantages of a bye week, the Cowboys won't have the benefit of having one more week of practice than the other team since the Redskins had a Week 10 bye as well. The Cowboys know this is a must-win game, even if they're hesitant to say it, because if they drop to 5-5 and last place in the NFC East, they'd need to run the table over the last six games to get to 11-5, which this season may be the worst record a team could get and still guarantee postseason play. Unfortunately for the Redskins, the bye week hasn't helped their key offensive player, running back Clinton Portis, return to full health. Portis, who sprained his knee two weeks ago in Washington's loss to the Steelers, did not practice all week and is listed as questionable for the game. According to head coach Jim Zorn, the running back was only able to extend his knee fully on Wednesday. Still, Redskins fans have to feel confident about the situation they're in - at home, against a team that's been in the tank for the past few weeks, with only one key player possibly missing the game. Win, and they're 7-3 and in the drivers seat when it comes to securing a wild-card spot in the playoffs. NUMBERS, PLEASE: Newly-acquired Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams may have high hopes for his first game catching passes from Romo, but those hopes must be tempered by his past lack of success against the Redskins. In two career games, Williams has averaged only three catches for 34.5 yards and no scores, significantly less than his career per game average of 4.35 catches for 64.6 yards and half a score. If the Redskins call upon Ladell Betts and Shaun Alexander to run the ball, it makes sense to look at how both runners have fared against the Cowboys in the past. In the five games against Dallas in which Betts has received 10 or more carries, he's averaged four yards per carry, 50 yards a game, and has scored only once in five games. In Alexander's career, he's averaged 2.9 yards per carry, 55 yards per game, and one score per game. ONE-ON-ONE: His consecutive-games-with-a-sack streak may have ended a while back, but Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware is still one of the best in the business. He'll be bumping heads with a left tackle who's one of the best, Chris Samuels Last year after the Cowboys' victory over the Redskins at Texas Stadium, Ware said Samuels was one of the best tackles he'd ever faced, wearing him out so much that he needed to take an IV when he wasn't on the field. With Portis likely out, getting pressure on quarterback Jason Campbell will be the Cowboys' main focus, and as always, pass rushing and creating pressure in Dallas starts with Ware. The Redskins may have effectively taken Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens out of the game in the first half last time around, but this time, with Roy E. Williams set to start on the other side of Owens, the task becomes much more difficult. Redskins corners Shawn Springs and Carlos Rogers will no longer be able to bump Owens at the line of scrimmage and keep a safety over the top, leaving the other receiver in man coverage. Now there's a legitimate No. 1 threat on either side of the field. Even Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said earlier in the week that he'll be interested in seeing how the Redskins defend the new Cowboys passing attack, since no one has seen Tony Romo play with both receivers on the field at the same time. SUPPORTING ROLE: Calm down, Greg Ellis. You're still the starter opposite Ware at outside linebacker. But, you are 33, so the Cowboys are going to play second-year linebacker Anthony Spencer for a few more snaps than usual. Spencer will also relieve Ware at times, although it's difficult to justify taking your best defensive player off the field. Spencer impressed coaches in training camp, but until two weeks ago against the Giants, he has been dealing with a series of nagging injuries. Against New York he was finally healthy, and head coach Wade Phillips said he has the lone bright spot on the defense. Spencer will also be working into pass-rush situations with Ellis and Ware, as well as providing much-needed support on special teams with Bobby Carpenter ruled out for the game. There is still a chance that Portis could play, but that seems to be less than 50 percent since the running back hasn't practiced all week and is listed as questionable. If he can't go, the Redskins will use a combination of Ladell Betts, Shaun Alexander and Rock Cartwright in his stead. Betts and Alexander have starting experience - Betts two years ago with the Redskins and Alexander in Seattle - but Alexander is a shadow of his former self, and Betts is just returning from a knee injury of his own. The Redskins will likely need all three to fill the gap left by Portis, since a productive run game will be essential in beating the Cowboys. HEADSET GAMES: Despite all the players the Cowboys have returning from injury, the biggest strategic void is left by the one player who won't play Sunday - rookie running back Felix Jones. Jones, still rehabbing the partially torn hamstring he suffered against Arizona last month, provided the change of pace the Cowboys run game desperately needs, as can be seen by starter Marion Barber's diminished production in the three games Jones has been out. The Cowboys still want to put emphasis on the run game, although likely not as much as in the past month since Romo will be back to revitalize the passing game, so rookie running back Tashard Choice may also get some looks on offense to keep Barber fresh and effective. With Portis likely out, the Redskins offense will center around one person - wide receiver Santana Moss. Moss has always seemed to play well against the Cowboys, beating the secondary deep for a few big gains every game. Despite the return of Newman in the Cowboys secondary, the Redskins will still go to Moss often, probably trying to get him lined up against the bigger and slower Anthony Henry on the left side of the field. If the Cowboys are forced to keep a safety deep to shade Moss, that will create more room for Washington's backup running backs to gash them up the middle. HEALTH WATCH: Cowboys Three Cowboys have ruled three players out for Sunday night's game - rookie running back Felix Jones (hamstring), backup wide receiver Isaiah Stanback (shoulder) and backup linebacker Bobby Carpenter (groin). All the other players on the injury report are probable - starting quarterback Tony Romo (finger), starting left guard Kyle Kosier (foot), starting corner Terence Newman (abdomen), starting right guard Leonard Davis (foot) and starting tight end Jason Witten (broken rib). Redskins Only one player has been ruled out by the Redskins, backup defensive tackle Anthony Montgomery (Achilles). Two starters, running back Clinton Portis (knee) and cornerback Shawn Springs (calf) are listed as questionable. Portis has not practiced all week, and Springs practiced only a limited amount on Friday. Everyone else on the injury report is listed as probable - backup running back Ladell Betts (knee), rookie backup wide receiver Malcolm Kelly (knee), starting left guard Pete Kendall (knee), starting wide receiver Santana Moss (hamstring), starting left tackle Chris Samuels (knee), starting defensive end Jason Taylor (calf), backup wide receiver Devin Thomas (illness), and starting linebacker Marcus Washington (shoulder). __________________ "Ok, Go Mavericks!" -Avery Johnson Last edited by FINtastic; 11-16-2008 at 02:59 AM.