Official GDT | Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Redskins | 9/12/10 | 7:20pm CST

[ty]

...and so the road to the Super Bowl begins...

HOW 'BOUT THEM COWBOYS!

[Male30Dan]

Haha - love it...

Bring on McNabb... Whooped his arse 2 times in a row the last 2 games he played. Here is to making it 3 losses in a row against these Cowboys.

[alby]

McNabb: you can run, but you can't hide!

[Male30Dan]

Ware coming from one side, Spencer coming from the other, Rat coming up the middle, Newman and Jenkins waiting if he does get the ball out. Good luck buddy!

[Underdog]

"I don't want to get any messages saying, 'I am holding my position.' We are not holding a g*ddamned thing. Let the Redskins do that. We are advancing constantly and we are not interested in holding onto anything, except the enemy's balls. We are going to twist his balls and kick the living sh!t out of him all of the time. Our basic plan of operation is to advance and to keep on advancing regardless of whether we have to go over, under, or through the enemy. We are going to go through him like crap through a goose; like sh!t through a tin horn!"

"From time to time there will be some complaints that we are pushing our people too hard. I don't give a good g*ddamn about such complaints. I believe in the old and sound rule that an ounce of sweat will save a gallon of blood. The harder WE push, the more Redskins we will kill. The more Redskins we kill, the fewer of our men will be killed. Pushing means fewer casualties. I want you all to remember that."

Cowboys vs. Redskins
Rivals Face Off In Primetime Season Opener

link

GAME SET
WHAT: Dallas Cowboys (0-0) at Washington Redskins (0-0)
WHEN: Saturday, 7:20 p.m. (CT)
WHERE: FedExField, Landover, Maryland
TELEVISION: NBC (Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth)

BIG ISSUE: For the first time in more than eight months, the Cowboys will play in a meaningful football game. And for the first time in more than eight months, the Cowboys will have a chance to finally put an end to the national criticism. The last few weeks have been fairly brutal for Dallas. They lost two of their starting offensive linemen to injury, their starting offense looked far from crisp in the preseason games it played in, and they suddenly went from the media's favorite to win the Super Bowl to the popular pick to be the NFC's most disappointing team. But on Sunday night, none of that matters. The Cowboys will finally strap on their helmets and take on a real opponent in a real, meaningful football game.

The Redskins, meanwhile, would love to have the Cowboys' problems. They have a new head coach in Mike Shanahan, a new quarterback in Donovan McNabb, a new, huge $100-million distraction in Albert Haynesworth and a new slew of questions surrounding a team that finished 4-12 last season. Still, the Redskins always get up to play the rival Cowboys. So Sunday will mean just as much in Washington as it will in Dallas.

NUMBERS, PLEASE: Stats, records and numbers usually don't mean much in Cowboys-Redskins games. But in last year's two meetings with the Skins, the Cowboys only needed a combined 24 points to win both games. And even with all of their offensive struggles in the preseason, the team still managed to put up 15 points per contest. So if Sunday is anything like last season's games, the Cowboys sure wouldn't mind having 15 points on their scoreboard.

Of course, the Redskins are banking on having a much more powerful offense than in 2009. With the additions of offensive-minded head coach Mike Shanahan and perennial Pro Bowler Donovan McNabb, Washington is expecting to put up more points than the six it scored all of last season against the Cowboys. In the two preseason games McNabb played in, the Skins scored 45 points - although 42 of those came in a preseason Week 1 matchup against the Buffalo Bills.

ONE-ON-ONE: Right tackle Marc Colombo and left guard Kyle Kosier went down with knee injuries in training camp, and shortly after that, so did a lot of people on the Cowboys' bandwagon. The national media has grilled the suddenly short-handed Dallas offensive line, so naturally the matchups to watch for will be any Redskins defensive lineman versus probable starters Montrae Holland and Alex Barron. Although he's been in Shanahan's doghouse, Albert Haynesworth will likely line up on Holland while sophomore standout Brian Orakpo will likely line up on Barron. Expect at least two NBC cameras to follow those matchups throughout Sunday night's game.

The biggest, most-attention grabbing signing of the offseason likely won't be 100 percent when he takes on the Cowboys this Sunday, but Donovan McNabb will be the player Dallas has to keep its eye on. There aren't really any playmakers on Washington's offense now that receiver Santana Moss, 31, and running back Clinton Portis, 29, are both getting up in age, so stopping the always-shifty McNabb should be priority No. 1. Last season, when he was with the Eagles, the Cowboys sacked him 11 times. Pass rushers DeMarcus Ware, Jay Ratliff, Anthony Spencer and Victor Butler will have to do more of the same on Sunday.

SUPPORTING ROLE: The Cowboys' offense is loaded with talent, and that's no secret to anybody in the NFC East. But for some reason, things just haven't clicked on that side of the ball yet this summer. That could all change when receiver Dez Bryant enters the lineup for the first time on Sunday night. Bryant is the definition of a playmaker. He has the leaping ability to jump over defenders, the hands to grab jump balls and the speed/moves combo to get up the field. If he develops chemistry with quarterback Tony Romo - and Miles Austin, Felix Jones, Jason Witten and the gang continue to be superstars - then this offense could take off.

McNabb has been battling an ankle injury that has his status somewhat up in the air for Sunday night's game. He's expected to play, but if for some reason he has to leave the game because of his nagging ankle, Rex Grossman will be the man the Redskins turn to. He was 33-for-55 for 446 yards, two touchdowns and one pick in the preseason, but if he enters the game on Sunday, he'll get a heavy dose of the Cowboys' first unit - something he didn't see in three preseason games in August.

