OFFICIAL GDT - COWBOYS vs REDSKINS!!!

[Underdog]

Redskins vs. Cowboys
Cowboys Trying To Take Lead In NFC East

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GAME SET
WHAT: Washington Redskins (2-1) at Dallas Cowboys (3-0)
WHEN: Sunday, 3:15 p.m. (CDT)
WHERE: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
TELEVISION: Fox (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Pam Oliver)


BIG ISSUE: The Cowboys may look unstoppable after a 3-0 start but the history of the Cowboys-Redskins rivalry suggests that anything can happen come Sunday afternoon. This year the NFC East is particularly tough with two undefeated teams (Cowboys and Giants) and two one-loss teams (Eagles and Redskins). Those two losses were to division foes, so no team in the division has lost a game to any team in the rest of the NFL. But for the Cowboys, one loss could put them right back in the pack instead of ahead. That would leave the Redskins, Cowboys and Eagles (if they beat the Bears on Sunday) all 3-1. The Giants, on a bye week, would then lead the division by a half-game. If the Cowboys win though, they would lead the division, going a half-game ahead of New York.

The Redskins have rebounded considerably well after a poor performance against the Giants in the season opener. The Washington offense looked incredibly inept versus New York, suggesting new head coach Jim Zorn was having trouble teaching his offensive system. Two games later, that doesn't seem to be the case. The Redskins have logged impressive wins over the New Orleans Saints and the Arizona Cardinals, and while the Saints defense has been reeling following several injuries, the Cardinals actually have a talented secondary, making beating them while still learning a spread offense even more impressive for Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell.

NUMBERS, PLEASE: The Cowboys' mantra is to stop the run first, and they did that last season, not allowing a 100-yard rusher for all but one game. That one game breaking the pattern was the season finale against the Redskins, and that one rusher was Redskins running back Clinton Portis, who barely broke the century mark with 104 yards. But, the Cowboys only played their starters for about a half, having sewn up home-field advantage, so Portis wasn't running against top competition. The Cowboys have yet to allow a big rushing day this season, and Portis has yet to gain 100 yards in a game in 2008.

While Portis may not be unstoppable, Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss certainly looks that way. Moss has caught a touchdown in every game so far this season, and going back to last season, he's caught a touchdown in six straight games, including the Redskins' loss to the Seahawks in the wild-card round of the playoffs. He also knows how to score against the Cowboys, with four touchdowns in six career games, including one in each game last season.

ONE-ON-ONE: Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware is a high-motor player, and it's hard for any NFL player, at any position, to keep up with him. The person who will try on Sunday is Redskins left tackle Chris Samuels. Ware did register a sack against Samuels in the full game he played against Washington at Texas Stadium last season, but he was having such a hard time getting past him that he had to take an IV during the game. Since the Redskins have switched to a spread system, the ball figures to come out of Campbell's hands much more quickly since the Redskins will send out their tight ends and backs on receiving routes instead of keeping them in to protect. That means if Ware wants to get to Campbell, he'll have to do it quickly, getting by Samuels first, and possibly having to deal with chip blocks from Portis. Ware also had a sack against Samuels in limited time in the 2007 season finale.

Cowboys running back Marion Barber rarely takes negative yardage on a run, so when he breaks past the line of scrimmage it will be up to Redskins linebacker London Fletcher to stop him most of the time. Fletcher leads his team in tackles with 31, nine more than the second-place guy, linebacker Rocky McIntosh. Barber hasn't fared well historically running the ball against the Redskins, averaging only 3.3 yards a carry. But now Barber has first-round pick Felix Jones as a complement, and if the Cowboys give Jones more carries, and they will, defenses will be kept off balance enough for Barber to be as effective as always.

SUPPORTING ROLE: After a one-week hiatus, Cory Procter is back in the starting lineup at left guard. Starter Kyle Kosier came back from a foot injury to play against the Packers last week, but he re-injured his foot late in the game and is out for at least three more weeks. Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips named Procter the starter immediately after the Packers game, although he did say guard Montrae Holland, acquired in a trade with Denver before the start of the season, will receive some snaps at the position.

With starting right defensive end Jason Taylor ruled out for what would have been his first Redskins-Cowboys game following calf surgery to relieve compartment syndrome, the Redskins will lean on former Cowboys defensive lineman Demetric Evans. Zorn said Erasmus James and Chris Wilson will also get snaps at the position, possibly in pass-rush situations. Evans has five tackles so far in relief duty.

HEADSET GAMES: The Cowboys may rely on their sub-packages a lot in this game. The Redskins have two potent receiving threats, especially with this new spread offense, in Moss and tight end Chris Cooley, who Zorn likes to split out into the slot. While the Cowboys want to take away Moss and Cooley, they don't want to make themselves vulnerable to big runs by Portis, so they'll likely line up in their nickel formation often, where Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman slides over to the slot, corner Adam Jones covers the left sideline and safety Pat Watkins comes out, leaving only free safety Ken Hamlin high. This gives the Cowboys the ability to keep their seven-man front in the game while still being able to better defend the pass.

The last time the Redskins faced Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens, the 34-year-old receiver scored four touchdowns. Washington will likely do anything possible to prevent that from happening again, double- and triple-teaming him at times and shading safeties to his side of the field. But if the Redskins have to go to such great lengths to keep Owens in check like Green Bay did last week, it may hurt them elsewhere, as the added attention will open opportunities in the middle of the field for tight end Jason Witten and plenty of running space for Barber and Felix Jones.


HEALTH WATCH:

Cowboys
Two of the three Cowboys who were out last week are out again - starting strong safety Roy Williams (forearm), and starting fullback Deon Anderson (knee). Also out is starting left guard Kyle Kosier who re-injured his foot against the Packers. Only one player is listed as questionable, and that's backup nose tackle Tank Johnson, who sprained his ankle against the Packers, practicing on a limited basis Wednesday and Friday, but not practicing at all on Thursday. The four other Cowboys on the injury report figure to play, all being listed as probable - backup wide receiver Sam Hurd (ankle), backup linebacker Anthony Spencer (knee), starting tight end Jason Witten (shoulder) and backup safety Pat Watkins (neck), who will start in place of Williams.

Redskins
As previously mentioned, Taylor will be out with a calf injury. As for other injured Redskins, rookie wide receiver Malcolm Kelly (ankle) is listed as doubtful after not practicing Thursday and Friday and likely won't play. Two players are questionable after limited practice participation - backup tackle Stephon Heyer (ankle) and starting linebacker Marcus Washington (hamstring). If Heyer plays, chances are it will only be a backup, with Jon Jansen taking his place. Backup cornerback Fred Smoot (hip), starting fullback Mike Sellers (thigh) and backup defensive tackle Anthony Montgomery (missed practice for non-injury reasons) are listed as probable.