Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys: Thursday Night NFL on Sky Sports
Friday 1 December 2017 06:01, UK
Two of the NFL's most storied franchises kick-off Week 13 in the NFL, as the Dallas Cowboys host the Washington Redskins in an NFC East showdown on Thursday Night Football, live on Sky Sports Action from 12.30am.
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The two teams have fallen on hard times in 2017, however, with both the Cowboys (5-6) and Redskins (5-6) coming into this one with their hopes of a Wild Card spot in the playoffs hanging by a very thin thread.
Washington can at least point to a win over fellow divisional rivals, the New York Giants, in their last outing on Thanksgiving, while there was contrasting fortunes for the Cowboys, who were embarrassed for the second straight time at home with a Turkey Day drubbing at the hands of the Los Angeles Chargers, following up another heavy defeat to 10-1 division leaders, the Philadelphia Eagles.
In a tweet...
Can the Cowboys prevent a third prime-time embarrassment in a row on home turf and stay in the playoff hunt with a win over their great NFC East rival Redskins?
What's the latest?
Running back Darren McFadden announced his retirement two days after his release by the Cowboys. McFadden posted on Twitter on Tuesday that he made the decision "not with sadness or without further opportunity, but with a couple of days to reflect on how I feel and where I am at this stage in life".
The 30-year-old, who was in his 10th season, was an afterthought for the Cowboys even after 2016 NFL rushing leader Ezekiel Elliott started his six-game suspension over alleged domestic violence.
Washington left tackle Trent Williams remains sidelined with a right knee injury that will require surgery at some point. Williams did not practice on Monday and does not know if he will be ready to play on Thursday night against the Cowboys after sitting out three of the Redskins' last five games. He has also missed 15 of the team's last 18 practices.
Washington have as many as 15 players total on injured reserve, including top running backs Rob Kelley and Chris Thompson.
Stat attack
Since Ezekiel Elliott's suspension, the Cowboys have failed to reach double-digits in three straight games for the first time in franchise history. The last team to be held to single-digits in three consecutive outings were the Brady Quinn-led Cleveland Browns in 2009.
While Dallas are struggling in the absence of their star runner, the Redskins may well have unearthed one of their own. Samaje Perine has rushed for over 100 yards in back-to-back games - Washington did not have a player rush for a century in any of their first nine games.
Key battle
Both Washington and Dallas are depleted outfits, on both sides of the ball. These two NFC East powerhouses have seen better days. The key battle simply concerns who can cope with those losses the better... Two of Dallas' three straight defeats came against top 10 defenses, while the other was against the 13th-ranked Atlanta Falcons. Washington, by comparison are 25th, so perhaps the perfect remedy for Dak Prescott and his merry men. As for his opposite number, Redskins QB Kirk Cousins is having a fine 2017 season - his 3,038 passing yards are second only to that 40-year-old Tom Brady. If Washington make this a shootout early, Dallas might struggled to keep pace.
Game-changer
Dez Bryant. Dallas have to find some way of getting the eight-year veteran receiver the ball. Prescott has certainly struggled to over the course of their last three losses - which included a target-less first half against the Chargers - but, in truth, the problems have been there all season, with Bryant yet to register a 100-yard or multiple score game. The last of his four TD receptions on the season was, in fact, way back when on October 22 against the San Francisco 49ers. He is one of the big weapons the Cowboys still have available to them; they must use him.
Watch the Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football, live on Sky Sports Action from 12.30am on Friday.
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