HEADSET GAMES: The Cowboys coaching staff and players blamed their running game struggles on a "vanilla" scheme in the preseason. On Sunday night, they won't have that excuse. The Cowboys have to start running the ball if they want to be effective this season; otherwise, defenses can send pass rushers all day at Romo without any consequences. In five preseason games, the Cowboys ran the ball 111 times for 2.7 yards. That could and should improve on Sunday - the Redskins allowed 4.7 yards per carry on 111 attempts in the preseason.

Like the Cowboys, the Redskins would love to see their ground game improve on Sunday. The team averaged just 3.9 yards per carry last year. Shanahan is known for his ground attack, however, and with an experienced group of backs that include Portis, Larry Johnson and Keiland Williams, Shanahan will undoubtedly try to pound the rock all night long.

HEALTH WATCH:

Cowboys
Out: G Kyle Kosier (knee), OT Marc Colombo (knee), OT Sam Young (knee)
Probable: S Gerald Sensabaugh (shoulder)

Redskins
Doubtful: S Kareem Moore (knee)
Questionable: OT Jammal Brown (hip), QB Donovan McNabb (ankle), FB Mike Sellers (knee), LB Andre Carter (illness), LB Perry Riley (foot)

[Flacolaco]

Over/Under on balls McNabb throws directly into the dirt: 8

Seriously, it's like playing tennis with the net down. Cowboys A LOT, Redskins 3

[Male30Dan]

Come on bitches, we are like 6 hours away from Cowboys football. Get the beer in you now while the getting is good. Sure, watch the Rangers sweep the Yankees first, but damn it get fired up for some Cowboys football.

[Thespiralgoeson]

I have been waiting since January for this sh*t. Cowboys rule, Redskins suck. I'm confident the final score will reflect that sentiment.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Let us also not forget that tonight will be the long-awaited NFL debut of one Dez Bryant.

[Male30Dan]

Yes, let us not forget this.

[Mav Addict]

I'm ready baby!!!... Been waiting all year for this night....can't wait to see Dez hopefully he can do more than play special team.

"Look for Dez to be inserted early tonite"- Jason Garrett.....Haynesworth will be playing tonite and I'm sure Wade prepared for that.....

Also I'm tired of wondering about the O line/running game so I will be looking at Marion and Felix in addition to the entire O line...not worried about the D, they will play well.


With a Redskin smashing tonite and Yankee sweep, this can be the making of a great night in sports.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Sportin' my Ware jersey...let's get it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go Cowboys!

[fluid.forty.one]

Good luck guys!

[Male30Dan]

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

Good luck guys!

Good luck guys?

Not a fan of your team?

[Male30Dan]

Dallas Cowboys' football is upon us men. Time to kick some Redskin ass up and down their field to the boos of their piglet crowd!!!

[Male30Dan]

There is Austin... Earn that paycheck baby!

[Male30Dan]

Big runs by Barber... Keep those chains moving.

[Male30Dan]

Really?

That was dumb.

[Male30Dan]

Sheesh, are they THIS worried about Washington's rush?

Let Romo take ONE step - it will be OK.

[Male30Dan]

The first one, fine, but those last two offensive calls were just horrible by Ginger.

[Male30Dan]

Come on Ratliff...

[Male30Dan]

Sigh...

[Male30Dan]

Bring the kicker on...

[Thespiralgoeson]

ugh. I think the offense is going to be very painful to watch until we get Kosier and Colombo back. And even then it might not get much better.

[fluid.forty.one]

lol.. not the best play call.

[MavsWiLLHaVeRinGs]

Dumbest play ever.

[sike]

pathetic play calling

[dalmations202]

Biggest problem with the Cowboys - low football IQ.

I love the talent, and sometimes the intensity, but the IQ always seems to be lacking lately.

[tcat075]

This entire offensive playbook has been sh!t so far. Back to back smoke screens, then two more, all adding up to what, 3 yards? We've been gashing them running, but it seems like 2/3 of our plays have been passing.

And then that thing that just happened.

[Thespiralgoeson]

It really doesn't get much stupider than that. I'm starting to honestly think that Jason Garrett is mentally handicapped.

[FINtastic]

Considering how much we seem to be afraid of the pass protection around Romo, I wish we would consider actually running the ball. We've had some success on the ground (with Barber especially), but we've run 10 times with our running backs total.

[FINtastic]

I'm the biggest Romo fan around, but I think he's a little too worried about the line tonight. He's getting rid of the ball awfully quick here. He needs to settle down just a little bit.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by FINtastic

I'm the biggest Romo fan around, but I think he's a little too worried about the line tonight. He's getting rid of the ball awfully quick here. He needs to settle down just a little bit.

That's why I think the offense is going to be pretty terrible until Kosier and Colombo get back. Even if those guys don't play much better than Holland and Barron, Romo just isn't going to have any confidence in the line as long as two backups are in the game.

[sike]

looks like the dumb Cowboys are back.

[fluid.forty.one]

lol intercep..... no wait, penalty.

[FINtastic]

That play was what I was looking for from Tony. Didn't panic, used his ability to miss the first rusher.

[fluid.forty.one]

Great field position. They have to capitalize here.

[FINtastic]

Finally on the board!

[Flacolaco]

After watching the Eagles play...and now the Redskins...I don't know how anyone was saying the NFC East was going to be so tough all the way around. Yuck.

It's only one week though.

[FINtastic]

Thanks Garrett for designing a WR screen to Roy of all people to kill that drive.